Michigan
Michigan State
First Touch #9: U-M to End Regular Season with Michigan State, Maryland
10/22/2018 2:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» Michigan begins the final week of the regular season with its in-state rival, traveling to East Lansing on Tuesday (Oct. 23) to face No. 13 Michigan State in the Battle for Big Bear.
» The Wolverines will return to U-M Soccer Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 28) for their regular-season finale, hosting Maryland at 4 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
» Prior to the match with Maryland, the program will honor its six-man senior class: Marcello Borges, Peter Brown, Ivo Cerda, Noah Kleedtke, Robbie Mertz and Daniel Mukuna.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, Oct. 23 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 8 p.m.
TV: BTN | Watch: BTN2Go | Live Stats
Sunday, Oct. 28 -- vs. Maryland (U-M Soccer Stadium), 4 p.m.
Buy Tickets | TV: BTN | Watch: BTN2Go | Live Stats | Promotions: Senior Day, Thundersticks
• Ticket Central | Season Promotions | U-M Soccer Complex
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The University of Michigan men's soccer team (9-4-1, 3-2-1 B1G) begins the final week of the regular season with its in-state rival, traveling to East Lansing to face No. 13 Michigan State (10-2-3, 4-1-1 B1G) in the Battle for Big Bear. The match will begin at 8 p.m. at DeMartin Soccer Complex and will be televised live on Big Ten Network and on BTN2Go. Mike Monaco (play-by-play) and Jamie Watson (analyst) will be on the call. For fans interested in making the trip, admission is free.
The Wolverines will return to U-M Soccer Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 28) for their regular-season finale, hosting Maryland (6-5-3, 3-3-0 B1G) at 4 p.m. Prior to the match, the program will honor its six-man senior class: Marcello Borges, Peter Brown, Ivo Cerda, Noah Kleedtke, Robbie Mertz and Daniel Mukuna. The match will be shown live on Big Ten Network and on BTN2Go. Dean Linke (play-by-play) and Chris Doran (analyst) will be on the call. Thundersticks will be distributed to the first 500 fans in attendance.
Battle for Big Bear
The Big Bear Trophy, which is awarded to the regular-season winner of the annual Michigan/Michigan State matchup, will be up for grabs for the 18th time. The bear was purchased by former U-M head coach Steve Burns on his way back from a trip to Canada in 1999 and was instilled as the rivalry's trophy during the inaugural match between the two teams in 2000. The wood-carved bear, which measures nearly two feet tall, was purchased from craftsman Keith Bunker in Wolverine, Michigan. Bunker passed away on May 16, 2013. Since its purchase, Big Bear has seen some ups and downs, losing both of its "eyes" and suffering a split in its stomach region in the past few seasons.
Vote for Robbie!
Senior co-captain Robbie Mertz is one of the 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, honoring the best senior student-athlete in college soccer. Fan voting accounts for one-third of the total and is open through Nov. 18. The winner will be unveiled at the College Cup in December. » Vote
Team Notes
• The last week of the regular season will see some shifting in the Big Ten standings. Indiana remains first (18 points), but the next five teams (Michigan State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maryland, Penn State) are all separated by just five points. The top four teams in the standings after play concludes on Sunday will host quarterfinal matches in the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 4. The winners of those four matches will advance to the semifinals at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana.
• Michigan is ranked No. 18 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll, released last Tuesday (Oct. 16). New rankings will be unveiled on Tuesday (Oct. 23). The Wolverines are No. 56 in the RPI released Monday (Oct. 22).
• Michigan has one of the stoutest defenses in the country, conceding only 11 goals in 14 matches. The school record for fewest goals allowed is 20 (2015). Sophomore Henry Mashburn has been stellar in organizing the defense, increasing his save percentage (.686 in 2018, up from .583 in 2017) and decreasing his goals-against average (0.76 in 2018, down from 1.37 in 2017). He has made 24 saves in 14 matches this year, as the back line in front of him has allowed 6.4 shots per match.
• With his goal against Notre Dame, junior Jack Hallahan moved up to No. 8 on the school's all-time list in career points (52: 19G, 14A). Peri Marosevic (2006-08) is No. 7 with 55 points. Among career leaders, Hallahan is tied for eighth in goals and tied for ninth in assists. He is third among all Big Ten players in points this season (19: 6G, 7A).
• Sophomore Umar Farouk Osman is one of the Big Ten's breakout players this season. After collecting two points (on two assists) last year as a freshman, Osman -- or "UFO" -- has 17 points (7G, 3A) this season, fourth-best in the Big Ten.
Opponent Preview
MICHIGAN STATE is 10-2-3 on the season and 4-1-1 in the Big Ten. The Spartans are ranked No. 13 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 32 in the RPI. They are coming off a scoreless draw against Northwestern last Friday (Oct. 19). Three players have at least 10 points: Giuseppe Barone (14: 3G, 8A), Ryan Sierakowski (14: 5G, 4A) and DeJuan Jones (13: 5G, 3A). Jimmy Hague is one of the nation's top goalkeepers, making 43 saves (.811 SV%) and conceding only 10 goals (0.65 GAA).
Series: Michigan is 7-14-1 all-time against Michigan State. The Spartans won last year's matchup, 1-0 (OT), in Ann Arbor. Under coach Chaka Daley, U-M is 3-3-0 against Michigan State. The Wolverines last won possession of Big Bear in 2015, beating the Spartans, 1-0, on Halloween at U-M Soccer Stadium.
MARYLAND is 6-5-3 on the season and 3-3-0 in the Big Ten. Prior to the matchup on Sunday, Maryland will host Penn State on Tuesday (Oct. 23). The Terrapins have won two straight, beating Denver (1-0) and Ohio State (5-0) last week. They are ranked No. 19 in the RPI. William James Herve (3G, 2A), Amar Sejdic (4G) and Paul Bin (3G, 2A) all have eight points for the Terrapins, tying for the team lead. Dayne St. Clair has played every minute in goal, allowing 11 goals (0.74 GAA) and making 49 saves (.817 SV%).
Series: Michigan is 2-3-2 all-time against Maryland. The Wolverines won last year's matchup, 2-1, in College Park, clinching the Big Ten title when Francis Atuahene scored the golden goal in double overtime.
Up Next
Sunday, Nov. 4 -- Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals (at four highest seeds)
