48 - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - November 24, 1997 CCHA Players of the Week Muckalt vents frustration with officials Offense: Mike York, Michigan State The Junior center scored a goal and had three assists as the Spartans won a pair of games against Ohio State and Bowling Green this week- end. Defense: Josh Harrold, Miami (Ohio) The defensemen scored the game winning goal in the Redhawk's vic- tory over Western Michigan on Friday night and led Miami's defense which allowed only 45 shots on goal in two games. Michigan 4, Bowling Green 2 Bowling Green 0 1 1 -2 Michigan 2 1 1 -4 Fir period -1. UM, Hayes 7 (Peach, Van Ryn), 11:12; 2. UM Kosick 5 (Langfeld, Peach). Penalties- UM,Gassoff (roughing), 1:56:BG, Valentine (roughing) 1:56; UM, Rominski (interfer- ence), 7:12; BG, Dejarlais (rouging), :12; UM, Rominski (holding the stick), 9:26; BG, Hustler (interference), 10:01; UM, Rominski (hooking), 15:38; BG, Schueller (double-minor roughing), 17:58; UM, Langfeld (roughing), 17:58. Second period - 1. nGNowosad 2 (Ham, Jones), 7:59; 3. UM, Koch 1 (Langfeld), 15:18. Penalties - BG, Nowosad (interference), 11:16; UM, Crozier (interference), 18:43. third period - 2. 8G, Valentine 4 (Murphy), 2:14; 4.UM, Rominski 3 (unassisted), 19:36. Penalties - iM, Merrick (hooking), 3:23; BG Valentine (interfer- ence), 5:03; UM, Ritchlin roughing), 5:26; BG, (roughing), 5:26. Shots on goal -BG 5-9-8 - 22; UM 15-9-5- 29. Power Plays- BG, 0 of 4; UM, 0 of 5. Saves - BG, Savard 13-8-4 - 25; UM, Turco 5-6-7 -20. Referee- Roger Graff. Assistant Referees - Don Kline, Dave Kronenberg. At Bowling Green Ice Arena. A: 4,683. Sunday's hockey game Michigan 3, Ohio State 2 (ot) Michigan 0 1 1 1--3 Ohio State 0 2 0 0--2 Firt period - No scoring. Penalties - UM, Muckalt (cross checking), 4:11; UM, Peach (Tripping), 8:33; OSU, Dufour (holding the stick), 9:08; OSU, Cousineau (roughing), 14:23; UM, Van Ryn (roughing), 14:23; UM, Rominski (unsportsman- like conduct), 17:13; OSU, Signoretti (tripping), 18:28; UM, Muckalt (charging), 19:45; UM, Muckalt (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:45. Second period -1. UM, Muckalt 11(Kahler), 3:53; 1. OSU, Meloche 5 (Dufour, Boisvert), 5:48; 2. OSU, Cousineau 2 (Richards, Boisvert), 19:55. Penalties - OSU, Shaleski (roughing), 5:17; OSU, McMillan (roughing), 5:17; UM, Ritchlin (roughing), 5:17; tIM, crozier (roughing), 5:17; OSU, Jestadt (high sticking), 6:36; UM, Turco (slashing), 13:08; OSU, Maund (roughing), 15:08. Third period- 2. UM, Rominski 4 (Muckalt, Hayes), 3:49. Penalties - UM, Magnuson (cross checking), 16:59. Ovetime - 3. UM Koch 2 (Langfeld), 4:29. Penlties - none. Shots on goal - UM, 5-13-9-4 - 31; OSU, 16-11- 13-2-42. PowerPlays -UM,0of 4; OSU,Oof 7. Save- UM, Turco 16-9132 -40; OSU, Maund S5-12-&3 s28. Referee - Roger Graff. Assistant Referees - Robert Faria, Michale Mondalek. At: Ohio Exposition Center. A:1,625. By Sharat Raju Daily Sports Wrctr COLUMBUS - Bill Muckalt, assistant cap- tain of the Michigan hockey team, seems to have Dr. Jekyll-and-Mr. Hyde complex. He's the NCAA's current points-scored leader and has demonstrated that he's a step above everyone else on the ice. But Muckalt has two sides to his personality. On the one hand, he's the playful one on the team, the one who jokes around the most at practice and at home. He often challenges third- string goaltender and fan favorite Greg Daddario to one-on-one post-practice chal- lenges that draw most of the team to watch. He kids around at post-game conferences and flings pucks into the stands at pesky reporters during practice. Before the season started, Muckalt even fooled his teammates that he was going to forgo his senior season and enter the professional ranks. That's just one side of Muckalt. The humor- ous side. But then there's the other side. The Williams Lake, B.C. native has shown that he has a short fuse and fiery temper. In yesterday's 3-2 victory over Ohio State, Muckalt got into a little bit of trouble. Play stopped in the first period after an official whis- tled the Wolverines for being offsides. Muckalt, speeding into the zone, collided into a Buckeye and sent him into the Ohio State bench. An official whistled Muckalt for charg- ing, and held on to the left wing's shirt. Muckalt, furious, voiced his displeasure while jumping up and down on the ice. The result - two penalties for Muckalt, charging and unsportsmanlike conduct. "I didn't mean to lose my cool and they know it," Muckalt said. "It's been going on the whole year." And, to show just how important he is to the Wolverines, as soon as his four minutes of penalty time expired, Muckalt exited the box and immediately received Troy Kahler's pass to score the first goal of the game. The move resembled Superman coming out of the phone booth to save the day. "I want to lead this team the best I can and help them win any way I can," Muckalt said. But yesterday's episode of rage by the fierce- ly-competitive Muckalt wasn't the first. During Wednesday's practice last week, Muckalt got upset after missing a shot and flung his stO into the stands. Michigan coach Red Berenson stopped prac- ticed and loudly chastised Muckalt for losing his temper. For the Wolverines, Muckalt's sometimes volatile attitude can be tolerated. It has to be tolerated. Last' weekend, he had a hand five of the Wolverines' six goals against Ferris State including the game winning goal in overtime in Michigan's 3-2 victory. This past weeker assisted on the second goal after scorin Michigan's first. Berenson feels that since Muckalt is the focus of the other teams' attention, Muckalt should benefit from the unwritten responsibility all officials, professional or collegiate, follow when treating most other superstars - provid- ing protection. Berenson feels they haven't protected his superstar well enough. For other teams "he's a target, he's being t geted and he was responding to it. It's rea y important that our officials understand who the best players are in the league and protect them ice. There's got to be a Gretzky rule, a Lemieux rule, a Brendan Morrison rule and a Billy Muckalt rule. "He shouldn't be leading our team in penal- ties, but he is because he's retaliating every night." At various times during the season, Muckalt has beaten the defense with his unmatch: speed, only to get dragged down from behiW without a penalty being called. It happened this weekend at Bowling Green. "It's a little frustrating, after a while, to put up with so much stuff that doesn't get called" Muckalt said. Friday night "and tonight, the same official wasn't calling anything, "I get to get abused. You feel like you can only take so much and you've got protect your- self. That's just something you have to deal with." PAUL TALANlAN/Daily Right wing Bill Muckalt has been annoyed with the officiating this season. Yesterday, against Ohio State, he let the officials know about it - and he received a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Good goaltending gves Blue edge in ig games Up next Minnesota Friday, Yost Ice Arena 7 pm. Wisconsin Sunday, Yost Ice Arena, 4 p.m. The Three Stars The Michigan Daily hockey writers' picks for Michigan's three stars of the weekend: Third Star: Dale Rominski The junior forward scored a goal in each of the weekend's games Including the tieing goal early in the third period against Ohio State. Rominski was also an integral part of the Michigan penalty killing unit which did not allow a power play goal in 12 chances Second Star: Marty Turco The senior goaltender stopped 40 shots in Sunday's 3-2 overtime vic- Aory over Ohio State and made 20 saves in Friday night's 4-2 victory over Bowling Green. first Star: Geoff Koch After struggling to find his scoring touch for much of the season, the freshmen forward scoredathe game twinning goals against Bowling Green on Friday and against Ohio $tate yesterday. The goals were the first two of his career. CCHA Standings By Pranay Reddy Daily Sports Writer COLUMBUS - Michigan coach Red Berenson knows his team is in for its share of close games this season. But after this week- end, he has a reason to think the Wolverines have a shot to win tight contests. "We've got an NHL goalie in goal," Berenson said. "Marty Turco is keeping us in every game, giving us the chance to win the game." On a night when Ohio State shots came in flurries, Turco responded by turning most of them away - even if he did- n't know where they were coming from. "I didn't see a lot of shots from the point," Turco said. "Fortunately, most of the time I saw where the puck was going, and I put my legs or my glove out there." One fortunate incident for Michigan came when Turco preserved a 2-2 deadlock in the third period on a breakaway by Ohio State right wing Eric Meloche. The save enabled the Wolverines to pull out the overtime victory. "You forget about those things when you win, but Turco made the difference," Berenson said. Friday night at Bowling Green, Turco made another unbelievable save late in the third peri- od to prevent the Falcons from tying the con- test at three. After facing Turco for the first time this year, Ohio State coach John Markell was first in line to applaud the senior netminder's play. "I thought he won the game today," Markell said. "They were scrambling for their life and he came up big." THE FRESHMAN: When all was said and done over the weekend, it was one of the more reserved freshman's actions that spoke the loudest for the Wolverines. Michigan left wing Geoff Koch sealed the deal for the Wolverines against both Ohio State and Bowling Green, tallying two game-win- ning goals. The goals were the first two of Koch's career, and were key to Michigan's four-point weekend. "I'll take what I can get at this point," Koch said, following his goal Friday night. But instead of taking what came to him yester- day, Koch forced the issue in overtime, skating through the zone and pushing the puck past Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund for the victory. The goal may have been all Koch could have gotten - but for the Wolverines, it was all they needed. COACH HERR: While Michigan left wing Matt Herr remains off the ice with a groin injury, his role during games has changed over the past few weeks. Since Michigan's 3-2 home victory over Ferris State on Nov. 14, the senior captain has been down on the bench with the rest of the Wolverines, as opposed to in the press box. Michigan coach Red Berenson invited Herr down to the ice the night of the game, and he jumped at the opportunity. "Coach came up to me and said, 'Would you like to come down?', and I said, 'Yeah, I'd love it,"' Herr said. "It helped me get more into the game." Now, Herr sees things from a different per- spective - one he doesn't seem to enjoy as much. "After the game, coach said to me, 'Now you know how hard it is,"' Herr said. "I sweat more on the bench than I do on the ice." PAUL TALANIAN/D Bowling Green goaltender Mike Savard sprawls to cover the puck against Michigan on Friday. Savard stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced, but still lost. Since that game, Herr has been on the bench during road games at Ferris State in Grand Rapids a week ago, Bowling Green on Friday and Ohio State yesterday. ROSES ON ICE: In the wake of the Michigan football team's 20-14 win over Ohio State on Saturday, a number of dedicated Wolverine fans made the trip to Columbus yesterday to catch the hockey game - as well as gauge the reaction of the Buckeye faithful to the Ohio State loss on Saturday. Rather than shy away from the journey into the proverbial lion's den, some members of the Michigan hockey band pressed on. "We usually go to one or two road games a year," Kinesiology junior Michael Ball said. "We especially wanted to come to Columbus to see the reaction after (Saturday)." And it was quite a reaction they received as . the group proudly paraded around the rink with roses raised in the air. "Oh yeah, we've been getting a lot of s A from people," Ball said. "Usually we don't lik to taunt people, but it's good to be back on - top. Fortunately for Ball and his friends, the same could have been after the hockey game - at least against Ohio State. SWEEP Continued from Page 1B Team Michigan State Northern Michigan Michigan "Miami (Ohio) Ferris State Western Michigan Notre Dame Lake Superior Ohio State Bowling Green -Alaska Fairbanks Won 7 6 6 6 4 4 3 2 2 1 1. Lost 1. 1' 2 1 4 7 4 4 5 5 8 Tiedn 1 2 1 0 3 1 2 0 1 0 Pts 15 14 13 12 11. 9 7 6 4 3 2 lead for long. Two minutes later, Ohio State's Jean- Francois Defour shot the puck from behind the net, deflecting off Michigan goaltender Marty Turco into the slot, where Eric Meloche shot it above a sprawling Turco for the goal. The only other blemish to Turco's save average came at the end of the second, when Ohio State's Tyler McMillan drove a slap shot from between the faceoff dots over Turco's shoulder on a 3-on-3 rush. Other than the two letdowns during the second period, Turco had a great afternoon, bailing out the Wolverines fre- quently en route to 40 saves for the game. Perhaps Turco's most spectacular save didn't come until the middle of the third period, however. After going for almost 20 minutes without scoring, Michigan finally tied the game up at 3:49 in the third, when in a 2-on-2 rush, Muckalt centered the puck to a trailing Dale Rominski for the goal. Ten minutes later, the Buckeyes had their best ther managed to capitalize. Just when it seemed the Wolverines would go home with their second tie of the season, Koch jumpstarted the Wolverines^" offense once and for all. Koch attacked the net as he skated down the right wing, beating Maund for the decisive goal x the second of Koch's career, and his second of the weekend. Unable to halt his momentum, Koch careened into the net. Before the forward could get to his feet, he was mobbed by a frenzied group of his teammates, celebrating the goal and the victory. "I don't know if it was the 3 o'clock game or what it was, but it took us until about 5:30 to wake up," Berenson said. "We had a good third period - that was the best part of our game." The Wolverines managed to defeat Bowling Green without an overtime Friday, although the game was much closer than indicated by the final score of 4-2. Facing a situation similar to last Sunday's game against Ferris State, when the Wolverines held a 3- 0 lead but let the Bulldogs come back to earn a tie, score 2-0. Going into the second period, the Wolverines were determined not to experience a letdown li they had last season. But the Falcons had other ideas. The momentum shifted dramatically, almost as if the two teams had simply exchanged uniforms during the intermis- sion. Bowling Green looked fresh and aggressive, managing to keep the puck in Michigan's zone for most of the second. The Falcons finally capitalized when Bowling Green's Stewart Nowasad beat Turco off a rebound. Michigan, however, wouldn't allow a repeat last weekend's tie with Ferris State. With a sho from the slot, Koch scored the first goal of his career at 15:18 in the second, breaking the Falcons' spirit and icing the game for the Wolverines. "That was a huge goal," Berenson said. "Anytime the score is 2-1, and you can make it 3-1, it changes the game's flow. We were lucky to get the goals when we needed them." Bowling Green managed to score again in the Going home for WE- .m iL.-4 ,