Michigan
8-4-4, 3-1-3
Michigan State
3-10-3, 3-3-1
Wolverines Capture Big Bear Trophy in Shutout Win Over Michigan State
10/29/2019 11:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» The Wolverines recaptured the Big Bear Trophy for the first time since 2015, with a 2-0 win over Michigan State on Tuesday (Oct. 29) at U-M Soccer Stadium.
» Nebojsa Popovic netted two goals in the first half, bringing his total to 10 on the season.
» Owen Finnerty made his first collegiate start in net, playing all 90 minutes in the shutout. He did not face a single shot-on-goal.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 2, Michigan State 0
Records: U-M (8-4-4. 3-1-3 B1G), MSU (3-10-3, 3-3-1 B1G)
Attendance: 1,529
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 3 -- at #17 Maryland (College Park, Md.), 3 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Graduate student Nebojsa Popovic netted a first-half brace to lead the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 2-0 win over rival Michigan State on Tuesday (Oct. 29) at U-M Soccer Stadium, capturing the Big Bear Trophy for the first time since 2015.
With the win, U-M moved into third place in the Big Ten standings (12 points), leapfrogging three teams, including its Sunday's opponent, No. 17-ranked Maryland (11 points), which lost to Penn State in overtime on Tuesday night. Northwestern and Michigan State have 10 points with one match remaining. The top four teams in the standings following play Sunday will host first-round matches in the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 10.
Freshman Owen Finnerty made his first career start in net in place of senior Andrew Verdi, but he did not have much to do. The defense in front of him held the Spartans to just six shots -- none on goal -- en route to the team's eighth clean sheet of the season.
The Wolverines jumped on the Spartans early. In the 10th minute, junior Marc Ybarra sent a corner kick that found freshman Derick Broche. His initial attempt was kicked away by a Spartan defender, but it went right to Popovic, who turned and fired on net. The shot ricocheted off another Spartan defender and into the side-netting to give U-M a 1-0 lead.
Popovic doubled Michigan's lead in the 38th minute. Ybarra brilliantly dispossessed a Michigan State midfielder and tapped it on to Popovic, who did the rest. He took a few dribbles and fired a right-footed shot into the net, glancing off the far post. The Wolverines nearly made it 3-0 in the final minutes of the half, but junior Mohammed Zakyi hit the far post.
The scariest chance for Michigan State came in the 56th minute off the foot of Connor George. His shot deflected off a U-M defender and froze Finnerty in his tracks, eventually bouncing off the post and out for a corner.
Two minutes later at the other end, sophomore Kevin Buca cut inside the box onto his right foot and took a shot on frame that Michigan State goalkeeper Hunter Morse palmed away. The follow-up shot by Zakyi -- who had six attempts in 45 minutes off the bench -- was blocked. The Ghanaian showed some fancy footwork in the 67th minute, dribbling around several Spartan defenders, but Morse again made the save to deny him.
In the 68th minute, Ybarra's inswinging corner kick was dealt away by Michigan State, but right to an on-rushing Austin Swiech, who kicked it to junior Joel Harrison alone at the top of the box. He turned and shot, but his attempt -- like Zakyi's in the first half -- also hit the post. Neither team had any high-danger chances in the final 20 minutes, and Michigan saw the match out for the victory.
Michigan will close the regular season on Sunday (Nov. 3), when it faces No. 17-ranked Maryland in College Park. The match will begin at 3 p.m. at Ludwig Field and will be broadcast live on ESPNU. Glenn Davis (play-by-play) and Devon Kerr (analyst) will be on the call.
Team Stats
Nebojsa Popovic (2)
Assisted By: Marc Ybarra , Derick Broche
Off corner, 33 shot into net, deflected by MSU
09:04
Nebojsa Popovic (2)
Assisted By: Marc Ybarra
23 wins ball pass to 33 shot in net off post
37:44
