The Michigan Daily- Friday, March 13,1992- Page 13
PLAYOFFS
Continued from page 1
of the week honors -by turning aside
68 shots (.944 save percentage).
Bales led CCHA goalies in saves
0994) and minutes played (1,944) for
the second-straight season. Despite
Bales impressive numbers,
Michigan's Steve Shields led the
league with 23 victories, besting his
closest competitor, Dain Madeley
of Lake Superior by six.
The Wolverines own four victo-
ries over the Buckeyes this season,
including a pair of 9-3 conquests at
ost, but both sides are relying on
season results about as much as
early popularity polls.
"Those games were played when
the two teams were different,"
Berenson said. "We are supposed to
win, but that is why we play the
games."
Ohio State's greatest improve-
nient in the late stages of this season
has been on the power play. By con-
reiting 10 of its last 22 opportuni-
ties, the Buckeye's have tied
Michigan (47-216, 21.8 percentage)
for the season.
Ohio State's Ron White will be
the leading power play scorer play-
ing in this weekend's series. He and
David Smith (30 goals-12 assists)
headline the only quartet of 20-goal
scorers in the conference.
"Coach told us that they have
scored as many goals on the power
play as we have," defenseman Aaron
Ward said. "Obviously, we need to
look out for it. But they don't have a
sniper, like a Felsner or Roberts or
Neaton. Brian Loney (a member of
the CCHA all-rookie team) has a
good shot, but there really isn't only
one guy to concentrate on."
Although the two teams are tied
for fifth in the conference in power
play production, they move in op-
posite directions for penalty killing.
While Michigan is second at 83.6
percent, Ohio State is last in league
at a 70.2 percent clip.
What the Wolverines want to
concentrate on is winning the whole
tournament. They know that the
Buckeyes are the first step.
"It's the playoffs, and anything
can happen, so we've got to play
Michigan hockey," David Oliver
said. "If you worry too much about
Florida Classic awaits Blue softball
by Meg Beison
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan softball team
travels to Tampa this weekend
searching for more than just an es-
cape from the Arctic temperatures of
Ann Arbor. The three-day South
Florida Classic consists of four pool-
play games with single-elimination
play beginning late Saturday and
winding up Sunday.
Twenty teams will compete in the
tournament, including such softball
powerhouses as Iowa and Florida
State, who are ranked in the top ten.
The Wolverines begin pool play
today against Illinois-Chicago and
Iowa State. Action continues
Saturday when they face Eastern
Carolina and Connecticut.
"Our goal is to win our pool and
advance to the final four," Michigan
coach Carol Hutchins said.
Hutchins is confident that her
team is capable of achieving this
goal after the valuable experience
they gained at the Arizona State
Diamond Devil Classic. The
Wolverines returned from the trip
with a 6-4 record.
"I was fairly pleased," Hutchins
said. "We got a lot better. We think
the team improved as a unit."
In order to continue to see im-
proved results, the Wolverines will
concentrate on two facets of the
game in Tampa - pitching and team
focus.
"We want to see improved per-
formance from the pitching staff," r
Hutchins said. "We need them to be
dominating. We need more strike-
outs and shutouts."
In terms of team focus, the rem-
edy will come in simply playing
more games. Hutchins said the team
was "a little erratic" in its first action
of the season.
Bales
the other team, it is going to take
away from your own play."
In other first-round CCHA play-
off action, Illinois-Chicago plays at
Lake Superior, Ferris State travels to
East Lansing to face Michigan State
and Miami will square off with
Western Michigan in Kalamazoo.
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ATTENTION ALL
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
STAFF AND STUDENTS!
Saturday, March 14th 1
10am - 3pm C4
'MA.
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March 19, 20,
21 at the Power
Center
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Don't be another pawn...
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Buy your tickets nowJ
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Be sure to bring your
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764-8099
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