Adoring fans see first soccer win

By James Mercier

Daily Sports Writer

For fans of men's soccer, the wait finally ended this past Friday night. After 52 years of competing as a club team, the Michigan team played its first game as a varsity squad, defeating DePaul 1-0.

On a hot, humid evening, an estimated 3,000 fans - 2,300 above capacity - showed up to watch the historic contest. Those who arrived before the game were treated to a pep rally that featured a speech from coach Steve Burns.

Suitably excited, the fans loudly supported the Wolverines throughout the contest. They came to their feet when freshman midfielder Ian Hirschfield blasted an 18-yard strike into the DePaul goal just 4:49 into the match.

"It was the dream of a lifetime, right there," Hirschfield said after the game. "Everyone was screaming for me, and I just looked up and saw the goal. It was an incredible feeling."

DePaul entered the match with a reputation for physical play and lived up to it. The referees gave the Blue Demons three yellow cards in the first half alone. Defenseman Ryan Wunderlich was the target of many Michigan fans' catcalls.

Burns, who had coached the team when it was competing at the club level, became emotional before the match.

"Yeah, I was excited," he said. "When the national anthem was being played, I teared up a little. I struggled to hold the tears back."

The game was a defensive struggle, featuring few great scoring chances, but the crowd remained enthusiastic to the end.

"This is really exciting," fan Kevin Johnson said during the match. "It's fun to see a new sport get going. My kids are starting to play soccer, and it's fun to see how the game should be played."

As the second half wound down, the crowd again came to its feet, chanting "Let's Go Blue!" Children blasted plastic blue horns given out before the match.

When time expired, the Wolverines dove into a celebratory pile near the sideline. They then walked to midfield and saluted the crowd.

Senior goalkeeper Albert Geldres was ecstatic following the game.

"I can't tell you how I feel right now," he said afterward. "We've been waiting for this for four years playing club and to get this many fans for the first game is an incredible experience."

Geldres had a strong outing, going the distance and shutting the Blue Demons out. He delivered a highlight-reel performance in the final minute of the first half, leaping horizontally to stop a hard shot.

"I really didn't expect to pitch a shutout," Geldres said. "My job was just to come up with the one or two big saves we'd need. The defense took care of the rest."

While acknowledging that his team needed to get better, Burns was pleased with his team after the game.

"I'm happy," he said. "If we can give this effort all the time, we're going to do some good things."

NORMAN NG/Daily

Freshman midfielder Ian Hirschfield shoots the winning goal against DePaul this past Friday.