Thursday
October 19, 2006
sports.michigandaily.com
sports@michigandaily.com
SOe RTSiiianilg
5A
Scoring woes
continue for
Wolverines in
loss to Akron
By Anthony Oliveira
Daily Sports Writer
The film "Once in a Lifetime:
The Extraordinary Story of the
New York Cosmos" compares
soccer to a play.
If yes-
terday's AN
Michigan -
men's soc-
cer game against Akron were a
theatrical production, Michigan
coach Steve Burns would prob-
ably describe it as a "cruel"
tragedy.
"The soccer gods weren't
with us today," Burns said.
For their third consecutive con-
test, the Wolverines were unable
to beat the goalkeeper, losing to
Akron 1-0 at Lee Jackson Field in
Akron, Ohio. Michigan (0-2-2 Big
Ten, 5-9-3 overall) hasn't won a
game since Sept. 20.
Despite dominating the sec-
ond half with six good scoring
opportunities, the Wolverines
couldn't solve the Zips' Evan
Bush. The All-Region keeper
stopped all five shots he faced.
Michigan's best opportunities
came early in the second half. In
the 47th minute, freshman Mauro
Fuzetti served the ball to freshman
Peri Marosevic on the right flank.
Turning the defender from 20 yards
out, Marosevic took an off-angle
strike toward the goal, but the shot
deflected wide by Bush.
Eight minutes later, sopho-
more Steve Bonnell received
the ball from Marosevic off the
counter-attack. Facing the goal,
Bonnell hit a strong, low strike
from 25 yards out, but Bush
stoned Michigan again.
Despite producing opportunities
throughout the game, the ball just
wouldn't roll into the net.
"When you don't create
chances, you know you're not
going to score goals," Burns'
said. "But we're creating chanc-
es. We're dictating how the
game is played."
In its eight-game winless
streak, Michigan has outshot
opponents 131-100. But the
Wolverines have trailed the
goal count 10-3.
"We're unable to get past the
hump," Burns said.
Akron's goal came late in the first
half off what seemed like a harm-
less throw-in. Unable to trap the ball,
Akron (9-4-1 overall) senior Ashley
Kozicki converted a shot on net that
deflected off freshman goalkeeper
Patrick Sperry.
According to Burns, seven play-
ers easily exceeded his expectations,
including senior captain Bobby Try-
bula. In the first half, Trybula's shot
seemed to be going into an empty
net - until a Zips defender denied
the ball out of play. Despite the frus-
tration, the Wolverines managed to
find a rhythm at halftime.
"At this point, our team is
showing a lot of character and a
lot of pride," Burns said.
Michigan hopes to break
the winless spell this Sunday
against Ohio State. Combating
their most difficult season, the
Wolverines are looking to get
the ball in the back of the net.
"It's just a matter of getting
goals," Burns said. "Until you
score, soccer can be a cruel
game."
Top: Sophomore Steve Bonnell and his Wolverine teammates couldn't find the back of the net in last night's 1-0 loss at Akron.
Bottom: Senior captain Bobby Trybula was denied a scoring opportunity by a heady Zips defender.
BY THE NUMBERS
After a respectable start to the season, the
men's soccer team has cooled off in a big way.
Consecutive
games Michigan
has been held
scoreless.
Straight games
without a win
for the Wolver-
ines.
1
2
Goal the Wolver-
ines have scored
in the last seven
games.
Games left for
Michigan to avoid
its first winless
Big Ten season.
Off the bench, Englemon
big contributor for Varsity
By Matt Singer
Daily Sports Editor
It was one of the biggest plays of
the season for Michigan's defense.
But Brandent Englemon wanted
more.
Down 10-0 late in the first half
of last Saturday's game, Penn State
drove to the Michigan five-yard
line. On third-and-goal, Nittany
Lion quarterback Anthony Morelli
saw Jordan Norwood in the left flat
near the goal line. But Englemon
flew in, stepping in front of Nor-
wood and breaking up Morelli's
wobbly would-be touchdown pass.
Englemon's pass break-up forced
Penn State to settle for a field goal,
but he was frustrated he didn't
come up with the interception.
"(Defensive coordinator Ron
English) made an adjustment, and
I was able to pick up on it," Engle-
mon said. "I was just in the right
spot at the right time. I made the
play, but I didn't make the play. I
should have caught the ball"
A redshirt junior, Englemon has
already made more than his fair
share of plays. In two-plus years as
an on-and-off starting safety and
special teams player, he's racked up
71 tackles, including two sacks.
It's not just the number of tackles
Englemon records,but their quality
that sets Englemon apart. Despite
his relatively compact frame - 5
foot 11, 205 pounds - Engle-
mon packs a big wallop from his
safety position. He has developed
a reputation for being one of the
Wolverines' biggest hitters in the
secondary. Opposing receivers
know that, if given the opportunity,
No. 31 won't hesitate to lay them
out.
"I just go out there and try to
play with great intensity," Engle-
mon said. "And a lot of times, I'm
in a position to make a big hit. It's
just fun making the big-hit and get-
ting the crowd going."
A few years ago, it seemed
unlikely that Englemon would ever
be dropping into coverage and pop-
ping receivers for the Maize and
Blue. He was a lightly regarded
two-star prospect, according to
Rivals100.com, from Covington,
Ky. - hardly the typical Wolver-
ine profile.
But Lloyd Carr and the Michi-
gan coaching staff saw something
in Englemon and offered him one
of the Wolverines' last scholar-
ships in 2002. For Englemon, who
also considered playing for his
See ENGLEMON, page 10A
Redshirt junior safety Brandent Englemon (31) wraps a Wisconsin ballcarrier. Even though he's started only two
games, Englemon has taliled 16 tackles this season.
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