8A - Friday, October 23, 2009
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Quick start sparks Michigan
Vaughan fitting
n on front line
0
BY NICK SPAR
Daily Sports Writer
The main question for the
Michigan hockey team entering
its home opener against Niagara
last night was whether it would be
already looking forward to Satur-
day's early-season showdown at
No. 3 Boston University.
While-
those NIAGARA 2
thoughts MICHIGAN 3
were put
to rest quickly, the Purple Eagles
still managed to scare the Yost
Ice Arena crowd late in the con-
test.
Just one minute and 47 sec-
onds into the game, Michigan's
home season was off and running
with a goal on the Wolverines'
first shot.
After a Niagara tripping pen-
alty less than a minute into the
game, the fifth-ranked Wolver-
ines wasted no time capitalizing
on the man advantage.
Sophomore Robbie Czarnik
fed freshman A.J. Treais with a
cross-ice pass on the rush, and
Treais one-timed it past a flailing
Adam Avramenko for the first
strike. That early goal helped the
Wolverines to a 3-2 win.
That was just the beginning
of the early scoring surge. Two
minutes later, on the team's sec-
ond shot of the game, junior Carl
Hagelin scored another power
play goal.
This time, the Wolverines
worked the puck around with
sustained pressure in the Niag-
ara zone. A pretty passing play
in the slot between sophomore
defenseman Greg Pateryn and
junior forward Matt Rust left
Hagelin wide open in front for
an easy finish.
Czarnik put the Wolverines up
3-0 with 9:22 left in the first peri-
od; with a goal set up by tic-tac-
toe passing between seniors Steve
Kampfer and Brian Lebler.
But that was when it started to
go downhill.
"We just got comfortable,"
Czarnik said. "We just thought
we were going to blow them out,
and then they came back even
harder."
The Purple Eagles (0-3-1) got
themselves back into the game
with a goal late in the first period,
then cut the deficit in half with
another goal in the second stan-
za.
Michigan coach Red Berenson
said at practice this week that he
wanted a fast start in the first five
minutes. He got what he wanted,
but still wasn't pleased with the
performance in the final two
periods.
"As a coach, I'm not happy,"
Berenson said. "Our team needs
to play better than that. Certain-
ly we knew we might be a little
rusty, but we just didn't get better
as the game wore on."
As impressive as the Michigan
power play was in the first period,
it couldn't convert on its final six
chances. Two pucks rang off the
post, and Avramenko stopped
breakaways from junior Louie
Caporusso and sophomore Luke
Glendening.
Junior goalie Bryan Hogan
made 32 saves for the Wolverines
(2-1-0).
Half of those stops came in the
third period, when the Purple
Eagles took control of the game
but couldn't score.
Berenson said Hogan was the
difference in the game, and the
level of play in the offensive and
defensive zones must improve.
"We have to play better with
the puck in our zone, and we have
.
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64
BY RYAN KARTJE Although Vaughan's abilities
DailySports Writer may not best be suited for scor-
ing on a consistent basis - he
Scooter Vaughan looked like he hasn't scored a goal in three sea-
would start the season as a mem- sons at Michigan - Berenson has
ber of the Michigan hockey team's consistently described him as a
deepest defense corps in recent complement to scoring threats
years. like Caporusso and Wohlberg.
But when the junior took the And with Vaughan's experience on
ice two weeks ago against Alaska- defense, he will often be utilized
Anchorage, he wasn't on the blue on the penalty kill as a defensive
line - he was on offense. forward.
And after SPECIAL PLAY: After Michi-
a groin injury NOTEBOOK gan finished a modest fifth in the
sidelined junior conference on the power play and
forward Ben Winnett before last third in penalty kill percentage
night's 3-2 win against Niagara, last year, Berenson has said several
Michigan coach Red Berenson saw times this yearthat the Wolverines
Vaughan as a viable replacement to still have a lot to improve on when
join junior Louie Caporusso and it comes to special teams.
sophomore David Wohlbergonthe Notre Dame, with the top pen-
Wolverines' top line. alty kill in the conference last year,
"We need some energy up there garnered the CCHA's automatic
on that first line," Berenson said. NCAA Tournament bid by winning
"And Scooter gives us hustle and the CCHA Tournament. The top
muscle and he fits in fine." power play unit last year, Miami
The Wolverines clung to a one- (Ohio), made it all the way to the
goal lead with less than a minute national championship game.
remaining, and Berenson left the But with his team's effort on
former defenseman on the ice as a special teams through three
testament to Vaughan's ability as a games, Berenson has to be already
defensive-minded player. pleased.
"It's a little bit different (playing The Wolverines' penalty kill is
forward) than defense," Vaughan still perfect, and before Niagara
said. "But it's a pretty easy transi- killed six straight penalties last
tion, just being defensive-minded night, Michigan's power play per-
and thinking about scoring goals." centage was a staggering.500.
On several occasions this year, "(The penalty kill) has definite-
Berenson has insisted that his ly been an important part of our
defense will play a much bigger games," Berenson said. "When you
role on offense after tallying just18 don't give up a power play goal and
goals last season. we've had to kill a lot of penalties."
But with a deep defensive group With the team's first two goals
with seven capable players, Beren- against the Purple Eagles coming
son thought that Vaughan's skills on the power play, the Wolverines'
as a forward would better fit the offseason work on special teams is
team's needs. beginning to show.
ARIEL BOND/Daily
Junior Carl Hagelin scored a goal in last night's 3-2 win over Niagara.
to take care of the puck in their
zone," Berenson said. "We turned
it over in their zone, and they had
too many rushes up the ice. It was
a sloppily played game on Michi-
gan's part."
Despite the poor offensive out-
put after the Wolverines gained
the three-goal lead, Berenson
liked what he saw from the third
line of Lebler, Treais and Czarnik,
who provided two of the three
Michigan goals.
Part of the reason for Michi-
gan's struggles is in Caporusso's
play.
The junior forward led Michi-
gan in goals last year but has
been held scoreless through three
games this season.
"He's a little frustrated," Beren-
son said. "The puck's not going in.
Last year, the pucks went in that
weren't even good scoring chanc-
es.
"Now the good scoring chances
aren't going in, so he just has to
keep battling because I thought
that was his best effort in (any)
game."
Caporusso and the struggling
offense will look to break out on
Saturday against the Terriers,
who have lost two straight games
after beingshut out by No. 9 Notre
Dame on Tuesday.
Like mother, like
BY AMY SCARANO
Daily Sports Writer
Mary Brandes remembers run-
ning down the field, shouting for
the ball. Thirty years later, she
isn't any quieter. But this time,
she's yelling from the stands.
Mary is a fixture in the stands
at Michigan field hockey home
games and travels to a handful of
away games every year. She isn't
just supporting her alma mater,
but her daughter Eileen as well.
Eileen chuckles when reminded
that she followed in her mother's
footsteps.
"I grew up a Michigan fan,"
Eileen said. "And all of a sudden,
my sophomore year, it hit me: I
do not want to go here. She went
here. I don't want anything to do
with Michigan. I didn't hate it, but
I was like 'nuh-uh'."
Then she changed her mind.
The legacy started 33 years ago
when then-freshman Mary Callam
(1976-79) decided to try out for the
Michigan field hockey team. Title
IV had just passed. Field hockey
scholarships made their debut that
year, but the women's own field
and locker rooms were a distant
dream.
Former Michigan head coach
Nancy Cox was playing for West-
ern Michigan, and she and Mary
met as opponents numerous
times.
Fast forward to 2006. Cox had
moved east from Kalamazoo to
Ann Arbor to coach at Michigan.
Meanwhile, Mary had married and
raised a daughter, Eileen, who was
then a senior in high school. Eileen
wanted to make her own mark as
a field hockey player, not following
the same path as her mother.
After being opposed to being a
Wolverine for most of her youth,
daughter: Brandes finds way to A2
Eileen decided as a senior that was same thing - those incredible made me a better player." Eileen redshirted her fresh
the only place she wanted to go. intense close relationships," Mary Unsure if she would even make year, worked hard in practice
When Mary took Eileen to visit said, referring to her old friends the team after her initial visit to stayed patient on the sidel
Michigan her senior year to see if from the team. "Anytime you do Ann Arbor, Eileen and her mother, Academics always come firs
playing for Michigan was a realis- something hard, you create a rela- who doubled as her high school Eileen, and she refused to give
tic goal, Mary and Cox met again tionship that just doesn't go away. club coach, went to work. Michigan education for a sta
after 28 years. And sports here are hard." "She was like my partner position on the field.
"I said, 'I think I know you from Coming from Maine, the field because you need a partner when While Eileen prides hersel
somewhere,' and indeed she knew hockey competition wasn't what you play field hockey," Eileen said. ating her own journey at Mich
why," Mary said. "We were oppo- it is in other parts of the country. "She would pass me balls and stay her mother insists their paths
nents. That was fun to come back And while Eileen, was the best for extra drills after practice. She one day cross - and that's a
and know folks and have them on her high school and club team, was always the person that would thing.
know you, to walk into the locker she knew that playing on the Divi- do extra hours with me." "Youknowit's the coachyell
room and see your name still up sion I level was going to be tough. While not up to date on the mod- you, working out and going thr
there, and to look in the record offered scholarships and the ern technique, Mary was familiar all that stuff, but it just make
book and see your name still listed. opportunity to start on a number with drills and hadn't lost her dex- all get together, and for the rf
All those things are very cool." of teams at smaller schools, she set terity with the stick. your life
On alumni weekend, Mary was her mind on Michigan for the aca- So when Eileen made the team you'll have
laughing and reminiscing with demics and hoped she could walk as a freshman, she and her mother that thing,"
old teammates, some of whom on, never expecting to be a star. were both ecstatic. But the work Mary said.
she hadn't seen since colldge, in "There are girls out there twice had hardly begun. Every one of the "She'llhave
between cheering for her daugh- as fast as you and you have to Wolverines had been the star of that and I
ter. learn how to stay with them, so I their high school and club teams, had that.
"I think she wants her own definitely had growing pains, but I but they couldn't all remain in the And that's
experience, but she'll have the don't regret it," Eileen said. "It has spotlight. great."
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4
STAFF PICKS
The Daily football writers do their
best to predict what happens
in the 2009 football season.
Michael agRuth
Eisenstein Lincoln
r
Courtney
Ratkowiak
m
Andy
Reid
. i .. I 1 .ice:.: Am" TI&.. .:Y" .. .r,
No.13 Penn State (-4.5) at Michigan
No.1 Alabama (-15.5) vs. Tennessee
No. 2 Florida(-22.5) at Mississippi State
No. 3 Texas (-12) at Missouri
No. 4 Southern Cal (-21) vs. Oregon State
No. 5 Cincinnati (-18) vs. Louisville
No. 6 Boise State (-24.5) at Hawaii
No. 7 Iowa (+1) at Michigan State
No. 8 Miami (FL) (-5.5) vs. Clemson
No.9 LSU (-7.5) vs. Auburn
No.10 TCU (-2.5) at No.16 BYU
No.11 Georgia Tech (-6) at Virginia
No.12 Oregon (-10) at Washington
No. 14 Oklahoma State (-10) at Baylor
No.17 Houston (-17) vs. Southern Methodist
No. 18 Ohio State (-17) vs. Minnesota
No.19 Utah (-9.5) vs. Air Force
No. 20 Pittsburgh (-6.5) vs. South Florida
No. 21 Texas Tech (-21.5) vs. Texas A&M
No. 22 West Virginia (-7) vs. Connecticut
No. 23 South Carolina (-13) vs. Vanderbilt
No. 24 Kansas (+8) vs. No. 25 Oklahoma
Indiana (+5) at Northwestern
Illinois (+11) at Purdue
Last Week
Overall
I
Michigan
Alabama
Florida
Texas
Oregon State
Cincinnati
Hawaii
lowa
Miami
LSU
BYU
Georgia Tech
Oregon
Oklahoma State
Houston
Ohio State
- Utah
Pittsburgh
Texas Tech
Connecticut
South Carolina
Oklahoma
Northwestern
Purdue
10-10
83-68-1
Michigan
Alabama
Florida
Missouri
Southern Cal
Cincinnati
Boise State
Iowa
Clemson
Auburn
BYU
Georgia Tech
Washington
Oklahoma State
Houston
Ohio State
Air Force
South Florida
Texas A&M
Connecticut
Vanderbilt
Kansas
Indiana
Illinois
9-11
76-75-1
Michigan
Tennessee
Florida
Texas
Oregon State
Cincinnati
Hawaii
Iowa
Miami
Auburn
BYU
Georgia Tech
Washington
Oklahoma State
Houston
Ohio State
Utah
South Florida
Texas Tech
Connecticut
South Carolina
Oklahoma
Indiana
Purdue
10-10
80-71-1
Michigan
Tennessee
Florida
Missouri
Southern'Cal
Cincinnati
Boise State
Iowa
Miami
LSU
Texas Christian
Georgia Tech
Oregon
Oklahoma State
Houston
Minnesota
Utah
South Florida
Texas Tech
West Virginia
South Carolina
Kansas
Indiana
Purdue
10-10
71-80-1
Guest Picker:
Drum
Major
David
Hines Jr.
Michigan
Alabama
Mississippi State
Texas
Southern Cal
Cincinnati
Hawaii
Iowa
Miami
Auburn
BYU
Georgia Tech
Oregon
Oklahoma State
Houston
Ohio State
Utah
South Florida
Texas Tech
Connecticut
South Carolina
Kansas
Indiana
Purdue
12-8
81-70-1
6
0
\J_____ Y________f _________ 1___1__________ . ________v____4 ______I___.__ .._____________
To apply to be a guest picker, e-mail lincolnr@umich.edu. If you're chosen and can beat at least two of us, you'll stay on for another week. The longest tenured guest picker will get a prize at the end of the season.