The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com January 25, 2010
WATER POLO
*Wolverines impress
in opening weekend
Penalties plague Michigan in split
Michigan becomes
first program to
notch 250 wins in
modern era
By JAMES BLUM
For theDaily
Coach Matt Anderson was
screaming, dual-fist pumping and
jumping for joy on the floor of Can-
ham Natatorium. The Wolverine
bench displayed a similar senti-
ment as the pool room exploded
with a beautiful cacophony of
cheers.
The excitement was for red-
shirt senior goalie Brittany May
whose stunning performance led
the 10th-ranked Wolverines water
polo team over the seventh-ranked
Aztecs of San Diego State, 9-4.
"There was one save I didn't
think I even made," May said. "I
looked at Coach and saw his face
and thought maybe I just saved
that shot."
Hold your seahorses: Michigan
water polo is officially underway.
The Michigan Wolverines host-
ed the fifth annual Michigan Kick-
off this weekend at the Canham
Natatorium, and over the course of
two grueling days, the Wolverines
finished with an impressive 3-1
record.
Michigan (3-1) opened strong,
winning its first two games on Sat-
urday against UC San Diego (0-4)
and Colorado State (0-4).
In a closer-than-anticipated sea-
son-opener against unranked UC
San Diego, the Wolverines pulled
out an 11 - 8 victory. The game
marked the first career goals of
freshmen Kiki Golden and Lauren
Colton, both of whom would prove
to be major players over the course
of the invitational.
In the process of leading Michi-
gan to a win, senior captain Leah
Robertson tallied her 300th career
steal, continuing her record-break-
ing career.
"It is pretty exciting," Robertson
said. "I think it is just a testament
to the talented players I have got-
ten to play with over the last four
years and the solid defensive foun-
dation that coach Matt (Anderson)
has instilled upon us."
After scraping by UC San Diego,
the Wolverines brought their all
against a Colorado State team
that could not compete. Michigan
grabbed an early seven-point lead
after one quarter, putting up an
impressive nine opening-period
goals, four of which came from
Colton.
"We're on the
same level as
them now."
"We call her Coltan the Cobra,"
coach Anderson said. "She has the
ability to strike like a Cobra."
Her venom took only eight min-
utes to down the Rams.
The win brought Michigan to
2-0 and also helped Michigan
become the first women's water
polo team since the establishment
of the NCAA tournament in 2001 to
reach 250 wins.
"It is quite an accomplishment,"
See KICKOFF, Page 2B
By MARK BURNS
Daily Sports Editor
BIG RAPIDS -WithFerris State
leading the Michigan hockey team
2-1 heading into the third period
Saturday night, it looked like the
curtain
was about FERRIS STATE 0
to come MICHIGAN 2
down on
the Wol-MICHIGAN 2
verines' FERRIS STATE 3
chance
at a late-
game rally and a weekend sweep.
It looked like last weekend
against Alaska, when Michigan
came from behind with a minute
and a half remaining in regulation,
before losing in a shootout to the
Nanooks.
This high-pressure scenario was
nothing new for the Wolverines
(9-8-1-0 CCHA, 14-11-1 overall),
who desperately need wins this late
in the season if they want to finish in
the top-four in the CCHA standings
and secure a first-round playoff bye.
And at the 17:22 mark of the final
frame, Michigan had its chance on
the power play to net the equalizer.
Sophomore David Wohlberg
wheeled ashotonnetfromthe right
corner, and senior Brian Lebler -
who was stationed just outside the
crease - was Mr. Johnny-on-the-
spot as he got the outside part of his
stick on the puck and redirected it
into the net.
It looked like the Wolverines
would head to overtime for the sec-
ond time in just as many weekends.
But that's when senior Steve
Kampfer went to the box for hold-
ing, giving the Bulldogs a last-min-
ute hoorah to grab the go-ahead
goal. After a scramble in front of
Hogan ensued, the puck slid into
the low slot, and Bulldog forward
Zach Redmond fired a wristshot
that just squeaked past junior goal-
tender Bryan Hogan's five-hole,
sealing the 3-2 victory for Ferris
ARIEL BOND/Daily
Sophomore Luke Glendening tallied two goals in the Wolverines' 2-0 shutout win against Ferris State on Friday.
State with 24 seconds left on the ering the officiating was equal for of Casey Haines, Blair Riley and
clock. each team. According to senior Todd Pococke - who account for
"Overall, we knew Ferris would captain Chris Summers, the Wol- 35 percent of the Bulldogs' total
bounce back after losing three in a verines lost many of the one-on- offense - and held all three off the
row," Michigan coach Red Beren- one battles all over the ice, which score sheet.
son said. "It was heartbreaking for may have been the deciding factor Sophomore Luke Glendening
our team afterbattlingback from a in the team's first regulation loss in grabbed two tallies for the Wol-
deficit, and we tie the game in the six games. verines in their 2-0 win at Yost Ice
last minute and a half. Then we "I thought we did a great job Arena as Hogan netted his third
take a penalty - a senior defense- (Friday) of winning thebattles and shutout of the season. Michigan
man takes a bad penalty late, and the races to the puck, but tonight was whistled for just three minor
we can't kill it. It's a tough pill to we weren't quite there," Summers penalties in the game, the differ-
swallow." said. "And that's just a mental abil- ence between a possible weekend
The teams combined for 18 pen- ity, knowing that you're going to sweep and a disappointing split -
alties, with Michigan being called out-will the person you're playing losing three points in the process.
for eight minors. Penalties have against. Tonight, we didn't have "Too many penalties - if there's
plagued the Wolverines all year, it and on those few chances, that a game that's well officiated one
which is very uncharacteristic of was exposed." night, you can bet against it the
Berenson-coached teams. And, The previous night against the next night," Berenson said. "Or it's
once again, the penalties proved to Bulldogs (11-5-2-2,17-7-2) the Wol- going to be altogether different.
be costly against the Bulldogs. verines carried the play to the No. I'm not blaming the officials, I just
But it wasn't just the penalties 9 team in the country. Michigan thought there were way too many
that hindered Michigan, consid- shut down Ferris State's top line penalties."
HARDWOOD BOUND BIG TEN VENGEANCE
Kelvin Grady, who left the basketball team KI After losing to Penn State last year by a
after last season to play football, may be small margin, men's gymnastics came back
coming back to Crisler Arena soon. Page 4B. to prove its worth. Page 2B. ~.~~ .