4B - October 22, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 4B - October 22, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom 'M' hockey blows past Bentley By MATT SLOVIN Daily Sports Editor The Michigan hockey team fired off 56 shots and enjoyed a late flurry of goals to finish off a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Bentley. "Even though we got down in the game, I thought we played with a lot of patience, discipline and just a good overall team work ethic," said Michigan coach Red Berenson. BENTLEY 3 After MICHIGAN 6 the two teams spent the first period's early moments feeling each other out, Michigan (2-1) finally produced a promising 2-on-1 with freshman forward Boo Nieves and sophomore forward Alex Guptill streaking down the slot. The Falcon defender made the first move, commit- ting to Nieves, leaving Guptill open, but the puck never got to him as the clearing attempt suc- ceeded. At the 8:07 mark of the first period, Bentley (1-1) had a 2-on- 1 of its own, but it came away with more to show. Michigan freshman goalie Steven Racine allowed a lazy snapshot from the top of the slot to skip past him and the Falcons had the early lead. The Wolverines had their best chance to score in the opening frame when Nieves fed senior forward Lindsay Sparks a perfect pass right into the crease. Sparks hesitated and only mustered a weak shot attempt. Though Bentley net- minder Branden Komm didn't need to flash the leather on Sparks's shot, he gloved several tough shots in the first period, and Michigan found itself trail- ing 1-0 after one period. "Give (Bentley) credit - they were putting a lot of pressure on our defense and trying to get us to turn the puck over, and we Pair competing for starting goalie job PATRICK BARRON/Daily Senior forward and team captain A.J. Treais scored twice in the Wolverines' 6-3 victory over Bentley on Friday. did a few times," Berenson said. It didn't take long for the Wolverines to open the second period's scoring. Just 30 sec- onds in, a messy scrum in front of the Bentley goal ended in a tap in from senior captain A.J. Treais that tied the game. But Bentley's response came almost as quickly. A Falcon shot deflected off of Racine's pads and forward Jared Rickord was there to give his team the lead once again. Still, Treais bailed out the, Wolverines once again on- a beautiful give-and-go with sophomore forward Phil Di Giuseppe. The tally knotted the game at two. Minutes later, Michigan looked like it should've taken the lead as Komm corralled a backhand from Guptill, and the referee blew his whistle, ending the play. But right after the whistle sounded, the puck trickled out of Komm's grasp and over the goal line. After a review, the officials upheld the initial ruling. Luckily for the Wolverines, the go-ahead goal came not long afterward. Freshman for- ward Andrew Copp, who com- mitted to the Wolverines in May, scored his first collegiate goal playing in his first colle- giate game. He reacted quickly for a one-timer look and Michigan regained the lead, 3-2, going into the second intermission. In the third period, Guptill extended the Michigan lead to 4-2 off a wrister that directly followed a faceoff in Bentley's end. The goal was the first of the season for Guptill, who tied for the team lead last season with 16 goals. Sophomore forward Zach Hyman followed with his first marker of the young season off a rebound goal that found its way through the Bentley goal- tender's five hole. "It's pretty satisfying," Hyman said of his first goal since Nov. 12 of last year. "I was a scratch last week, and it put a little bit of a fire under mybutt." Bentley managed to slip one more past Racine during a delayed penalty at the 10:17 mark of the third period, but the Michigan offense kept up the pressure, thwarting any possible comeback attempt by the Falcons. Guptill added the night's final marker and his second of the night after senior for- ward Kevin Lynch had his shot deflected from in tight, before the New Market, Ont. native hammered it home to seal the victory for the Wolverines. Michigan now will have a full week off before taking the ice at Yost against Miami (Ohio) to begin CCHA play. "One thing we don't have to worry about is a game tomor- row night," Berenson said. "I think our team left everything on the ice tonight." By MICHAEL LAURILA Daily Sports Writer When the Michigan hockey team defeated Bentley 6-3 on Fri- day, freshman goaltender Steve Racine notched his second-career victory. Though he is 2-0 on the year, Racine's performance hasn't been the kind that the Wolverines were accustomed to in years past with Shawn Hunwick in net. Racine is still in a battle for the starting netminder position with fellow freshman Jared Rutledge. Rut- ledge doesn't have a victory yet, but Michigan coach Red Beren- son expressed early in the season that neither goalie has seized the job. Opposing Michigan in net for the Falcons was junior Branden Komm. Coincidentally, Komm and Racine both are from Wil- liamsville, N.Y. - a small suburb of Buffalo. While Racine started on Fri- day, Berenson said Rutledge has been "lights out" in practice this past week and that he is begin- ning to find his comfort zone in the net. After a slow first two minutes of the game in which neither side tallied a single shot, the Wolver- ine offense finished the first peri- od with 12 shots, compared to just six for the Falcons. Though the final score was 6-3, Friday night's game turned into a battle in the net, especially on Bentley's side of the ice. Racine finished with a .880 save percentage and Komm an .890 save percentage. Racine's stat-line benefited from a strong defensive effort that was absent from the Falcons' end. He struggled throughout the game to control the shots and stop the puck from rebounding in front of the net, and looked flustered at times when there was pressure on him in the crease. And the final score didn't show the kind of performance that Komm put forth. Michigan totaled 54 shots, 20 of them com- ing in the second period. With the constant battering of the Falcon net, it was just a matter of time before the goals started coming for the Wolverines. It finally hap- pened in the third period when Michigan tallied another 22 shots on net. "(Komm) is a good goalie," said senior forward A.J. Treais. "I've played against him my whole life. It's just a matter of keeping at it and getting shots on net and get- ting guys in the paint and eventu- ally the pucks started going in." Both players are 21 years old, but Racine's inexperience showed early and often. He let a soft stick-side goal go right past him on Bentley's first goal of the game, which gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Berenson said that he didn't like the first goal, but was pleased overall with Racine's per- formance. "Even in the third period when we were up three goals, there were some point-blank shots from the slot that he was in good posi- tion," Berenson said. On more than one occasion he probably should have held the puck to allow his lines to change, but instead passed it behind the net to a defenseman, leaving the same line on the ice. But with CCHA play opening this week when the Wolverines host Miami (Ohio) in Ann Arbor, Berenson is still not set on a starter. "I can't tell you that there's a plan right now," Berenson said. "I want to see them both play well ... They both need to play games and they'll both play, and we'll see where we go from there." t. Michigan beats Indiana for first road victory By DAN HARTLEP For the Daily Hope has resurfaced for the Michigan men's soccer team at a time when the Wolverines' season seemed to be on its last leg. Timely play from the back line, which was missing senior defend- er and cap- tain Brian MICHIGAN 2 Klemczak INDIANA 1 kept the team on top after a pair of unan- swered goals by the Wolverines. It was enough for Michigan to grab its second win all-time against Indiana, winning by a final score of 2-1. The Wolverines (2-2-1 Big Ten, 5-7-1 overall) arrived in Bloom- ington on Friday to face the lith- ranked Hoosiers (3-1-0, 10-3-2) looking to get the road victory that has eluded the road, the Wolverines couldn't afford to get ahead of themselves, assistant coach Tommy McMen- emy said. He told the team at half- time that it needed to just follow the gameplan. "We need to trust in the game plan and stick to it," McMen- emy said.."Just execute like we're capable of doing and try to focus more on possession. If we can do that, we'll finish a lot more close matches." But solid play in the second half has not been the team's forte this fall. In the opening half this season, Michigan has outscored opponents 11-6, but it has been outscored 11-5 after halftime. The Wolverines' defense during crunch time has cost them games against Penn State and Wisconsin in the past few weeks. The final 10 minutes of the match on Fri- RUBY WALLAU/Daily Junior forward Nkem Ezurike scored Michigan's lone goal of the afternoon against Penn State, giving Michigan a 0 lead. But the lead fell in the 85th minute. Penalty kick in final minutes doomS Wolverines'upset bid over Penn State them all season. day showcased Indiana Michigan's struck first in "Earning a win effectivelyreck- the match's nless defense, as 27th minute, against Indiana the Hoosiers when for- had four corner ward Femi is huge." kicks and four Hollinger-Jan- shots on goal in zen trapped a that stretch. through ball Fortunately inside the Michigan penalty for Michigan, the stellar back line area and slid it home underneath showcased its mettle once again redshirt sophomore goalkeeper this season. Adam Grinwis. Led by Grinwis in net, the The Wolverines were quick to Michigan defense did not allow answer though, and within seven the equalizer in the second half, minutes of the Hoosier goal, red- and he finished the game with shirt sophomore midfielder Tyler seven saves. Arnone nailed home a give-and- It was an important win for go from junior midfielder Fabio Michigan, since Indiana is one Pereira into the corner of the net. of the top teams in the nation. In the 48th minute, Michigan McMenemy hopes that the vic- got its go-ahead goal from fresh- tory will start to show critics that man forward James Murphy. Michigan is a team capable of Coming off a spectacular feed doing damage when playing up to from junior forward T.J. Roehn, its full potential. Murphy slotted the ball past the "Earning a win against Indiana Indiana goalkeeper for his first is huge, especially at their home collegiate score. field," McMenemy said. "This will With almost an entire half left go a long way in helpingus receive in regulation, a formidable foe on an at-large bid in the postseason." By ALEJANDRO ZUNIGA Daily Sports Writer Five minutes away from com- pleting a stunning upset over No. 4 Penn State, the No.17 Michigan women's soccer team conceded an equalizing tally that allowed the Nittany Lions to earn a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon. The result MICHIGAN 1 math- PENN STATE 1 ematically eliminates Michigan from the regular-season title. It also guar- antees that Penn State (9-0-1 Big Ten, 15-2-1 overall) will finish first in the conference or win the Big Ten championship for the 15th-straight year. Junior forward Nkem Ezurike and the Wolverines drew first blood in State College. In the 60th minute, junior forward Shelby Chambers-Garcia got her head on a long free kick and flicked it over Penn State's defense. Ezurike controlled the ball and chipped it over goal- keeper Erin McNulty. It dropped into the back of the net to give Michigan (7-1-2, 13-3-2) the State player was brought down improbable advantage. from behind during the ensuing "The goal came from a whole scramble and the referee award- group effort," Ezurike said. "We ed a penalty kick. Midfielder all played well the whole game." Christine Nairn took the shot, After the go-ahead tally, the and the high effort flew inches Wolverines tried to preserve past Kopmeyer's fingertips for their lead by defending with her 13th goal of the season. The all 11 players. But Penn State's tally sent the game into overtime, prolific attack continued to cre- but the two extra periods ended ate numer- without any ous scoring more late dra- chances, and matics. the team fired "It would With a 16 shots in the strong wind at second half have been huge its back in the Senior goal- second half, keeper Haley to beat Penn Penn State Kopmeyer relentlessly responded to State." pressured the challenge, the Wolver- recording 12 ines' defense. saves. The Nittany "I just want to do everything Lions' attack, featuring four dif- I can to keep the team in the ferent players who have scored game," Kopmeyer said. "I got a five goals or more this season, couple of good saves and momen- launched 31 shots against Michi- tum was swinging my way." gan. But Kopmeyer and the back With under five minutes left line held the best scoring offense to play, the Nittany Lions finally in the country (3.25 goals per found the back of the net. After a game) to just a single tally, Penn shot caromed off the post, a Penn State's lowest offensive output of the year. "(Penn State) beats teams by a lot of goals,' Michigan coach Greg Ryan said. "Our defense was very, very solid today." It was a similar result to Mich- igan's Sept. 2 contest at then-No. 11 Long Beach State. The 49ers scored late to steal a game that the Wolverines had led. After Michigan fell just short of an upset once again, Ryan sounded notably let down. "We're disappointed," he said. "We were four minutes away from winning. It would have been huge to beat Penn State." Though Michigan came tan- talizingly close to giving Penn State its first conference loss of the season, Ryan was proud of his squad for giving the Nittany Lions their only blemish in the Big Ten. More importantly, the draw earned Michigan a key point that moved it closer to its best regular-season finish since 2002. If the Wolverines defeat Illinois this weekend or if Ohio State loses or ties Indiana, Michi- gan will finish second in the con- ference.