Michigan
4-2-3
Ohio State
5-2-1
Wolverines Drop Big Ten Opener to No. 23 Ohio State
9/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 25, 2010
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Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: #23 Ohio State 1 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (4-2-3, 0-1-0 Big Ten), Ohio State (5-2-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 3,207
Next U-M Game: Sunday, Oct. 3 -- vs. Penn State (U-M Soccer Stadium), 1 p.m. (TV: Big Ten Network - Same-day tape-delay at 7 p.m.)
ANN ARBOR Mich. -- Freshman forward Soony Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) recorded five shots on goal, but an Ohio State goal in the 20th minute of action was enough to send the 23rd-ranked Buckeyes to a 1-0 win over the University of Michigan men's soccer team in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Saturday (Sept. 25) at the U-M Soccer Stadium.
Saad led both squads in shot with nine, including five that reached the net. Senior forward Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) added five shots, three on goal, for the Michigan offense that tallied 24 shots, 11 of which reached the target. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) recorded three saves in the loss.
Michigan held an edge in just about every offensive category but especially in the shots on goals category, tallying a season-high 11 to Ohio State's four, but Buckeye goalkeeper Matt Lampson stopped all 11 attempts.
Saad made his way into the Ohio State box in the opening minute of action and put down a dangerous shot, but Lampson made the stop. Minutes later, Ohio State's David Tiemstra forced Blais to make an aerobatic, leaping save, punching the ball out of the box to keep the game knotted at 0-0 early.
Sam Scales hit the game-winner in the 20th minute on a shot from 25 yards out. He was fed a ball from Austin McAnena in the Michigan midfield and put down a volley that bounced just under the crossbar and into the lower right hand corner out of Blais' reach. The Wolverines had an opportunity to answer in the 21st minute when they were awarded a penalty kick on an Ohio State foul in the box, but Meram's shot was saved by Lampson to preserve the Buckeyes' 1-0 lead.
The Wolverine offense continued to be productive, outshooting Ohio State, 10-6, in the second frame but could not find the equalizer.
The Wolverines, who will hold an alumni match at 4:30 tomorrow (Sunday, Sept. 26), next take to the pitch on Sunday (Oct. 3) when they host Penn State in Big Ten soccer action. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the U-M Soccer Stadium. The game will also be televised on the Big Ten Network with a same-day tape delay scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio State | 1 | 0 | 1 |
1st -- OSU, Sam Scales, 19:01 (Austin McAnena)
Shots: U-M 24, OSU 12
Shots on Goal: U-M 11, OSU 4
Saves: U-M 3 (Chris Blais), OSU 11 (Matt Lampson)
Corner Kicks: U-M 6, OSU 2
Fouls: U-M 13, OSU 9
Cards: OSU, Konrad Warzycha, 87:50 (Yellow).
• Michigan moves to 5-8-1 all-time against Ohio State with today's loss. This marks the seventh time in the last eight meetings that the result has been decided by one goal. Eleven out of the 14 meetings between the border-state rivals have ended with a 1-0 score, including the past five and seven out of the past eight.
• Today marked Alumni Day at the U-M Soccer Stadium. The Wolverines welcomed home a large group of alumni that were recognized at halftime and also unveiled the all-decade squad on MGoBlue.com on Friday (Sept. 24). The all-decade squad features 11 players and four alternates.
• U-M moves to 2-7-2 all-time in Big Ten openers The Wolverines were looking for their first Big Ten opening win since the 2005 season when they defeated Northwestern, 1-0.
• Today's shutout loss was Michigan's second loss shutout of the season. U-M also dropped a 1-0 contest to then-No. 14 Drake on Sept. 3.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "It's a tough pill to swallow. We outplayed Ohio State on the night but they scored a cracker of a goal and their keeper was the difference. While we are all angered by losing that way in front of an awesome home crowd led by the Ultras, it's important that we learn the lessons, and get ready to play even better against the next Big Ten opponent."
Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Scales, Sam
Assisted By: McAnena, Austin
shot from 25 yards volleyed to goal unde
19:01
