4 8 - Friday, October 28, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Michigan proves itself "_, against formidable foe ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily Freshman forward Phil Di Giuseppe scores an empty-net goal. Junior forward Chris Brown sacrificed a goal of his own to give the freshman an easy tally. Wolverines topple nation' No. defense in series opener at Yost By ZACH HELFAND Daily Sports Editor Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson said that the fourth- ranked Wolverines had some- thing to prove in their series against No. 6 Ferris State. Michi- gan holds the higher ranking, but the Bulldogs brought an unde- feated record with them to Yost Ice Arena. And they've beaten some ofthe nation's top programs in No. 16 Miami and RPI. The Wolverines failed to establish themselves in their firsttest of the season at No. 14 Northern Michigan. Michigan made a statement on Thursday. Ferris State (2-1 CCHA, 6-1 overall) had sur- rendered just five goals all year - less than one per game. The Wolverines equaled that mark in the openinggame of the series. "It's good to score against a team that doesn't allow goals," Berenson said. "We knew goals would be precious, and maybe that's why we played a little more opportunistic." Michigan (1-1-1, 5-1-1) found most of its success by moving the puck down low. It fired nine shots on goal from the top of the crease in the second period despite failing to get a shot from close range in the first. The Wolverines capitalized on those second-period opportuni-' ties to jump out to a 3-0 lead. "It's all aboutthe dumps," said sophomore forward Derek DeB- lois. "We weren't really skating it into the zone that well so (it was) just getting pucks by their 'D' and working hard. Good things happen when you go to the net" Michigan's power play came alive after sluggish play against Northern Michigan. The Wol- verines entered the contest just 5-for-28 withthemanadvantage, and their failure to convert on a five-minute penalty in overtime against the Wildcats forced them to settle for a two-point shoot- out victory. The power-play unit played effectively on Thursday, converting on two of five chanc- es. Freshman forward Phil DiGi- useppe scored Michigan's first goal of the night on a power-play chance off a feed from junior for- ward Chris Brown. Senior for- ward David Wohlberg converted for the Wolverines' third goal when he fired an open wrist shot in space in front of the crease with the man advantage. Michigan, at least temporar- ily, put to rest any concerns about the effectiveness of its power play. The Bulldogs had denied opponents on 27 of 28 power play opportunities before Thursday. "I can't tell you it was any great execution," Berenson said. "It was shots finding their way into the back of the net and sec- ond efforts on loose pucks and a little bit of puck luck. But if you have the puck in their zone enough, things will happen." The Wolverines' forwards harassed Ferris State goalie Tay- lor Nelson in the later periods. Screens and traffic in front of the goal combined with Michi- gan's improved ability to get the puck down low created scoring chances. "I think just getting the puck to the net (worked for us)," senior forward David Wohlberg said. "The goalie couldn't see much. (As) Red says, what the goalie can't see, he can't save." Berenson still wants to see more success from the other end of his special teams. Both of the Bulldogs' goals came on the power play. Yet Michigan made improvements in the areas it focused on after the Northern Michigan road trip. The offense played with more opportun- ism in its second CCHA series and proved its power play could score. The defense, despite strug- gling with a man down, denied Ferris State in 5-on-5 play. "We had to play better than we played last weekend, and that might be a common theme all year," Berenson said. Brown said that he considered Michigan the underdog coming into the series. The Wolverines didn't play like it. 4 4 By MATT SLOVIN Daily Sports Writer Junior forward Chris Brown was adamant this week about Ferris State's emergence as a CCHA contender, going as far as to call the Michigan hockey team "underdogs" in their two-game set against the Bull- FERRIS STATE 2 dogs. MICHIGAN 5 If that was the angle the fourth-ranked Wolverines were going for Thursday night, they didn't play the part too well. Michigan doubled the total number of goals that Ferris State has allowed this season - from five to 10 - and turned a tight first period into an emphatic 5-2 victory. Despite an undefeated start to the season, the Bulldogs were handed their first loss. The game was expected to be low-scoring since Ferris State boasted the nation's top defense. "Their defensemen are like forwards," said Michigan coach Red Berenson of the Bulldogunit that was allowing just .83 goals per game entering the contest. "They jump into the play. There's a lot of activity." The defensemen's aggres- siveness is surprising for a unit so focused on team defense. In the game's first 20 minutes, the teams traded blows. Both sides repeatedly sent pucks down into the opposition's zone, but no skaters were there to recover in scoring position. That all changed after the first intermission.From that point on, the nation's top defense couldn't prevent Michigan (1-1-1 CCHA, 5-1-1 overall) from collecting the puck around the net. There was also fancy pass- ing, like the kind junior forward Chris Brown displayed early in the second period when he fooled Ferris State netminder Taylor Nelson. On the other side of the pipes, freshman forward Phil°Di Giuseppe - perhaps the most pleasant surprise of coach Red Berenson's latest recruiting class - was waiting eagerly. When Nelson committed to Brown's potential shot, he over- compensated by sliding and left Di Giuseppe with more than half a net to work with. That was more than enough room for Michigan to open the night's scoring with a power-play tally. Just four minutes later, fresh- man forward Travis Lynch scored his fourth goal of the season. After junior defenseman Lee Moffie found sophomore defenseman Mac Bennett, Lynch skated in to clean up. And two minutes after Lynch extended the Wolverine lead, senior forward David Wohl- berg's goal made it clear that, despite sweeping Miami (Ohio) the previous weekend, No. 6 Fer- ris State (2-1-0, 6-1-0) needed to be brought down to earth. The Bulldogs scored as the period winded down and added one more later in the evening after Michigan sophomore for- ward Derek DeBlois scored his first goal of the season. Up 4-2, with Ferris State's first loss imminent, Berenson was satisfied. But the Wolverines' finest moment of the evening came when the result wasn't in any jeopardy. Skating against an empty net late in the third period, Brown looked up and salivated at the sight of the open goal. Then he looked to his left and saw his linemate Di Giuseppe matching his stride - the rising talent who plays wise beyond his years. For Brown, the decision was easy. The dish from Brown to set up Di Giuseppe's second goal was exactly what Berenson wanted to see. "A lot of players have a tough time doing that, but good for (Brown)," Berenson said. "It shows you what kind of a team we are." ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily Di Giuseppe and junior forward A.J. Treais have jelled on the second line. I 4 ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily Fifth-year senior goaltender Shawn Hunwick saved all even-strength attempts. ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily Senior forward David Wohlberg made life difficult for the Ferris State defense. WOMEN'S SOCCER Matchup with Fighting Illini packed with postseason implications 0 Win over No. 20 Illinois would give Michigan a Big Ten Tourney berth By SAMANTHA PEARSON Daily Sports Writer A lot is at stake for the Michi- gan women's soccer team this Saturday. The result of the Wolverines' game against No. 20 Illinois in Champaign will be a huge deter- minant in whether Michigan will advance into the Big Ten Tournament starting Nov. 2 in Evanston. "It's been a weird Big Ten sea- son," said senior captain Court- ney Mercier. "There are six teams currently all within one point of each other. "The only control we have on the selection is by assuring a vic- tory against Illinois this week- end." The six teams that will be vying for a spot in the Big Ten Tournament include Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Purdue. No. 1 Penn State, Wiscon- sin, I and N of host selves But th remain undete "As us and said M "We w do bas game,i or a tie "I W "But to play The' 9-7-2 back a ing off weeket Penn S "In t Illinois, Michigan State a matter of breaks," Ryan said. orthwestern (by default "Even if it's a good shot, if the ting) have ensured them- linesman gets it wrong it doesn't spots in the tournament. count. e teams who will fill the "It's a matter of execution. If ing three spots are still we score, we will win." rmined. Michigan has an all-time of now, Iowa is ahead of record of 11-6-1 against Illinois 1 Nebraska is behind us," and has won five of the last eight ichigan coach Greg Ryan. meetings. ill know what we need to Luckily for Michigan, they ed upon the result of that have redshirt junior goalkeep- in terms of needing a win er Haley Kopmeyer, who has totaled a record of 287 saves in her career as a Wolverine. Kopmeyer is one of the five upperclassmen this year, with 18 n the losses underclassmen comprising the rest of the team. ast week, it This batch of Michigan upper- classmen have been playing for Tas a matter Ryan since he started coaching in Ann Arbor in 2008, but dur- of breaks." ing their tenures they have yet to make it past the first round in the NCAA Tournament. Yet even with such an unbal- either way, we are going anced distribution this year, nine like we need a win." different players have scored at Wolverines (4-5-1 Big Ten, least one goal this season. overall) hope to bounce "The success of this season gainst Illinois after com- has been so contingent on the of two tough losses last performance of the upperclass- nd against Ohio State and men," Mercier said. "Our atti- tate. tudes and actions influence all of he losses last week, it was the younger players. It's a pres- M a' 6 THERESA MATHEW/ Redshirt junior forward Clare Stachel battles an Ohio State defender for the ball during Michigan's 1-0 loss last Friday. sure we love having. "Especially this weekend, we must take care of our jobs and set the example." Even with the team being hit by several different season-end- ing illnesses and injuries, the Wolverines are only one game away from having their second double-digit winning season in a row. "This team is special," Ryan said. "They have represented Michigan in the very best way, and they have given everything to do so. While the future of this 'I program is hugely bright, we don't want to give up today just yet. " Added Merciert "The key will be executing it all on the field this weekend. "It comes down to us winning. No ifs, ands or buts."