T; z The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com November 3, 2414 - 3B Th icia Diy- ihgadilcmNoebr ,214-_ ICE HOCKEY Special teams' struggles doom Wolverines on road M' upsets Spartans By JEREMY SUMMITT Daily Sports Editor HOUGHTON, Mich. - Until Saturday, the Michigan hockey team hadn't started a season 2-5 since 1986. And it has its special teams performance to. blame for that. After getting swept at No. 17 Michigan Tech this MICHIGAN 2 weekend, MICH. TECH 4 - a series in MICHIGAN 2 which the MICH. TECH 5 Wolverines were outscored 4-0 on special teams - all the concerns about leveling the plus-minus ratio on the power play and penalty kill are amplified. "Our special teams should be plus for us to be playing well, and right now they're a big negative, so we've got to get that fixed," said Michigan coach Red Berenson before traveling to UMass-Lowell on Oct. 24. But the issues with the penalty kill weren't present until Saturday's loss. Michigan had allowed just two power- play goals in the 18 times it was shorthanded this season, including a perfect 14-for-14' stretch dating back to a 2-1 win over New Hampshire on Oct. 18. But Saturday was an absolute debacle. Berenson referred to Michigan T'ech's performance as "a clinic," the way the Wolverines were outworked on their power play. The penalty kill, arguably Michigan's most acclaimed strength before Saturday, couldn't even perform up to expectations in a disastrous weekend. The Wolverines conceded four power-play goals in the series finale, resulting in a 6-2 loss. "On special teams, we had to be better on the power play than we were last night, and we were 0-for-7," Berenson said after Saturday's loss. "Then on the penalty kill, we thought we were OK, but then we got schooled tonight. So it was a game of special teams tonight, and that was the difference." There were simple mistakes like defensive-zone turnovers that led to an easy tap-in goal for forward Tyler Heinonen in the first period. Other times, a series of mental lapses in Michigan's own zone assisted the Huskies in picking apart a penalty-killing unit that had ranked among the nation's best. Berenson pinned the inability to execute on a myriad of things, such as winning faceoffs, blocking shots and cutting off passing lanes as reasons for the pitiful showing on the penalty kill. But all Michigan's shortcomings can't be stated without a tip of the cap to Michigan Tech. The Huskies looked faster and more inspired in both of this Max Shuatt. "But we've got to be better, block more shots. We've got to be willing to put it on the line more for the rest of our team. It was a really bad effort on the PK by our team." The Wolverines could never replicate Michigan Tech's gritty effort, displaying a dismal performance on the power-play unit as well. In 13 opportunities with the man-advantage, Michigan never scored. This issue has been a long- standingonethough, especially compared to the fresh concerns about the penalty kill. The Wolverines have scored just three goals in 28 chances on the power play this season, good for a 10-percent success rate. "We have a lot of guys that haven't scored yet, and they're fighting the puck," Berenson said. "You saw we had just- about-empty-net opportunities that we fanned on. We've got to be better with the puck and without the puck." In its seven games this year, Michigan has conceded two shorthanded goals. During the Wolverines' 28 opportunities with the man-advantage, they've By BRANDON CARNEY For the Daily The Michigan men's soccer team hadn't taken home the Big Bear Trophy - given annually to the winner of the Michigan- Michigan State game - from East Lansing since 2003. That streak was in danger of continuing Sunday until fifth-year senior midfielder Tyler Arnone stepped in. When Michigan State's Jay Chapman put the Spartans on top just before halftime, Arnone gathered his teammates and tried to regain the lost morale. "I told everyone, 'We're going to winthisgame,"'Arnonesaid. "I looked everyone in the eye. I said, 'We're goingto calm down and get back to doing what we're good at, and we'll be the better team."' A record crowd saw the Wolverines knock off the 12th-ranked Spartans on their Senior Day in a come-from- behind effort, 3-2. Taking into account Arnone's words, Michigan clicked on all cylinders throughout the second half. It took the Wolverines just nine minutes to find an equalizer. junior forward William Mellors- Blair ran down the right sideline, beating Spartan defenders, and found freshman forward Ahinga Selemani inside the six-yard box, who had the easy finish past the post, making this his third straight game with a goal. Just five minuteslater, Selemani assisted forward Colin McAtee, who gained possession and put a run past the Michigan State back line to beat Spartan goalkeeper Zach Bennett - putting the Wolverines up for good. Michigan'syoungforwards put pressure on the Spartans' well- experienced back line from the beginning of the match, starting with a shot on goal by Mellors- Blair less than a minute after kickoff. That would be the first of 20 Wolverine shots, doubling Michigan State's 10. Forward Colip McAtee helped to bring the Big Bear Trophy back to Ann Arbor. weekend's scored only contests. They one more won the 50/50 We've got to be goal than the battles in better wt the opposition. the corners, Michigan's resulting puck and without bye week in a large next weekend edge in puck the puck." couldn't possession come at a despite not better time. having a single Berenson and skater weighing over 200 the rest of the coaching staff lbs. Michigan has 11 of those have placed an emphasis on players. the power play in practice for "I think they made some weeks.And now, ironingoutthe adjustments on their power massive wrinkles on both units play and give a lot of credit to comes as a tougher task than them," said sophomore forward the Wolverines expected. It was in the eigth minute, when the ball fell to Arnone, that Michigan would be rewarded for its fast start. Arnone took a touch off a poor Spartan clearance, then volleyed ahard shotjust out ofthe reach of Bennett. It was Arnone's first goal of the year after being in and out of the squad due to multiple injuries. "To finally connect and see it hit the back of the net was absolutely amazing," Arnone said. "It set up quite nicely for me, and I focused on my technique, put my foot through the ball and let it do the rest." An early start was huge for the Wolverines, as Michigan State (9-4-4 overall, 3-2-2 Big Ten) had only given up nine goals heading into the match. Getting ahead put the Spartans in a position they weren't accustomed to - playing from behind.. After the score, Michigan (6-7-3, 3-2-2) began to regress in energy after dominating the opening10 minutes. The Spartans scored off their first shot of the game in the 15th minute, when the ball took a deflection off a Wolverine defender and sailed over fifth- year senior goalkeeper Adam Grinwis' head. Michigan State exposed the Wolverines' young defense again, as Spartan midfielder Jason Stacy crossed the ball in from the wing and found Chapman in front of goal for the tap-in. But McAtee's heroics brought the Big Bear trophy back home. The win puts Michigan in a three-way tie for fifth in the Big Ten with 11 points. With the regular-seasonfinaleagainstOhio State and Big Ten Tournament starting next weekend, the Wolverines are doing everything they can to make up for early- season losses to try to make the NCAA Tournament field. "We needed a win regardless of who we were playing today," said Arnone. "It just happened to be Michigan State today. It's always nice to bring home something tangible like the (Big) Bear. It boosts morale and puts us in a better position to compete." GRADUATE PROGRAMS Applied Physics, MS Biomedical Engineering, MS, PhD Biotechnology, MS Chemical Engineering, MS, PhD Civil Engineering, MS, PhD Computer Science, MS, PhD * Computer Engineering, MS " Construction Management, MS Electrical Engineering, MS, PhD * Environmental Engineering, MS * Financial Engineering, MS * Integrated Digital Media, MS Management of Technology, MS, PhD Manufacturing Engineering, MS Mechanical Engineering, MS, PhD and more... THE NYU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING IS VISITING ANN ARBOR. JOIN US. The NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering offers graduate programs.in engineering, science and technology management that empower you to put your ideas into action. 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