2B - November 12, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com The Big House magic Stachel, Ezurike cap dramatic OT victory T here's something to that Big House magic. Brady Hoke must believe it by now. The Michigan football team scraped together an impossible 38-31 overtime victory over Northwestern on Saturday in the hallowed confines of Mich- igan Stadium. It pushed Hoke's home -- record to a perfect 13-0 since he took over as the Wolverines' head coach prior to the 2011 season. STEPHEN J.- Those wins NESBITT include some last-second r thrillers like Denard Robinson- to-Roy Roundtree to beat Notre Dame and Brendan Gibbons from 38 to topple Michigan State. And now it includes Roundtree and the desperation tip against the Wildacts to snatch victory from the sure clutches of defeat. But let's go back further, back to Hoke's earlier stint at Michi- gan. With Hoke on the Michigan sideline, the Wolverines are 58-6 at the Big House. And that track record is littered with classics. But it all goes back to one' game, Hoke's first loss at Michi- gan and the bitter taste of defeat. That first one added a personal touch to Saturday's game. The last time Brady Hoke and Northwestern coach Pat Fitzger- ald were at Michigan Stadium together was Oct. 7, 1995. Hoke was a first-year defensive line coach on the home sideline. Fitzgerald was Northwestern's burly junior middle linebacker, wearing a white No. 51 jersey and terrorizing Michigan quarter- back Brian Griese. With the Wildcats leading 19-13 and just 1:40 remaining yard line, the Big House magic was alive. Fitzgerald, vwho was jumping up and down just a few minutes earlier, bolted down the visitor sideline. He would have strapped on pads and finished the game if he could. The script mostly played out the same way ' as it did in 1995 defeat, but sud- denlythe roles were reversed. "Big players make big plays in big situations," Griese crowed. after Roundtree's catch. He knew all about that formula. But Griese forgot to add another "big" into the equation: the Big House. There was an electricity in the air as the clock wound down and overtime loomed. There's something about the 12th man at Michigan Stadium that makes opponents, even smart ones, do some stupid things. Like Charlie Weis throwing instead of running out the clock in 2009. Tommy Rees fumbling and bumbling the ball back to Michigan last fall. And Fitzgerald calling a rugby punt to Jeremy Gallon instead of putting the punt out of bounds, setting up the pass to Roundtree on Saturday. And Griese forgot the big man on the Michigan sideline - Hoke. Fitzgerald and the Wildcats taught Hoke that sting of defeat once, and he wouldn't let it hap- pen again, even 17 years later. As Hoke made his way through a sea of players toward the Michigan tunnel, he wore a wry smile. "Did you know you were going to win?" his wife, Laura, asked. "Yes," he said, without a trace of doubt. With 112,000 strong at his back, he's seen the pitfalls, he's seen the most improbable tri- umphs. He's got a .906 lifetime record at Michigan Stadium - .770 away from home. That man doesn't lose at Michigan Stadium. Perhaps he's learned of that Big House magic. - Nesbitt can be reached at stnesbit@umich.edu. ByALEJANDRO ZU~fNIGA Daily Sports Writer Facing NCAA Tournament elimination and the end of her collegiate career, senior mid- fielder Clare Stachel took matters into her own hands on Saturday night. Her spectacular header with less than a minute remaining in regula-. tion helped C. MICHIGAN 1 propel the MICHIGAN 2 Michigan women's soccer team to a 2-1 vic- tory over Central Michigan at the U-M Soccer Complex. The Wolverines (8-3-2 Big Ten, 15-5-2 overall) tested the Chip- pewas early in the match, earning two corner kicks in the first two minutes. But it was Central Michi- gan (9-2 Mid-American Confer- ence, 15-7-1) which drew first blood on its first offensive oppor- tunity just three minutes into the contest. Central Michigan defend- er Bailey Brandon took a long throw-in into Michigan's 18-yard box, and forward Laura Gosse managed to one-touch a shot past Michigan senior goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer. Gosse's fifth goal of the season gave the Chippewas an early advantage. Gosse's tally almost proved to be the game-winner for Central Michigan, as the Wolverines time and again couldn't find the back of the net. In the 24th minute, junior forward Nkem Ezurike passed a ball between a defender's legs to midfielder Cassie Collins. The freshman had an open look at goal from the penalty spot, but fired a shot off the post. Five minutes later, junior midfielder Meghan Toohey's header rattled the cross- bar. And midway through the second half, Ezurike had an oppor- tunity alone against the goalkeep- er but also hit the post. In the 89th minute, Stachel shook the woodwork once more. But unlike so many prior oppor- tunities, the ball deflected in. Sprinting towards the net and being defended closely by a Chip- pewa, Stachel headed a long pass just enough to beat goalkeeper Stefanie Turner. The shot rang off the top corner of the goal frame and bounced beyond the end line, pulling the Wolverines even with 40 seconds remaining. It was Sta- chel's first goal of the season and a perfect finish for the senior play- ing her last game at the U-M Soc- cer Complex. "Coming into my senior year I wanted to contribute the most I could for this team," Stachel said. "I wanted to leave my mark." Riding the momentum from Stachel's dramatic tally, Michigan won the game handily in overtime. The Wolverines took four shots in the extra period and found the back of the net in less than five minutes. Senior midfielder Emily Jaffe - who had been rejected on a beautiful save by Turner moments earlier - fired a low shot towards goal. The ball deflected off a defender to Ezurike, who tapped it past Turner for her 14th goal of the season. "It was (Jaffe's) hard work that got the goal," Ezurike said. "It was an easy tap in, butshe did the hard work." After Ezurike's tally, the Wol- verines poured onto the field, dancing and hugging. Near the visitor's bench, several Chippewa players silently fought back tears. Though the Wolverines strug- gled to capitalize on their early opportunities, Ryan did not mod- ify his attacking strategy, hoping the tying goal would come. "That was awfully late to put it away," he said. "Some days you wonder, 'Is this just not your day?' Usually you don't win on days like today." But Michigan scored just in time and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where it will face fourth-seeded Portland in State College, Pa. on Friday. Freshman tackle Ondre Pipkins celebrates yet another victory at home on the clock, Griese and the Michigan offense were 41 yards from the end zone facing a third- and-15. Fitzgerald had ended the previous drive by tipping a pass out of harm's way. Fitzgerald, crouched four yards off the line of scrimmage, started slowly off the snap. He waited for a crease, then burst through it. He had a clean shot at Griese as soon as the quarterback finished his seven-step drop. The pass fell more than a few yards short of its intended target in the flat. "Brian Griese is trying to shake the cobwebs right now," said play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler. "It's fourth down." Last chance. Northwestern didn't change a thing. Fitzgerald and Hudhaifa Ismaeli shot the same gap on a delayed blitz and Fitzgerald was free again. Seven steps. Boom. Griese got rid of the ball again, but it was a lame duck. Defensive back William Bennett dove to make the interception, though he could have just let it fall. "Griese still down. Fitzgerald hit him again," Nessler said. Fitzgerald reached down and swung the quarterback back onto his feet. The day belonged to Fitzgerald, the hero, walking to the sideline with his fist raised' high. They were all back on Satur- day. The roles were just different. Hoke was on one sideline, Fitzgerald on the other. Griese, now a color analyst for ESPN, was in the booth. When Roundtree hauled in his miraculous catch at the nine- Spartans stun'M'in OT of Big Ten final 6 JAMES M. GALLOWAY, MD, FACP, FACC, FAHA Acting Regional Director and Regional Health Administrator, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services THE MILLION HEARTSTM INITIATIVE Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 12-1 p.m. Horace Rackham Amphitheater Students, Faculty, and Staff Welcome H eart disease and stroke are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the U.S., with heart disease being responsible for one of every three U.S. deaths. Launched in 2011, Million Hearts is a public- and private-sector partnership intent upon preventing one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Dr. Galloway will discuss this initiative and the critical role pharmacists are playing to scale up proven clinical and community strategies to prevent heart disease and stroke across America. For more information, call the Office of the Dean, College of Pharmacy, (734) 764-7144. Or visit the College Web site at http.//pharmacyumich.edu/pharmacy/dean'slecture. v a By JEREMY SUMMITT With five minutes to play and Daily Sports Writer the ball in Michigan's defensive third of the field, the Michigan EVANSTON - "It wasn't much State fans were as loud as ever as of a soccer game," said Michigan they began to count down to a Big coach Chaka Daley. Ten title. From kickoff to the second that But junior forward T.J. Roehn, Michigan State freshman mid- an All-Big Ten tournament selec- fielder Sean Conerty struck the tion, silenced the fans as he tied game-win- the game with three minutes left, ning goal MICHIGAN 1 igniting the Michiggn sideline. to give the MICH. STATE 2 After the late goal, a few Spartans Spartans laid on the field stunned as they a 2-1 overtime victory on Sun- watched their rivals celebrate. day in the Big Ten Tournament The NCAA tournament bid was Final, the wind coming from Lake back on the table for either team Michigan at Lakeside Field was to grasp after Roehn's deflection relentless. trickled past freshman goalkeep- Michigan State and Mother er Zach Bennett. Nature beat up on the Michigan But in overtime, the Spartans 0 men's soccer team for much of won the coin toss to give them the 97-minute Big Ten Tourna- a crucial advantage with the ment final. The Spartans' scoring wind at their backs. The evident chances were determination, sometimes , and quite pos- sporadic, but sibly the coin the 30-40 mile "You couldn't get toss,'eventually per hour winds earned Michi- consistently into a rhythm." gan State a Big affeted each Ten Champi- team's game onship and an plan. NCAA Tourna- "Itwas just as hard to play with ment berth. the wind as it was to play against "The boys are disappointed it," Daley said. "You couldn't get and it's very difficult for me," into a rhythm." Daley said. "They got the goals The Wolverines (3-2-1 Big Ten, and we didn't." 10-9-1 overall) came into the It was a heartbreaking defeat match riding a five-game win- - Michigan's seniors tried to ning streak and were looking to fight back tears next to their put a cap on their remarkable run families and Daley remained in in the Big Ten Tournament. But the same spot next to the bench Michigan State (3-3, 11-9-1) had for nearly 20 minutes following aspirations of its own to snag an the match. automatic NCAA Tournament But the Wolverines may have bid from Michigan's grasp, as it done enough to get another shot prevailed through a heated rival- at the NCAA Tournament, and .ry game and the forceful winds that's all Michigan can hope for to finally crack the Wolverines' now. defense. "If the national committee In the 38th minute the Spar- blesses us with another chance tans' leading scorer, sophomore and we can get in the NCAA forward Adam Montague, hit a Tournament, that'd be great," laser past redshirt sophomore Daley said. "We want to end the goalkeeper Adam Grinwis. The season where we can say we've tally marked the first goal Grin- done enough. We've gotten to a wis and the Michigan defense point where we want to end on a have allowed in 260 minutes of successful note so we'll wait and play, dating back to Oct. 30. see if we can do that."