Michigan to End Regular Season with Battle for Big Bear, Trip to Maryland

» The annual Battle for Big Bear has Michigan hosting Michigan State at 8 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 29) at U-M Soccer Stadium and on BTN.
» The Wolverines then head to Maryland on Sunday (Nov. 3) for the regular-season finale at 3 p.m. on ESPNU.
» Both Michigan State and Maryland made last year's College Cup. The Terrapins are the defending national champions.

PROMOTIONS
• Oct. 29: BLUE OUT!

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The University of Michigan men's soccer team (7-4-4, 2-1-3 Big Ten) will face two teams from the 2018 College Cup during the final week of the regular season. The Wolverines will return to action on Tuesday (Oct. 29), hosting in-state rival Michigan State (3-9-3, 3-2-1 Big Ten) in the annual Battle for the Big Bear Trophy at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match will begin at 8 p.m. and will be shown live on the Big Ten Network. Dean Linke (play-by-play) and Chris Munroe (analyst) will be on the call.

U-M will then travel to College Park, Maryland, to take on No. 17 Maryland (9-4-2, 3-1-2 Big Ten), the defending national champion, in the regular-season finale at Ludwig Field. The match will begin at 3 p.m. and will be shown live on ESPNU. Glenn Davis (play-by-play) and Devon Kerr (analyst) will provide the call.

About 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 19th 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 installed 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.

Team Notes

• Heading into the final week of the regular season, Michigan is sixth in the Big Ten with nine points (2-1-3). Only two points separate third (Maryland) through sixth place. Michigan State and Northwestern are tied for fourth with 10 points, though Northwestern has played an extra match to this point. The top four teams in the standings will host quarterfinal-round matches in the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 10. Seeding will be determined following Sunday's matches.

• U-M is ranked No. 39 in the latest edition of the RPI, released on Monday (Oct. 28). To this point in the season, U-M is 2-3-1 against RPI top-50 teams.

• Entering the last week of league play, graduate student Nebojsa Popovic is tied with Penn State's Aaron Molloy for first in the Big Ten in both goals (eight) and points (19).

• The squad got a boost last week as two players returned from injury absences. Senior Jack Hallahan started both matches last week after being out of the lineup for the matches against Indiana (Oct. 13) and Western Michigan (Oct. 17). Junior Mohammed Zakyi returned in last Tuesday's (Oct. 22) win at Notre Dame after missing 10 matches and saw reserve minutes against Wisconsin. Prior to being subbed off against Cornell (Sept. 6), he had two goals in the team's first three matches of the season.

• Michigan ranks second in the Big Ten in fewest goals allowed (12) but has conceded only three goals in six Big Ten matches -- two of which came on penalty kicks. Since the start of last season -- in which Michigan set a school record with only 18 goals allowed in 21 matches -- U-M has posted a 0.80 goals-against average.

• U-M ranks 16th nationally and first in the Big Ten in assists (32 in 15 matches), averaging 2.13 assists per match. This is the third consecutive year that U-M has recorded more than 30 assists in a season (35 in 2017, 36 in 2018). The school record is 49 (2010). Individually, junior Marc Ybarra (six) and senior Jack Hallahan (five) rank second and third in the Big Ten, respectively, in that category.

Opponent Preview

MICHIGAN STATE is 3-9-3 and sits fourth in the Big Ten with 10 points (3-2-1). Though winless in the non-conference, the Spartans have been formidable in Big Ten play, posting a +2 goal differential (9 GF, 7 GA). They are coming off a 1-0 loss to Northwestern last Friday (Oct. 25) in Evanston, Illinois, conceding a goal in the 89th minute. Michael Miller, Farai Mutatu and Alex Shterenberg have two goals each on the season. Hunter Morse leads the Big Ten in saves (67) and has a 1.16 goals-against average.

Series: U-M is 7-14-2 all-time against Michigan State. The Spartans have held the Big Bear Trophy since 2016 when they won 1-0 in East Lansing. The two teams played to a 1-1 (2OT) draw last season in East Lansing. Prior to that draw, the previous four matchups were all decided by one goal.

MARYLAND is 9-4-2 and sits third in the Big Ten with 11 points (3-1-2). Prior to Sunday's finale, the Terps will travel to second-place Penn State on Tuesday (Oct. 29). The defending champions have played a difficult schedule this season, going 4-2 against top-25 opponents. They are also tough to beat at home, going 8-2-0 at Ludwig Field. Maryland is +8 in goal differential (19 GF, 11 GA) and has a balanced attack, as six players have recorded at least two goals. Eric Matzelevich leads the team in goals (four) and is tied for the team lead in points (nine) with Malcom Johnston. Niklas Neumann has started 12 matches in net, making 34 saves to go along with a 0.44 goals-against average.

Series: U-M is 3-3-2 all-time against Maryland. The Wolverines have won the last two meetings in the series, winning 2-1 (OT) last season in Ann Arbor and clinching the program's first Big Ten championship in a 2-1 (2OT) victory at Ludwig Field in 2017.

Up Next

Sunday, Nov. 10 -- Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals (Host TBD)