Michigan (Soccer) 1 MSU 0!! Michigan reclaims Big Bear Trophy!

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

In Chaka Daley's first season, Michigan has just pulled the upset of state at U-M Soccer Stadium on Senior Day, 1-0. This ruins state's hopes of a conference championship.

Michigan finishes the regular season 8-8-1 and a winning conference record of 3-2-1.

Also-

BIG BEAR IS HOME!!!!! TROPHY BONANZA!!

Latif Alashe with Big Bear

Dezzy

November 3rd, 2012 at 10:32 PM ^

Actually, it was.  There were two disputed Michigan no-goals that the decision came down to the line judge.  One was a goal that appeared (and this is from my view in the student section) to bounce of the bar, into the goal, and bounce out.  The line judge waved it off, though, and the score was still 0-0.  Later in the first half, Michigan put one in, but the line judge again waved it off for offsides.  It was very hard to tell as the score came in off a cross.

Raoul

November 3rd, 2012 at 10:34 PM ^

From mgoblue.com: Rivalry Contests

Men's Soccer -- Big Bear Trophy

When the Wolverines and Spartans meet on the pitch, more than state pride is on the line. The two teams battle for the Big Bear Trophy, a wood sculpture U-M head coach Steve Burns purchased to commemorate the rivalry between the schools.

The traveling hardware has been up for grabs in each regular-season meeting between the two schools since 2000. Michigan claimed it in 2003 (right) with the Spartans taking it home on seven occasions. The trophy will be up for grabs for the 11th time in 2010.

Wolverine Devotee

November 3rd, 2012 at 10:42 PM ^

Keep in mind, even though Michigan trails the series for Big Bear 3-9-1 (overall series 5-10-1), Michigan Men's Soccer is only in it's13th season in existence.

They are having a remarkable season being Chaka Daley's in his 1st year and only the 2nd coach the program has had. The 2010 team had an amazing run to the NCAA College Cup (national semifinals), had the nations leading scorers who are both currently in the MLS and won the B1G Tournament.

So the program is making some great strides. They even upset top-5 ranked akron last year and it was a down year.

JustGoBlue

November 4th, 2012 at 12:25 AM ^

Michigan State could have won the big ten title outright with a win tonight, but instead ended up 3-3-0, good for fifth (of 7). 

Michigan managed 3-2-1, good for third in the conference, while Penn State and Northwestern tie for the regular season title at 3-1-2.  Michigan will be the #3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament in Evanston and will open against the #6 seed, either Wisconsin or Ohio State.  The two play in Columbus tomorrow and an Ohio State win will put them 6th, while a tie or win by Wisconsin will make them the #6 seed and Michigan's first round opponent. 

That opener will be a HUGE game for Michigan.  The team currently sits at 8-8-1 overall.  They had a ridiculously tough schedule such that they may very well squeak into the 48-team NCAA tournament, but they must have a .500 record to be eligible. Michigan currently sits 34th in the RPI, not including the two most recent wins against Detroit and Michigan State.  The tournament will kick off this Wednesday

Michigan beat Ohio State 3-2 (2OT) in Ann Arbor, on a direct free kick from about mid-field with less than a minute left in double OT and lost to Wisconsin 2-1 in Madison, in a game they statistically outplayed the Badgers, except for the final score.

Finally, the men's and women's teams went a combined 6-0 against the other teams in the state (MSU, Oakland and Detroit).