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February 8, 2010 - 3B

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom February 8, 2010 - 38

Vaughan and Lynch
goals jumpstart slow
beginning for Blue

FILE PHOTO/Dunl
Sophomore Alexandria Williams finished sixth place in the 500-meter run in the Meyo Invitational in South Bend this weekend
impresses with split team

By CASANDRA PAGNI and training. We're going to have to
Daily Sports Writer trust ourselves and work hard until
Big Tens come and expect that were
The Michigan women's track going to see some results that will
and field team aced two big tests put us in a top-three finish in the
this past weekend. The Wolver- Big Ten, and hopefully look at win-
ines split up to compete in different ning a Big Ten championship."
meets, sending their distance med- Facing top-level competition
ley relay (DMR) team to the New in New York was a welcome chal-
Balance Invitational in New York, lenge for Michigan, as the Wol-
while the rest of the team stayed verines took seventh place in the
closer to home and competed in the DMR. Tauro ran the anchor leg of
Meyo Invitational in South Bend, the relay (1600-meters) and also
Ind. took seventh place in her individ-
The runners performed on back- ual event, the 800-meter dash. But,
to-back days for the first time all Tauro wasn't impressed with her
season. perfomance.
"Its almost easier to come back "Coming off of last night, at least
the same day than to sleep, wake up for the DMR, we were hoping to do
and hope your legs feel good again," better," Tauro said. "But we know
junior co-captain Danielle Tauro we just have to use that as motiva-
said. "Sometimes it works out, but I tion to work harder in practice and
think the first time you do it, it's just to fuel our hunger. Sometimes I feel
a shock to your body." like its better to be a little bit dis-
But, luckily for the Wolverines, appointed, because at least you're
their first experience with running hungry. At least you want to work
on consecutive days came with a harder and you're that much more
month left before the indoor sea- motivated to do better the next
son's final exam: the Big Ten Indoor time."
Championships. In the Big Ten Seven hundred miles away, in
meet, the runners will run in the South Bend, Ind., the rest of Michi-
preliminaries on day one and the gan's weekend was highlighted by
finals on day two. two fourth-place finishes from red-
"That's where we're aiming to . shirt junior Charnee Lumbus in the
do our best at," redshirt sophomore 60-meter hurdles and Liske in the
Allison Liske said. "Everyone is shotput.
doing their part in working hard While this wasn't her best

throwing weekend, Liske made
some adjustments between pre-
liminaries and finals that led her to
success. The adjustments paid off,
as Liske's throw of15.37 meters was
her third NCAA provisional mark
this season.
"Consistency is good," Liske said.
"Hopefully the consistency I've had
is going to result in a dynamic fin-
ish. Hopefully by the time I get to
(the Big Ten indoor competition),
we'll see some more results that
are leaning a little bit closer to 16
meters, so we're able to compete
with the top throwers in the Big
Ten."
Other top performers from the
invitational in South Bend includ-
ed sophomore Alexandria Wil-
liams, who took sixth place in the
500-meter run, and junior Kaitlyn
Peale, who finished eighth in the
3,000-meter run.
Each upcoming meet will be
treated as a midterm exam for the
Wolverines, on their way to the Big
Ten championships at the end of
February.
"You've got to go back and work
your hardest like you're a freshman
every day," Liske said, "because
you're going to go to meets where
nobody knows who you are. We're
going to see, as far as Big Tens goes,
who our performing leaders are
and who our team captains are."

By TIM ROHAN Whether it was the atmo-
Daily Sports Writer sphere of the crowd, getting used
to the ice and playing conditions
MADISON - They weren't or something else, things weren't
allowed to talk about it all week. clicking early for the Wolverines.
When the Michigan hockey "Obviously there's a lot of
team arrived in Madison, Wis- emotions the first five, 10 min-
consin on Friday to practice, utes," Summers said after the
the Wolverines were fresh off a game. "Pucks are going to be
victory over Bowling Green the everywhere. I think the puck
night before. Michigan coach Red was everywhere all game. That's
Berenson didn't want his team to the way the whole game went for
overlook the Falcons in a crucial both teams. You've got to fight
CCHA matchup. So the players back, that's the way the game
weren't allowed to speak to the goes."
media about the Culver's Camp Wisconsin used its early
Randall Classic until after Thurs- momentum to strike first, scor-
day's game. ing less than four minutes into
When the Wolverines' silence the game. The Badgers had a little
was broken after their practice it help when the puck slid under
was the happiest they've looked junior goalie Bryan Hogan's pads,
all season. Players and coaches through his legs and to a wide
alike were smiling, and the mood open backside of the net.
felt light on the eve of the big But once Michigan got into
game. the game, the stat sheet started
"It's kind of surreal right to even out. On paper, the game
now," senior captain Chris Sum- looked like it was even in all fac-
mers said Friday night. "Skating ets: faceoffs, shots, penalties. On
around the ice, the first couple of the ice though, it was easy to see
laps in practice, it's weird finding that Wisconsin was more com-
yourself skating in a football sta- posed than Michigan. The Wol-
dium - especially one this size. verines were playing catch-up
It's pretty special. I remember from the start and the scoring
skating the first lap and (senior opportunities for Michigan were
forward Anthony) Ciraulo and I few and far between.
looked at each other and was like, If it wasn't for the individual
'Man, I'm glad to be here right efforts of two Wolverines, Michi-
now.' " gan might not have scored a goal
That all changed when the in Madison.
puck dropped on Saturday. With about a minute remain-
The Wolverines were slow to ing in the first period, junior for-
start the game and Wisconsin ward Scooter Vaughan received a
jumped on them early. The Bad- behind-the-back pass from junior
gers had the first four shots in the Ben Winnett right in front Bad-
game, and finished the first peri- gers goalie Scott Gudmandson.
od outshooting the Wolverines His initial shot was blocked, but
13-6. Michigan had taken six or Vaughan stuck with the play and
fewer shots in just six periods all backhanded his own rebound
season, entering the game. past Gudmandson for Michigan's
Rarely were the Wolverines first goal of the night.
outshot - something was wrong. The second goal of the night

for the Wolverines came midway
through the third period. Fresh-
man Kevin Lynch, who was active
from the start of the game, ripped
a wrist shot from the top of the
right circle that beat Gudmand-
son stick side for the goal.
Michigan didn't look as though
it would be able to string together
a consistent enough of an attack
to score, like the Badgers did con-
sistently throughout the game.
Both teams had their chances,
but the Wolverines were more
isolated and had fewer quality
opportunities than the Badgers
were getting.
And it all came to a head when
Wisconsin scored its two power
play goals late in the game with
the same power play units and
same systematic attack each time.
The Badgers would win the game
3-2.
But Michigan was certainly
feeling confident after Lynch's
goal.
"It's a huge boost for the team,
a great shot," junior Ben Winnett
said. "We go down on the two-on-
two and he beats the goalie. At
that point, we thought we were in
very good shape."
Turnovers and poor puck con-
trol plagued the Wolverines all
game and Lynch's goal gave the
team a lead in the third period.
Michigan's slow start offensively
had the team taking shots fur-
ther away from the goal, but as
the Wolverines settled down,
their shots were coming closer
in.
But if it wasn't for Lynch and
Vaughan, Michigan's offense
might have been non-existent on
the scoreboard. And with all of
the excitement leading up to the
game, it turned into a bitter end-
ing. They might not want to talk
about that one for a while either.
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Review

Kartje: 'M' Athletic Department can
learn a lot from Camp Randall Classic
From Page 1B

whole event "surreal" and couldn't
stop smiling.
And judging by Michigan coach
Red Berenson's lack of a coat for
the game's first two periods, he
was loving it just as much as the
players.
(For the record, Berenson told
us that "cold" meant -30 degrees
Fahrenheit. So the 21 degrees at
faceoff must've felt like Spring
Break for the Saskatchewan
native.)
But where the Wisconsin Athlet-
ic Department outdid themselves
was that the nostalgic experience
on the ice for the Classic's 50,000
fans extended past the game.
For those who got to Camp
Randall early to beat the lines, the

Badgers' practice football field was
opened up into a hockey memo-
rabilia/skills challenge/photo op
extravaganza that any fun-loving
human being could appreciate.
I mean, how else would I know
that my slapshot needs work and
my stickhandling skills would
make Berenson keel over?
Now, as much as the experience
made me feel all warm and fuzzy
inside, there were some logistical
shortcomings to the Camp Ran-
dall Classic's execution that the
Michigan Athletic Department
should note in planning "The Big
Chill at the Big House" between
Michigan and Michigan State next
December.
For one, not breaking the

hockey attendance record next
year - which stands at 74, 544
after Michigan took on Michigan
State in 2001 at Spartan Stadium
- would be unacceptable.
In Madison, there were inter-
mittent holes in the lower bowl and
the upper deck wasn't even shov-
eled off for fans. At the Big House,
they can't have that problem.
Michigan students have been
clamoring for a football game
under the lights for years now, so
slap a rink between the 20's, slash
the temperature in half and add
the most successful program in
college hockey history, and the
"Big Chill" practically markets
itself to students desperate for
something new and exciting on

campus.
Just make sure to continue all
the traditions that make Michigan
hockey at Yost great. Throw in a
full band. Use all the same chants.
Simply make the environment just
like a Football Saturday, just with
more ice and "Sieve!" chants.
The fact of the matter is, with
even just 90,000 or so fans at the
Big House next December, the
atmosphere should be unlike any
other in the history of the sport.
And even more so, for one
more shot at that sense of pure
nostalgia, you can bet I'll be in the
stands next December.
Kartje can be reached
at rkartje@umich.edu

U,..,

CLASSIC
From Page 1B

MORRIS
From Page 1B

good job and we didn't. They excut-
ed as good as it gets."
From the beginning, the game
was unusual for Michigan (16-13-1).
It gave up the first goal of the game
early in the first period, usually a
bad sign for the Wolverines. They
are just 2-11-1 this season when the
other team scores first.
But they clawed back scoring one
in the first and broke the tie when
.freshman Kevin Lynch gained the
blue line and let go of d wrist shot
that cleanly beat Badger goalie
Scott Gudmandson.
"Obviously the ice wasn't too
good so just getting shots on net
was our focus," Lynch said. "So off
the faceoff, we lost the draw but it
came right to (junior forward) Carl
(Hagelin) and he gave it to me and I
kinda just held onto it. I got across
the blueline and just let one go."
Despite Lynch's momentum

changing goal, Michigan lost the lead
because it hurt themselves. It was the
same way the Wolverines have been
costing them games all season.
A late power play goal by then-
No. 9 Ferris State just 1:25 after
Michigan had scored cost the Wol-
verines at least one much-needed
point in the CCHA standings two
weeks ago. Bowling Green's only
road win of the season came with
two power play goals in third at the
hands of the Wolverines.
But despite this being a non-
conference game, the late goal
hurt Michigan a little more, mostly
because the experience thatstarted
out as a lonely one ended on an even
more solemn note.
"We came here to win and we
didn't do that," junior forward Ben
Winnett said. "So at the end of the
day it's a tough loss for Michigan
hockey."

or a general - is about more than
just taking care of the ball and set-
tingup open looks for teammates. It's
about having the right state of mind
and staying relaxed. With just seven
games remaining in the regular sea-
son, Michigan desperately desires
those qualities in its on-court leader.

"We just need some guy who can get
in the lane a little bit and has a point
guard mentality to play," Beilein said.
"I thought (Morris) did a good job.
He made a couple of nice passes, still
has a lot of areas he needs to work on.
Just throw him out there and let him
play."

Michigan scorched at
home by Wisconsin

Love Sports? So do we.
Write for Daily Sports.
Email rkartje@umich.

From Page 1B
field in the second, but that was all
they needed to put the game away.
Senior DeShawn Sims, Michigan's
leading scorer with 18, said shot
selection probably accounted for
Michigan's poor shooting in the
second half on Saturday.
"We could have shot even bet-
ter in the first half," Sims said. "We
missed some easy shots."
But it wasn't just the Badgers
shooting extremely well that allowed
them to beat Michigan so handily. In
Madison, when the Wolverines lost
an extremely close game, they out-
rebounded Wisconsin.
On Saturday, Michigan was out-
rebounded by 10.
The rebounds especially hurt
the Wolverines on the offensive
glass. Since the Badgers are so good
at making teams play defense for

the entire 35-second shot clock,
they often garner a gret deal of
scoring chances. And when they
grab an offensive rebound, more
than likely the other team will be
playing defense for around 65 sec-
onds straight.
"That takes your heart away,"
Beilein said. "Now you've guarded
them for 69 seconds. That is really
hard."
As for where his team stands
after the loss, Beilein conceded that
the Wolverines' collective attitude
was not good.
And before watching tape, it's
tough to find answers.
"I don't know what to do right
now," Beilein said. "We have some
days to work on our own game and
see what we can do before we go to
Minnesota."

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