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SPORTS>A

November 10, 2003

SECTION B


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MICHIGAN 3, Ferris State 2
FERRIS STATE 6, Michigan 5 (OT)

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MICHIGAN 73, Mihianeca6

Without two starters, Michigan

struggles t(
By Chris Burke
Daily Sports Editor
If anything was made clear during
the Michigan basketball team's lack-
luster 73-61 exhibition win over
Michigan Tech Saturday, it's that the
Wolverines have a lot to work on
before the regular season starts Nov.
14 against Oakland.
And no issue is more pressing for
Michigan coach Tommy Amaker than
getting all of his players healthy.
The banged-up Wolverines were
forced to play without sophomore
Graham Brown (ankle), senior
Bernard Robinson (foot) and freshman

getbyth
Brent Petway (shoulder), leaving them
unexpectedly thin.
"Brent wanted to try it out and the
same thing with Bernard," Amaker
said. "But we felt like it would be in
our best interest to hold them out.
"It's something we didn't anticipate.
We were talking about how deep we
could be, but as I mentioned before,
it's very fragile and things can change
in a heartbeat and, certainly, looking at
our club, that was very evident."
The shorthanded Wolverines came
out flat in the first half, and the
Huskies exploited that, grabbing a sur-
prising 35-34 halftime lead. Michigan
Tech was able to dictate the tempo,

.e Huskies
using a solid mix of its inside and out-
side games to send the Wolverines into
the break feeling less than pleased.
"It was embarrassing," Michigan
forward Lester Abram said. "(Amaker)
said that we should have been embar-
rassed with the way we played in the
first half, like we were taking the team
lightly, that we thought they were
going to lay down for us. But that
team had a tradition of winning, and
they weren't going to back down."
The Wolverines responded to
Amaker's halftime speech by over-
coming the one-point deficit and grab-
bing control of the game.
See HUSKIES, Page 3B

CURTIS HILLER/Daily
Jeff Tambellini, left, and Brandon Rogers celebrate after Tambellini's game-winning powerplay goal in the third period. The
goal came after a disappointing overtime road loss to Ferris State in Big Rapids, 6-5.
Wolverines lose conference lead
in weekend split with Bulldogs

By Sharad Mattu
Daily Sports Writer
With the weekend over, Michigan
and Ferris State have something in
common - something far more
important than a home win and a road
loss apiece. After the Wolverines
squeaked out a 3-2 win Saturday night,
both teams' coaches feel their squads
need to do a bit of "soul-searching."
Michigan pulled out the win Satur-
day with powerplay success and an
emphasis on getting back on defense
to avoid odd-man rushes. But even
with the win, Friday's 6-5 overtime
loss left the team disappointed.

After six straight wins, including
five at Yost Ice Arena, Michigan trav-
eled to Big Rapids Friday night and
saw its road woes resurface.
Ahead 1-0 after the first period,
Michigan's defense lost focus and
allowed the Bulldogs opportunity after
opportunity, as it was unable to
regroup until it returned to the locker-
room. By then, for the second time in
just three road games, Michigan had
allowed five goals in a period.
"(Friday night) we gave up a lot of
odd-man rushes," junior defenseman
Brandon Rogers said. "We kind of got
into playing run-and-gun hockey,
which really isn't our style of play. We

were kind of letting them take advan-
tage of us."
Even with the lapses defensively,
the Wolverines were still in the
game, down just 5-4 entering the
final period.
Michigan struggled to generate
opportunities throughout the period,
but got a chance when Ferris State for-
ward Matt York, who nearly scored in a
scramble at Michigan's net, was called
for a controversial roughing penalty
with less than two minutes left.
With goaltender Al Montoya on the
bench to give the Wolverines a two-
man advantage, Michigan carefully
See BULLDOGS, Page 3B

TONY DING/Daily
Freshman Courtney Sims mishandles a rebound here, but made an impressive debut with 10 points. The Wolverines were
unable to make a statement in their first exhibition game of the season and even trailed at halftime.

Illini too much for Blue in tournament final

By Melanie Kobler
Daily Sports Writer

.
i

MADISON - The Michigan women's soccer
team was in a place few had expected it to be this
weekend. As serious contenders in yesterday's Big
Ten Tournament final, the _ icHGAN___
Wolverines were ready to cap a
successful end to their Big Ten
season. But after playing three games in four days -
including a double-overtime win against Ohio State
- Michigan ran out of gas and allowed a talented
Illinois team to notch two late goals and take the Big
Ten Tournament championship.
"We didn't play very well," Michigan coach Deb-
bie Rademacher said. "It was disappointing that we
were really in the game and lost it at the end. I think
fatigue was a big factor."
The Michigan defense dodged several bullets
throughout the game, facing eight corner kicks,
including four early in the first half. But tough pres-
sure from Illinois - which runs a three-forward

their best player."
Hurless was recognized for her efforts by
being named the tournament's MVP. Freshman
defender Brenna Mulholland and senior forward
Stephanie Chavez were also named to the all-
tournament team.
Chavez - who led the Wolverines with five shots
- headed a Michigan offense that had several dan-
gerous opportunities, but struggled to find a rhythm
against Illinois' tough defense. Chavez's best chance
came in the beginning of the second half when she
received the ball well inside the box and fired a shot
that Illinois keeper Leisha Alcia barely saved. The
majority of Michigan's chances came when the ball
bounced around inside the box after being served in;
the Wolverines rarely were able to build up an attack
down the center.
"We didn't play real attractive soccer today, and
they just took advantage of those opportunities,"
Rademacher said.
The freshman Tuura made three saves, but allowed
two goals in the last 10 minutes of the contest.

Ohio State 2-1 last Thursday night in a double-
overtime thriller and then toughed out a 1-0 win
against Wisconsin Friday. Rademacher praised the
team's play in the first and second round, which
may have been enough to earn Michigan a bid to
the NCAA Tournament.
"We had such a great weekend and played really
well," Rademacher said. "We're hoping to get
rewarded for that."
The Wolverines appeared dejected but not devas-
tated after the loss yesterday, enduring a somber
silence while the Illini celebrated in the middle of
the field. But Rademacher said she told the players
that they should keep their heads up and "keep the
season going."
"When we had some disappointing results early
on, we didn't fold and call it a season," Rademacher
said. "That's the one thing about this team. They will
work. If you ask them to do something, they will do
it 100 percent."
As for the fact that only one Wolverine, freshman
Lindsay Cottrell, was named to the All-Big Ten team,


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