4 4B - March 24, 2008 )j . : 2 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 'We stick together, no matter what happens' 4 From Page lB scoring grind-it-out goalie battle, like Saturday night's 2-1 champion- ship game win over Miami (Ohio). And in those wins, they've proven they can come back in the third period or maintain a slim lead against relentless pressure. Usually, Michigan wins when its top scorers, seniors Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik, take over the game. But the championship game, where the goals came from the sec- ond and fourth lines, showed that the entire team can pull its weight. Michigan wins with its own style. And its able to play its game because everyone is on the same page. Even during a rough stretch in February, the Wolverines stuck together. Michigan wins because that's all it knows and that's all it cares about. Not stats, not personal awards. Just winning as a team. "When the game is on the line, we're the team that wants to win," freshman Louie Caporusso said. "We play desperate hockey when it's needed and we won't take no for an answer." The poise of Michigan's 11- member freshman class has been the most impressive aspect of the team's play all season. First-year players make up almost half the roster and their contributions have been crucial to Michigan's success. But why has this year's fresh- man class contributed when so many in the past struggled to find their footing at the collegiate level? The answer is simple. From day one, Porter and Kolarik didn't treat them as freshmen - they treated the youngsters as Wolverines. There are no freshmen, sopho- mores,juniors or seniors this year. There is just the team. "We talked about it Thursday night - this is our family," junior Danny Fardig said. "We want to do everything with each other. The biggestpoint was that we stick together, no matter what happens." Caporusso, one of those first- year players, agreed. "When you love the guy next to you and you love the guys you're playing with, you're going to play unbelievable hockey." Now, Michigan will face its toughest test, going after the fifth and final goal it set for itself before the season: a trip to the Frozen Four and a shot at the National Championship. Before the season, no one thought this year's team would amount to much. The Wolverines were picked bythe coaches and media to finish fourth in the CCHA. Capturing the No. 1 overall seed for the tournament was such a far- fetched notion it wasn't even worth thinking about. Asked what he would have said in September if someone had told him Michigan would be four-for- four in accomplishing its goals so far, Kolarik didn't hesitate. "I would have laughed at you," he said. Most people would have. But when you hear the entire roster speaking in terms of "we" and "our," not "me" and "my," it's hard to doubt this team's chances of accomplishingthat last goal. And the Wolverines - all of them - will be the ones with the last laugh. - Sandals can be reached at nsandals@umich.edu. 4 The Michigan hockey team awaits the presentation of the Mason Cup after its 2-1 victory over Miami (Ohio) at Joe LouisArena Kelly, Jaeger also receive honors From Page lB everyday in the pool and out of the pool." With the win, Brunemann picked up her third All-American accolade of the three-day Champi- onships. Her performances were central to No. 11 Michigan's ninth-place team finish. The Wolverines com- piled 130 points with Arizona (484) winning the meet. The Championships featured fast times across the board for the Wolverines. Sophomore Margaret Kelly picked up All-American honors with her seventh-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley. She recorded the second-fastest event time (1:57.27) in Michigan history, missing her own record by less than half a second. The extremely tight and fast final nar- rowly missed the NCAA record by .03 seconds and just over two sec- onds separated second and eighth place. Fifth-year senior Melissa Jaeger joined Kelly in the consolation 100- yard butterfly. Jaeger and Kelly dominated the race, finishing first and fourth in the heat and ninth and 13th overall. "I couldn't have been happier with that race," Jaeger said. "I was just so glad that Margaret was in that heat with me. That makes things so much easier, when you have a teammate next to you." In her first and last NCAA Championships, Jaeger claimed six honorable mention All-Ameri- can honors. As a transfer student, Jaeger wasn't allowed to compete until this season, but her perfor- mance was well worth the wait. She swam solidly in her two indi- vidual events and four relays. The Wolverines' ninth-place showing marks their second top- ten finish since 1999. At the begin- ning of the season, Michigan was not considered a top contender. Depth was a question, but the Wol- verines found the answers as the season progressed. After finishingsecond at the Big Ten Championships last month, Michigan led all Big Ten squads in the final team standings. "We weren't really focusing on (the team finish), we were focusing on swimming well," Richardson said. "That was the byproduct." RANDOLPH COURT APARTMENTS 19 2 Bedroom Apartment Homes ~ Ground Floor Ranch Style! Private Entrance! Patio! Spacious Kitchen! Air Conditioning! Laundry Facilities! 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance! Pets Welcome! 40SANDWIC ES And much, much more! twice the meat and cheese, try it- liced7grain bread r imy famous Call today to reserve your new address! 734-97l-2828 Equal Housing Opportunity 4 K 3 ROSS ST. W. C F (Ynlulfn) 7wc 4084UF2 700 - ------- ------ 0 9