Big Bear Returns to Ann Arbor: U-M Rallies Past No. 12 Michigan State

Sunday, November 2

East Lansing, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

6-7-3, 3-2-2B1G

Michigan State

9-4-4, 3-2-2B1G

Michigan

Michigan State

Big Bear Returns to Ann Arbor: U-M Rallies Past No. 12 Michigan State

11/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore Photos

By: Scott Kemps

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (DeMartin Stadium)
Score: Michigan 3, Michigan State 2
Records: U-M (6-7-3, 3-2-2 Big Ten), MSU (9-4-4, 3-2-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 3,003
Next U-M Match: Wednesday, Nov. 5 -- vs. Ohio State (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team trailed 2-1 at the half, but two second-half goals four minutes apart -- by Ahinga Selemani and Colin McAtee in the 54th and 58th minute, respectively -- proved to be the difference as U-M downed No. 12 Michigan State, 3-2, Sunday (Nov. 2) at MSU's DeMartin Soccer Complex.

Tyler Arnone

With the win, U-M reclaims the Big Bear Trophy, awarded to the winner of the annual local derby, and holds firm in the middle of the Big Ten table with only one conference fixture to go.

The Wolverines took the early lead in the eighth minute, as Arnone put home a masterful volley from the top of a box off a scramble inside the area. A Tyler Anderson corner from the right touchline was initially headed by McAtee, but the failed clearance was collected by Arnone at the top of the box. The ensuing righty volley was smashed home for the senior captain's first goal of the season.

Seven minutes later, Michigan State found the equalizer on a fortunate strike, as Adam Montague cut inside from the left flank and took a shot that skipped off Lars Eckenrode. The deflected shot then took a wicked curve that found the top left pocket of goal to bring the tally to 1-1.

Michigan State found success later in the first half on the counter-attack, taking a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute. Jay Chapman finished lower left on a low cross, and the Wolverines went into the intermission trailing.

The Wolverines went into the half with a 8-3 shot advantage, with several promising chances -- from Arnone off a free kick in the 25th minute, a lefty volley in the 29th minute and a massive chance from Eckenrode in the 34th that went wide from four yards out.

U-M came right out of the break with another golden opportunity in the 48th minute, as McAtee found the ball at his feet inside the area, but the one-touch from four yards out went high right.

U-M continued to mount pressure and was rewarded six minutes later, as William Mellors-Blair did well with a splendid run down the right flank and jammed a ball inside the six that found Selemani near post. The try beat Michigan State goalkeeper Zach Bennett near post and evened the score at 2-2.

A little more than four minutes later, U-M took the 3-2 lead on the eventual match-winner. A splendid individual effort from McAtee did the trick, as Selemani headed a through ball at midfield that sprung the U-M winger. The San Diego, Calif., native then fended off a pair of Spartan defenders and finished inside the box for his eight goal of the season.

The Maize and Blue defense then tightened the screws, as goalkeeper Adam Grinwis was extremely active on crosses and corners and came up big on a stop of a Tim Kreutz strike from the top of the box in the 70th.

The Spartans turned off the pressure in the final 20 minutes and nearly knotted the contest in the 80th minute. However, U-M defender Ben Manko provided a critical clearance off the goal line, while rest of the Wolverine defense was up to task in holding on to the goal advantage.

Michigan wraps of the 2014 regular season against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Wednesday (Nov. 5) at 7:30 p.m. from U-M Soccer Stadium. The night will also serve as Senior Night for five Wolverines in Grinwis, Arnone, Marcos Ugarte, Manko and Nick Lewin.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Michigan	1	2	3
Michigan State	2	0	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Tyler Arnone, 7:27 (unassisted)
1st -- MSU, Adam Montague, 14:01 (Jay Chapman, Dewey Lewis)
1st -- MSU, Chapman, 37:27 (Jason Stacy, Tim Kreutz)
2nd-- U-M, Ahinga Selemani, 53:22 (William Mellors-Blair)
2nd -- U-M, Colin McAtee, 57:17 (Selemani)

Shots: U-M 20, MSU 10
Shots on Goal: U-M 9, MSU 5
Saves: U-M 3 (Adam Grinwis), MSU 6 (Zach Bennett)
Corner Kicks: U-M 10, MSU 5
Cards: MSU, Ryan Keener, 24:19 (Yellow); MSU, Brian Winterfield, 78:13 (Yellow).

NOTES

• The goal for Arnone is the 10th of his career and gives him five points on the season. He previously missed the last two matches due to injury.

• Michigan improves to 2-2-1 vs. ranked opponents this season.

• Michigan has now scored a goal in the opening 10 minutes in each of the last three matches.

• The crowd of 3,003 fans at DeMartin Stadium set a new complex record.

• Ahinga Selemani has now scored three goals in the last three games.

• James Murphy missed the match due to yellow-card accumulation.

• Michigan State falls to 6-1 on the season when leading at the half.

• The 10 Wolverine corner kicks mark the third time this year U-M has had double-digit corners.

• The win marks the first time U-M has beaten Michigan State in East Lansing since 2003, while U-M reclaimed the Big Bear Trophy for the first time since 2012.