A Saad Day in Michigan

By Parvez Fatteh, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com

Arab-American brothers Soony and Hamoody Saad took their University of Michigan men’s soccer team on one wild ride this season, but the journey came to an end as they fell 2-1 to Akron University in the semifinals of the College Cup, soccer’s version of the Final Four. Things were looking fabulous initially for the Wolverines as Justin Meram scored less than a minute into the game to give them a quick 1-0 lead. But that was the end of Michigan’s scoring for the night, as Akron got the equalizer in the 33rd minute and then took a permanent lead with a 73rd minute goal.

But Michigan and the Saads have no reason to hang their heads. They took a program that was only a club team just 11 years ago to the school’s first ever Big Ten conference title, and then ultimately to the Final Four. And this was with Hamoody Saad being a sophomore, and younger brother Soony Saad only a freshman. Oh by the way, Soony Saad was only the second leading goal scorer in the nation with 19 goals, after having been named the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year as a senior in high school. He was also named Rookie of the Year this past season by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Not bad for a couple of kids from suburban Detroit, for whom the sky is certainly the limit.

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