The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
September 8, 2009 - 3B
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom September 8, 2009 - 38
Reloaded Michigan off to
fast start in'09 campaign
New contributors in
defense, midfield lead Blue
to early-season success
By CHAN TEL JENNINGS
Daily Sports Writer
One season removed from losing two star
players to Major League Soccer and falling short
of the Big Ten Title, the Wolverines are back in
their 10th year as a varsity program.
Just three games into the season, No. 22
Michigan has already taken down one top-25
team and started its charge toward its second
consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
YOUNG GUNS
Even with nine true freshmen on the roster,
Michigan men's soccer coach Steve Burns is
not surprised with the group's on-field results.
Three freshmen in particular have shined on a
roster showing veteran characteristics.
"They really don't have any fear in how they
play," Burns said.
Freshman Latif Alashe has started every
game for the Wolverines at center midfield,
filling the wide gap left by now-graduated Alex
Morisset. Alashe's ability to control the middle
of the field, along with a natural ability to get
in the box and create offensive opportuni-
ties, gave him two goals during the exhibition
schedule.
Freshman Kofi Opare has surprised the
coaches with his versatility on the field. Recruit-
ed as a defender, the Niagara Falls, Ont. native
has found himself playing everywhere from out-
side back to defensive midfielder to forward.
A help to Alashe in the middle of the field,
freshman Hamoody Saadhas provided cool com-
posure for the team. The wide midfielder has a
rare ability to control the tempo of the game.
"The game can be hectic around him, but
once he can put his foot on the ball, everything
is calm," Burns said.
With so many talented freshmen, expect the
Wolverines to make leaps and bounds as the sea-
son progresses and the young players gain expe-
rience.
OFFENSE
With the loss of Marosevic, who had 13 goals
last season, a space opened up for senior Mauro
Fuzetti. The forward has leaped out of Maros-
evic's shadow and provided much of the offense
for the Wolverines, with two goals and an assist
so far this year.
Coupled with Fuzetti up front is junior
college transfer Justin Meram. The junior
led Yavapai College to back-to-back nation-
al championships during his freshman and
sophomore seasons and was named the 2008
National Junior College Player of the Year
last year. Described as a "natural scorer" by
Burns, the forward's technical play should
combine nicely with Fuzetti's speed and flare
for the game to create an exceptional offen-
sive tandem.
Michigan will also have offensive depth
with redshirt juniors Matt Schmitt and Cam
Cameron and junior Chase Tennant. Ten-
nant, back from a two-year Mormon mission
trip and currently overcoming a lingering
ankle injury, is only at 75 percent, but still
scored the game winner against Drake on Fri-
day. Cameron had two goals and four assists
last season while Schmitt had one goal and
seven assists.
With two big offensive threats in Fuzetti and
Meram, other teams will have difficulty match-
ing both players. Look for this pair to lead the
team in scoring while also creating offensive
opportunities for teammates.
DEFENSE
After starting the regular season with a 5-0
loss to Notre Dame, the Wolverine defense has
focused on being more aggressive and physical,
a goal that Burns will continue to stress to his
team as the season progresses.
"I thought coming out of preseason ... that the
strength of our team was our defense," Burns
said. "And then for Notre Dame to open us up the
way they did in the second half was definitely
concerning."
Since the Sept.1 Notre Dame loss, the Wolver-
ine defense has allowed just seven shots on goal
in two games.
Anchored by fifth-year senior captain Danny
Gray, the defense is filled by strong, dominant
players such as junior Adam Keller and senior
Julian Robles.
New inthe netfor Michigan isredshirt sopho-
more Chris Blais, who has improved each year
with the Wolverines.
"He's confident," Burns said. "He's sure-
handed."
SAID ALSALAH/Dail
Senior forward Mauro Fuzetti is one of several Wolverines expected to shoulder a
larger load this season.
Worn-out Wolverines pull out late win at Valparaiso
Meram scores game cer game.
So it was no surprise that on Sun-
winner in 2-1 victory day night in Valparaiso, Ind., No. 22
Michigan came out flat.
By JAKE FELDMAN "We were just ready to go home,"
Daily Sports Writer senior captain Daniel Gray said.
But ultimately, the Wolver-
Their season started on the road ines put aside their travel ached
against two ranked opponents. to regroup in the second half on
They had stayed in three hotels in the way to a 2-1 victory over Val-
five days. They had already traveled paraiso.
over 900 miles on a charter bus. In the opening minutes, the lack-
And now these 27 student-athletes luster Wolverines (2-1-0) failed to
were supposed to play a varsity soc- apply any serious pressure on their
opponents and seemed to be a step
behind Valparaiso (1-1-0) on every
loose ball. Crusader junior forward
Zack Stivers slipped by the Michi-
gan defense and scored in the 39th
minute.
After a half of uninspired play,
the Wolverines finally awoke from
their slumber and recaptured
control of the game. Gray and fel-
low senior defender Julian Robles
led the locker room talk and then
guided their team with outstand-
ing play.
"When (Gray's) teammates see
him pulling in a tackle, putting his
body at risk and popping back up,
and then giving them a little fist
pump, they really respond to that
on the field," Michigan coach Steve
Burns said.
Michigan dominated the time of
possession in the second half, and
in the 70th minute, the Wolverines
tied the game at one. Senior for-
ward Mauro Fuzetti received the
ball in the box, and in one motion,
turned and struck the ball just
inside the left post..
"I have an eye for the goal," he
said. "I always know where I am on
the field, and what I need to do to
get a shot on target."
Fuzetti has scored in each of
the last two games and has cre-
ated many scoring opportunities
throughout the Wolverines' young
season. Just two minutes after
tying the game, he blew by his
defender and lightly passed the ball
to junior forward Justin Meram,
who delivered the eventual game
winner.
"Mauro is probably the most
technical player on our team,"
Burns said. "He can hold the
ball under a lot of pressure. He's
extremely quick and has great agil-
ity, and if he can get you off balance,
he can blow by guys."
Fuzetti's outstanding play
enabled the Wolverines to return
with a victory to Ann Arbor, where
they will play their first home game
of the season against Wright State
on Friday.
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