mm" GENNARO FILICE What are the best video-game match- ups of all time? PAGE 3B The SportsMonday Column THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR Breyer's individual efforts helped spur a Michigan upset of No. 4 Nebraska, en route to a three Wolverine victories. PAGE 6B SPORTS D January 10, 2005 1B - - - - - - - - - - - iJbE 1Nhrbtgan Dai~id All-American Shazor to leave Wolverines for NFL draft By Sharad Mattu Daily Sports Editor Senior Earnest Shazor - one of the nation's top safeties - has decided to forgo his final sea- son of eligibility and enter the NFL draft. "It's just the best decision for me and my fam- ily," Shazor said yesterday. Shazor, who led the Wolverines with 84 tackles - and also had 10 tackles for loss, two intercep- tions and two forced fumbles - became a game- changer this season with his combination of size and speed. He returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown to clinch a win over Miami (OH) in Michigan's season opener, helped contain Minnesota's rushing attack with 12 tackles and four tackles for loss and clinched Michigan's win over Purdue with a forced fumble on the Boilermak- ers' final drive. Shazor, who was told by NFL scouts that he could be picked as early as the first round, cited the opportunity to provide Shazor for his family and the fact that he would have a tough time topping this year's performance as the major reasons for his decision. When Shazor joined Michigan in 2001, he had a tough time adjusting to college foot- ball and living up to his billing as one of the nation's top safeties. But few players have made as much progress as Shazor did in his four years with the Wolverines. During his time in Ann Arbor, Shazor went from redshirt- ing, to playing special teams, to start- ing, to being an All-American. Shazor was a finalist this year for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the country's best defensive back. With his departure, the Wolverines will be without two All-American defensive backs next season. In addition to Shazor, Michigan will lose senior cornerback Marlin Jackson. The defense, which struggled mightily in the season's final four games, also loses linebacker Roy Manning. Defensive lineman Larry Harrison, who was recently arrested on charges of indecent expo- sure, remains out indefinitely heading into the off-season. With Shazor gone, possible replacements at safety include Jamar Adams, who will be a sophomore, and possibly Prescott Burgess, who has played linebacker his two years in Ann Arbor but was among the nation's top safeties in high school. Michigan, which finished this past season 9-3, is considered by many analysts to be a big-time con- tender for next season's national championship. But all of the record-high four Wolverines who made the Associated Press All-American first-team - Shazor, Jackson, senior receiver Braylon Edwards and senior center David Baas - will be leaving. "I thought about coming back, but the team is going to be great with or without me," Shazor said. "In the end I had to do what was best for me." Western shootout Michigan 6, West ern Michigan 5 MICHIGAN 6, WESERN MICHCAN 4 Last-minute goal *gives 'M By Ian Herbert Daily Sports Writer "That's a tough way to lose a game." - Vince Bellissimo, Western Michigan forward KALAMAZOO - At one point in the second period of Saturday night's game, the Michigan hockey team was up 5-2 and seemed to have the game under wraps. But three straight goals by Western Michigan tied the two teams at five and brought the thunder-stick- laden, sell-out crowd to a new level *of excitement. Both the players and the fans were anticipating the second comeback win against Michigan in the last three years. But with 53 seconds left in the game and the score still tied, Michigan junior Brandon Kaleniecki quieted the crowd. On a power play, sophomore T.J. Hen- sick controlled the puck and skated around the zone. When he got to the high slot, he dumped a pass into senior forward Milan Gajic at the bottom of the left circle. Gajic's shot attempt was stuffed by Broncos goalie Daniel Bel- lissimo, but the rebound slid behind Bellissimo to a. waiting Kaleniecki, who slapped the puck home. The goal gave Michigan a 6-5 win and a series, sweep of Western Michigan, following Friday's 6-4 win. "I was actually just swinging my stick," Kaleniecki said of the game- a sweep winning goal. "I kind of was on the out- side of the net." But the "tough way to lose" that junior Vince Bellissimo, the older of the Bellissimo brothers, was referencing was not the goal scored with less than a minute to play. It was the call by the officials to set up the goal that angered the Broncos. With the game tied and only minutes left to play, the referee, Mark Wilkins, called an obstruction- tripping penalty on Western Michigan senior defenseman Mat Ponto. Western Michigan coach Jim Culhane had no comment about the officiating, saying only that he couldn't have been prouder of his team. Kaleniecki's game-winner was the final third of a hat trick for the junior. He also scored two goals in a three-minute stretch in the second period - during which Michigan tallied four goals and took a 5-2 lead. Kaleniecki started the scoring burst with a slap shot from the top of the right circle halfway through the period, tak- ing a pass from senior David Moss and one-timing it passed Bellissimo. Forty seconds later, Al Montoya defended a 3-on-I with a great save. After the long rebound, defenseman Eric Wer- ner dished the puck up the ice to Jeff Tambellini. Tambellini brought it into the zone and sent a pass across the goal to freshman Chad Kolarik, who tipped See BRONCOS, page 4B WORLD BEATERS Michigan sent five players to skate for the United States at the World Junior Championship over winter break. Here's a look at how the representatives fared against Western Michigan during their first full weekend back with the team. Mike Brown - 1 assist, 6 penalty minutes, I shot, +2 rating T.J. Hensick - 2 goals, 2 assists, 7 shots, +1 rating Matt Hunwick - 3 assists, 8 penalty minutes, 3 shots, +4 rating Al Montoya - 2-0-0 record, 63 saves, 9 goals allowed Kevin Porter - 3 shots, 4 blocked shotsy JEFF LEHNERT/Daily Michigan junior Brandon Kalenieki (14) netted a hat trick for the Wolverines on Saturday, including the game-winning goal with 53 seconds left to play. Reunited icers sparked by individual efforts By Gabe Edelson Daily Sports Writer KALAMAZOO - During the Michigan hockey team's first series together in four weeks, it was indi- vidual players' performances that stood out. The hero on Saturday night was forward Bran- don Kaleniecki, who compiled his second career hat trick in Michigan's 6-5 win over Western Michigan at Lawson Ice Arena. The junior's third goal of the night - which came on a power play with just 53 seconds left in the third period - proved to be the game winner. But Michigan coach Red Berenson didn't underestimate any of Kaleniecki's lamp-light- ning score, Kaleniecki ignited a four-goal Michigan ers in their importance. explosion during a stretch of less than three minutes - "Those are huge goals," Berenson said of the hat in the middle of the second period. At the 11:13 mark, trick. the junior took a pass from senior David Moss and The game-deciding tally came with Michigan at a one-timed the puck into the top right corner of the one-man advantage. Senior Milan Gajic's shot from Broncos' net. After a Chad Kolarik goal just 42 sec- the left circle and the rebound bounced to the right onds later, Kaleniecki beat Western Michigan goalie side of the net. Kaleniecki swung at the puck and Daniel Bellissimo five-hole on another pass from knocked it in for the game's final goal. Moss. "I just saw the puck coming across and I took a Kaleniecki has been heating up as of late. After whack at it and it got in there," Kaleniecki said. "It scoring just one goal in the first 11 games of the sea- felt great." son, But Kaleniecki wasn't the only Wolverine to put Aside from the obvious impact of the game-win- See INDIVIDUALS, page 4B Harris, Coleman lead Blue in win over Fairfield WOMEWS BASKETBALL Late run not enough to overcome scoring woes By Josh Holman Daily Sports Writer After a key road win at Iowa on Wednes- day, Saturday's men's basketball game against Fairfield at Crisler Arena ' didn't seem to have much of a billing. It was Michigan's last scheduled nonconference game, sandwiched between the Big Ten openers on the road and at home. But there was no sign of an emotional let- *down for the Michigan team in Saturday's win --+U-~ ~ ~ Q+ ,- !2... 1. Rd A 0 41 - h n by the presence of Horton, who played in his sec- ond game since returning from a knee injury. "Now that Daniel's back, I think I can go back to just going out there and playing and not worry about everything I have to do," Harris said. "I have another backcourt mate in Daniel to help me." Horton scored nine points and handed out four assists, but he admits that he is not at full speed yet and played just 17 minutes. "I still feel like I'm a couple steps behind," Horton said. "It's just a process. It's going to be like this. My knee is going t a e - - - on"- ra x c ad :T tict 4. t By Jack Herman Daily Sports Writer WEST LAFAYETTE - With 7:34 left in yesterday'su women's basket-' °A'_ ball game between Michigan and No. 24 Purdue, the Wolverines were down 45-40 and looking to cut the lead. Instead, Michigan freshman Jessica Starling threw an errant pass that was stolen by Boilermaker Emily Heike. After Heieiss n edt i teammate ind- and then make a turnover," Michigan coach Cheryl Burnett said. "Against a good basketball team, you can't do that." Before Michigan's offensive strug- gles, it looked like the team was poised to mount a comeback against Purdue. The Wolverines fell behind by 12 points midway through the second half, but then began to fight back, led by freshmen Ta'Shia Walker and Krista Clement. After both scored lay-ups to get Michigan within eight, Clement fed the hall down low to WaIker who made the A wAM