Friday
October 29, 2004
sports.michigandaily. com
sports@michigandaily.com
Re T SBang
10
10
Icers
ready to
take on
Ferris
By Ryan Sosin
Daily Sports Writer
For a Michigan hockey team that has
shown flashes of brilliance all season
- but struggled to keep moments of
futility from dotting its play - worry-
ing about consistency and self-improve-
ment has become top priority. Before
the team can start to worry about its
weekly opponents, the Wolverines (2-0
CCHA, 4-1-1 overall) need to continue
to shore up their own game.
"We're trying to get our team (to be)
more consistent," Michigan coach Red
Berenson said. "Whether it be period-
to-period or shift-to-shift."
Instead of creating a unique prac-
tice program to cater to their next
foe, Berenson and his coaches have
been working on a laundry list of
issues with the team's game. Work-
ing on things ranging from the power
play and penalty kill to breaking out
of their own zone, it seems as though
Ferris State is the furthest thing from
their mind.4
"Then there is a work ethic part of
it," Berenson said. "You're looking for
players to start playing a little bit bet-
ter. Whether it's working hard, playing
better with the puck or playing better
without the puck."
There are no special drills
designed to thwart Ferris State's No.
1 forward line or to find holes in it's
solid penalty kill. Berenson, who
has led the Wolverines to 14-straight
top-two finishes in the CCHA reg-
ular season, knows that his team
can't win on trick plays or special
schemes.
"There's no gimmicks in this league,"
Berenson said referring to the CCHA.
"There's no one gimmick that you're
going to change for (an opposing) team
- we've got to keep building on the
things that we need to do better."
Michigan is not ignoring its oppo-
nent all together. The Bulldogs - who
set a school record for wins in 2002
en route to a CCHA regular season
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Blue drops fourth in a row
By Seth Gordon
Daily Sports Writer
Just two weeks ago, the Michigan women's soccer
team was ranked No. 13 in the country and appeared
to be primed for a huge matchup with then-No. 1 Notre
Dame. But entering yesterday's game, the Wolverines
(6-3-1 Big Ten, 9-7-2 overall) had lost three straight
games, while the Fighting Irish dropped to No. 2 after
tying Rutgers 1-1.
Which Michigan team showed up
when Notre Dame came to Ann ArborNOTRE DAME 4
yesterday? MIIGAN i
The one that has now lost four
straight, as the Fighting Irish domi-
nated the Wolverines, 4-0, yesterday at the Michigan
Soccer Field.
Notre Dame (9-0-1 Big East, 16-0-1) moved the ball
easily and effectively against Michigan from the opening
kickoff, scoring just 4:54 into the game.
"We've been good at ball movement all year," Notre
Dame coach Randy Waldrum said. "We spend a lot of
time in our training working on that. We've created a lot
of those same kind of chances in a couple of games, but
we haven't finished that well. We didn't (finish) a lot of
those chances last Sunday, so it was good to see that we
did it (yesterday)."
The Fighting Irish were able to penetrate the Michigan
defense with precision passing and aggressive dribbling.
"They are the No. 2 team in the country, so they're
going to move the ball," Michigan coach Debbie
Rademacher-said. "We've played them before, and it's
all about being organized defensively. We didn't play
good individual defense, which would make us orga-
nized. You've got to play your best to beat the No. 2
team in the country."
The Wolverines continued to struggle offensively and
only registered one shot on goal for the entire game -and
that didn't come until 12:27 in the second half.
"I don't think the end of the season is really indicative
of (the quality of our play)," Michigan tri-captain Laura
Tanchon said. "The results haven't shown how well we
played, with the exception of (yesterday). We've been
playing well. We've been playing hard. We just haven't
been able to score goals. Defensively we weren't on the
same page, and they scored four goals. I'm definitely
not surprised, but more disappointed in the end of the
season."
Notre Dame easily could have scored four more goals,
but sophomores Brenna Mulholland and Katelin Spencer
made several goal-saving tackles on Irish breakaways.
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Tuura made many diving
saves, but was otherwise helpless to defend shots from
inside the box by unchecked Notre Dame players.
Notre Dame took a 2-0 lead into halftime after Fight-
ing Irish junior Katie Thorlakson was able to get to a
deflected pass into the box and redirect it past Tuura.
In the second half, Notre Dame added goals by Candice
Chapman and Thorlakson to make the final score 4-0.
While the Fighting Irish will head into the Big East
Tournament on a high note, the Wolverines will finish
regular season play tomorrow, when they travel to play
Western Michigan.
"I think (a win versus Western Michigan) will give us
confidence," Tanchon said. "Definitely, it'd be great if we
went in there and popped in five or six goals. That's defi-
nitely the confidence we'll need going in (to the Big Ten
Tournament). Especially playing Wisconsin - a team
we lost 3-1 to, pretty badly. So, definitely that confidence
would help."
Two weeks ago, it was all but assured that Michigan
would contend for a Big Ten title and be guaranteed a
spot in the NCAA Tournament. Now, the Wolverines
must bounce back against the Broncos and give a strong
showing in the Big Ten Tournament next week.
"Right now we need to get back some fire," Radem-
acher said. "We certainly have an opportunity to (get into
the) postseason, but we have to play better."
TONY DING/Daily
Jeff Tambellini scored the winning goal against Ferris State last year at home.
championship - still have a lot of fire-
power. Led by seniors Matt York, Mike
Brown and Jeff Legue, Ferris State has
the experience and the top-line skill to
challenge Michigan.
"They've got some really good play-
ers on paper," Berenson said. "I don't
think they're as physical - in terms of
size - as they used to be, but they still
play a gritty game."
When the two teams have bumped
heads in recent history, the games have
been tight. Last season, the teams split
a home-and-home series with the visit-
ing team coming up short by one goal
in both contests.
The Bulldog's 1-5 start doesn't play
a role in Michigan's employment of a
self-concentration tactic.
"We had a meeting today about
being aware of their team and their
strength and how they've played against
Michigan in the past," Berenson said.
"They're a lot better team than their
record."
During last year's game in Big Rap-
ids, a Michigan penalty in overtime led
to the Bulldogs' game-winner. Beren-
son expects special teams to play a
pivotal role again this weekend. In an
overtime loss to Ohio State two weeks
ago, Ferris State stopped the CCHA's
top-ranked power play cold. The Buck-
eyes capitalized just once out of a stag-
gering 19 chances.
"I think you're going to see close
games (this weekend)," Berenson said.
"Unless one team gets the upperhand
in power plays or special teams."
After hosting Ferris State today,
Michigan will head to Big Rapids for
its second meeting tomorrow.
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