Michigan
2-1
UIC
0-2
Wolverines Shut Out Flames in Seattle
9/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 10, 2010
| Site: Seattle, Wash. (Championship Field)
Event: Seattle University Tournament
Score: Michigan 2, Illinois-Chicago 0
Records: U-M (2-1-0), UIC (0-2-0)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, Sept. 12 -- at Seattle University - Seattle University Tournament (Seattle, Wash.), 1:30 p.m. PDT
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Freshman forward Soony Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) netted the game-winner in the 69th minute to lead the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 2-0 win over Illinois-Chicago in opening day action at the Seattle University Tournament on Friday (Sept. 10) at Championship Field. Senior Alex Wood (Northville, Mich./Northville) added the final goal for the Wolverines. Saad and Meram led the Michigan offense, combining for nine of U-M's 13 shots on goal, while goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) made two saves for his seventh career shutout.
The Wolverines broke the 0-0 stalemate when senior forward Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) connected with Saad in the attacking third of the field. Meram collected the ball and took U-M's initial shot, which deflected to the UIC goalkeeper's right onto the waiting foot of Saad, who put it into the far right post for the score. Wood and Meram connected for the insurance goal in the 88th minute of action as a Meram cross to Wood was buried in the back of the net from three yards out to give the Wolverines the 2-0 shutout victory.
The Wolverines had an excellent opportunity to get on the board in the closing minutes of the first half on a corner kick from Wood that connected with Saad on a header, but the shot was scooped up by Illinois-Chicago goalkeeper Tom Purdy to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime.
The Michigan offense picked up right where it left off last week in the opening frame as Wolverines came out shooting and, midway through the first half, had five shots on goal, including on-target attempts from Meram and senior Chase Tennant (Rochester, Mich./Rochester), but the UIC goalie came up with two saves to keep the Wolverines off the scorebooks. The Flames tried to get on the board with back-to-back shots on goal in the 34th minute of action that Blais knocked away to keep the scoresheet clean through the first half.
Michigan will conclude action at the Seattle University Tournament against the host Redhawks on Sunday (Sept. 12). Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 PDT.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Illinois-Chicago | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2nd -- U-M, Soony Saad, 68:51 (Justin Meram)
2nd -- U-M, Alex Wood, 87:49 (Meram)
Shots: U-M 23, UIC 11
Shots on Goal: U-M 13, UIC 2
Saves: U-M 2 (Chris Blais), UIC 11 (Steve Purdy)
Corner Kicks: U-M 9, UIC 1
Fouls: U-M 5, UIC 7
Cards: None.
• Michigan moves to 2-2-0 against Illinois-Chicago, picking up its first win against the Flames since the 2002 season when U-M defeated them 2-1 in Chicago. Today's meeting was the first-ever neutral-site meeting between the teams.
• Today's game also marked Michigan's first win in the state of Washington. This is U-M's first trip to Washington, although the Wolverines played the University of Washington in tournament action during the 2003 season.
• For the third consecutive game, the Wolverines posted double-digit shots. Freshman Soony Saad's eight shots and five shots on goal each led the team, giving him the lead in both categories in every game this season.
• Freshman Fabio Pereira Villas Bora started for the second straight game. Soony Saad is the only freshman to start each of U-M's first three games.
• Senior defender Chase Tennant needs only three more starts this season to move into the top 10 all-time on Michigan's career games started list.
• The Wolverines collected their eighth road-opening win and moved to 16-13-0 in neutral-site contests.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the importance of today's win ... "All the things that you need to win games on the road against good teams we brought with us to Seattle and displayed. Our goalkeeping was excellent; out attitude and energy were great; our team defense was the best it has been all season; and we were very dangerous in the attack. This was a very good team win."
Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Saad, Soony (2)
Assisted By: Meram, Justin
9 shot deflected off keeper, 8 followed
68:51
Wood, Alex (1)
Assisted By: Meram, Justin
9 crossed to 18, shot in from three yard
87:49
