Page 6-The Michigan Daily-Sports Monday- March 29, 1993 C Wu ints 'M' hockey displays heart, determination in comeback victory , 0 6 S Senior David Roberts skates along the boards. Roberts recorded the game-winning goal during overtime. It was his 26th goal of the season. SCORE BY PERIODS Wisconsin 0 1 2 0- 3 Michi an 1 0 2 1- 4 First Period: 1, UM, Oliver 12 (pp) (Neaton, Roberts), 10:57. Penalties - UW, Strobel, tripping, 10:45. UW, Doers, interference, 14:25. Second Period: 2, UW, Moore 17 (Shier, Katlaps), 1:45. Penalties - UW, Francisco, roughing; UM, Sittler, roughing, 1:50. UM, Wiseman, interference, 15:04. Third Period: 3, UW, Williams 6 (Granato, Francisco), 6:31. 4, UM, Willis 3 (Stone, Knuble), 11:05. 5, UW, Tok 3 (Shier, Rafalski), 14:07. 6, UM, Stewart 20 (Wiseman, Oliver), 16:13. Penalties - UW, Strobel, roughing; UM, Halko, roughing, 19:02. OT: UM, Roberts 26, 1:35 Goalie Saves: UM, Shields (8-9-9 - 0-26). UW, Carey (7-10-11-1-29). Officials: Referees - Steve McBride, Rich Fowkes. Linesman : John Jones. At: Joe Louis Arena HOCKEY Continued from page 1 Wolverines displayed that com- posure and hit pay dirt a little more than two minutes later as Cam Stewart bunted the puck out of the air, bouncing it off the ice and into the net. "We worked for our goal," Ste- wart said. "It's not luck that it went in. Some of our best shifts were after they had scored." Michigan proved that earlier in the game when Rick Willis erased the Wolverines' first deficit with his third goal of the season at the 11:05 mark of the third period. The goal left the game deadlocked at 2-2. "It was definitely the biggest goal of my career," Willis said. Wisconsin coach Jeff Sauer said he was angered with the way his club allowed Michigan to get back 'This was as tough of a game as we've had all season. I thought we would have more of the advantage.' -Red Berenson Michigan hockey coach into the game. "I was disappointed in the way they scored the second and third goals," Sauer said. "We didn't do a good job of defending our assign- ments." The Wolverines found them- selves down a goal because of some aggressive play on the part of the Badgers. "At times in the second period, they forechecked us real well," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "They forechecked well in the crease. This was as tough of a game as we've had all season. I thought we would have more of the ad- vantage." Michigan got the first advantage of the game when David Oliver ripped home a backhand pass from Neaton. The power-play goal put Michigan up, 1-0, at the 10:57 mark of the opening stanza. The power-play opportunity was one of the few man-advantage situa- tions for either team. The Wol- verines were denied on their other chance while Wisconsin was blank- ed the only time it was up a player. Despite the few penalties called, seven in all, intensity was something neither side was lacking. "I have never experienced a game that intense," Neaton. "It was quite an experience to come down here and play a game like this." HOCKEYNOTEBOOK Wolverines set to face Maine in semis by Brett Forrest Daily Hockey Writer DETROIT - When Wisconsin defenseman Chris Tok's slapshot found its way through Michigan goalie Steve Shields' legs at the 14:07 mark of the third period to put the Badgers up 372, you had to think the game was over. You just had to. The Wolverines played what looked like their toughest hockey for 54 minutes with the inspired Badgers matching them throughout. Michigan came out of the gate fired up and ready to play in this, the biggest game of the year to date. Michigan's scoring opportunities were plentiful but the team could convert only a few. Wolverine forward David Oliver's nifty power-play goal opened the scoring in the first period. Wisconsin freshman goalie> Jim Carey stopped several quality chances during the first two periods as Michigan was continually frustrated. In the second, Badger Blaine Moore matched Oliver's goal with one of his own. After two periods the teams were tied at one on the scoreboard and 18 on the shot chart. Wisconsin opened the third-period scoring six-and-one-half minutes in on a tally by center Max Williams, with the Wolverines caught scrambling and out of position. It took a little over four minutes before fourth-line left wing Rick Willis scored his third goal of the season, into an open net created when Carey could not control the rebound on a Mike Stone shot. The stage was set. Often, in an important game such as this, a mistake dooms a squad. It was the NCAA quarterfinals. It was the third period. It was Michigan and Wisconsin playing down to the wire. Something had to crack. What happened? Shields made the mistake. When Shields was beaten on a routine, unscreened point shot with less than six minutes to go, it looked as if the Wolverines were destined to lose to the Badgers for the second straight NCAA tournament. The Wolverines grinded and mucked for the whole game. Shields made key stops earlier in the contest. Michigan coach Red Berenson shortened his bench. They were giving it their all and when that goal snuck in with precious few ticks left on the clock, it looked as if Michigan's season was a done deal. But this team just would not let that happen. "Somehow, some way, for some crazy reason, I knew we were going to win the game," Oliver said. "(Even after Tok's goal) I still felt totally confident we were going to win the game." "We were as ready to play this game as any game all season," Berenson said. "I really believed they would find a way to do it, and they did." For some crazy reason Michigan did come back just two minutes later. The reunited junior threesome of right wing Oliver, left wing Cam Stewart and center Brian Wiseman stormed the Wisconsin zone with less than four minutes remaining in regulation. With Stewart camped in front of Carey, Wiseman sent a shot on net. The puck popped in the air and Stewart swung and connected to knot the score at three. The BOS line came through - but that was expected. "This week we talked about whether we were up or down in the game, we had to keep the same mindset," Stewart said. "We knew we were never going to quit. We knew we were going to win." "It's a big thing for this team not to lie down whether we're ahead or behind," Wiseman said. "We were all positive on the bench even after" that minor setback (Tok's goal). There was not one time I thought we were going to lose." The last four minutes of regulation saw the same tight-checking game that prevailed all night. There were chances at both ends, though, and with nine seconds left, Shields made a point-blank stop off a faceoff at the right circle. One mistake was enough. The BOS line started the overtime period for Michigan and almost put the biscuit in the oven. After the first shift for the juniors, the all- senior line of Mark Ouimet, Dave Roberts and Dan Stiver took the ice. A minute-and-a-half into the extra period, Roberts dangled through and around the Badger defense and caught Carey out of position to put the game in the books. "We had our fingers crossed. It was all positive energy," Roberts said. "We knew that sooner or later the dike had to break." It is uncanny. Most Wolverines said they had a feeling of overriding confidence even after the team was down, 3-2, with six minutes to go. Other teams - even recent Michigan squads - might have been disheartened or may have just plain given up after a blow like that. However, this team showed the character, desire and charisma to win the tough game. "A game like this shows you what kind of team you have," Berenson said. Blue finds sweet revenge in victory over Wisconsin 0 0 0 by Chad A. Safran Daily Hockey Writer DETROIT - The much antici- pated matchup is set. Michigan will get its shot at No. 1 Maine in Thursday's NCAA semifinals at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The Black Bear's de- feated Minnesota, 6-2, Saturday in the NCAA East Regional at the Centrum in Worcester, Mass. Freshman center Paul Kariya led the way scoring two goals while assisting on two others. In the other game out East, Boston topped Northern Michigan, which was a surprise 3-2 double- overtime winner over Harvard Friday, 4-1, to earn a matchup with Lake Superior. Mike Bavis scored in the opening minute of the game to get the Terriers off and running. Lake Superior defeated Minnesota-Duluth to gain a semifinal berth for the second consecutive season. Brian Rolston scored two goals within 59 seconds of each other in the second period for the Lakers. NOT AGAIN: Freshman center Kevin Hilton reinjured his right shoulder in the second period. The Wolverines third-line center fell to the ice after a body check, causing the reseparation. Hilton, who missed two games last month from the orig- inal shoulder injury, should be fine for Thursday's semifinal. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME: It hss been quite a while since Michigan's last back-to-back ap- pearances in the NCAA semifinals. The last time this feat was accom- plished was the 1955-56 and 1956- 57 seasons. Vic Heyliger coached the clubs to a championship and runner-up finish, respectively. 0 0 Michigan's Mike Stone breaks his stick on a slapshot during the third period of the Wolverines' victory Saturday. The broken stick may have cost the Wolverines a break-away goal due to the lack of power behind the shot. In addition, it had been 13 sea- sons since Michigan last defeated Wisconsin. In 1980, the Wolverines came away with an 8-4 triumph over the Badgers in Madison. CASHING IN ON OVERTIME PAY: The win over Wisconsin marked the first time Michigan had come away victorious in overtime. The Wolverines were 0-1-3 in their previous games with an extra session. POSTSEASON SUCCESS: With its appearance in this year's NCAA tournament, Wisconsin added to its NCAA tournament record number of wins. The Badgers victory over Miami gave them a total of 28 NCAA post-season wins. TOPPING THE CHARTS: David Roberts continues to lead the Wolverines in scoring. With his goal and assist, the senior forward now has 64 points. AMAZIN' MAIZE: The Wolverines dawned their maize jerseys for the fifth time this year against Wisconsin. With the 4-3 overtime victory over the Badgers, Michigan is now 5-0 when wearing those uniforms, including victories over Northern Michigan, Michigan State, Bowling Green and Lake Superior. ANYONE NEED TICKETS: If you are one of the people looking for tickets to the NCAA hockey semifi- nals and finals, they will be available today beginning at 8 a.m. at the Athletic Ticket Office. GET SERIOUS! by Tim Rardin Daily Hockey Writer DETROIT - It wasn't as if the Michigan hockey team needed any extra incentive for its NCAA quar- terfinal game Saturday. The chance to advance to the Final Four of col- legiate hockey for the second straight year ought to be enough. But, the fact that the Wolverines got the chance to play Wisconsin, the team that knocked them out of the tournament in last year's NCAA semifinal game, sure didn't hurt. "We were excited about the possibility of redeeming ourselves," Michigan senior captain David Harlock said. And after senior forward Dave Roberts knocked home the game- winner 1:35 into the overtime pe- riod, that possibility quickly became reality. Michigan had tasted sweet adding an empty-netter to send Michigan home early with the 4-2 victory. This time, even though the Wolverines were playing a different, and less talented, Wisconsin squad, and even though the Badgers were the lowest seed in the East coming in, they seemed destined to do it to Michigan again. But the Wolverines would not could not, suffer the same fate again. Just two minutes after the Badgers' go-ahead goal, junior Cam Stewart tapped in an airborne puck at the left corner of the Badger net to notch the score at three. Somehow, after that goal, you just knew that this game would be different, but the Michigan players never doubted that fact. "We knew we were going t win," Stewart said. Roberts' score simply proved 0 0 it Spring/Summer Special $12'9 (regular $169) 677-1315 U U NCAA FINAL FOUR New Orleans Apr 2-6, 1993 " d "i crT.+.o T-Ti-%4-nl Tae rim arU AAnf-airin _