4B — April 13, 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SportsMonday
Wolverines fail to finish
big possessions vs. OSU
Struggles in
faceoffs doom
Michigan in close
loss to rival
By BRANDON CARNEY
Daily Sports Writer
The combination of one of
the nation’s tightest defenses
and country’s top faceoff men
proved fatal for the Michigan
men’s lacrosse team.
Coming into Sunday, the
Wolverines
understood
all
scoring
opportunities
were
going to be at a premium
against No. 11 Ohio State (3-0
Big Ten, 10-3 overall). Knowing
how valuable every offensive
possession would be against
the Buckeyes’ No. 9 scoring
defense, the Wolverines had to
change their mental mindset
while attacking. Michigan (1-2,
5-6) ended up taking 35 shots,
just four fewer than Ohio State,
but converted a mere 22 percent
into goals in a 13-8 loss.
Last week against Rutgers,
Michigan
was
drastically
beaten in the faceoff circle, yet
found ways to finish and score
with high-percentage shots in
its 10-8 victory. Facing a similar
setup against the Buckeyes,
the Wolverines lost the faceoff
battle Sunday, 16-9, and couldn’t
repeat what had worked with
limited possession against the
Scarlet Knights.
“Every team in the Big Ten
is so loaded at faceoff that we
know how big the possession
battle is,” said senior attacker
Will Meter. “We prepared for
that and it was a part of our
offense but once we were late in
the game and fell back a couple
goals, that’s when we started
pushing the tempo.”
The
most
noticeable
difference
for
Michigan
between
the
Rutgers
and
Ohio
State
matchups
was
its
speed on the
offensive
end.
Slow,
methodical
attacks
helped
the
Wolverines
score
when
they needed
to last week.
But against the Buckeyes,
Michigan found itself often
rushing
to
get
shots
off,
especially when trying to come
from behind in the second half.
The Wolverines broke away
from their offensive identity,
costing them a chance at an
upset.
“Usually, we’d need to slow
it down, and make sure our
defense is resting,” Meter said.
“That’s
hard.
When
you’re
behind in a game, you can’t fall
into that (tempo) so many times.
It kind of creates a spiral where
we’re trying to go too fast, and
if we lose the possession then it
goes back to the other end, and
that’s where we got stuck.”
In addition to poor shooting
as a result of the faster tempo,
the Wolverines made several
small mental errors that ended
up having a large effect on the
game’s
outcome.
Michigan
committed 14 turnovers and
four
penalties
that
mostly
occurred in transition, leading
to easy goals for Ohio State.
“We thought we’d be able
to clear the ball better,” said
Michigan coach John Paul.
“We were making some pretty
fundamental errors there. If
we clear the ball better and
get a few more possessions,
then maybe some of the other
numbers mean something a
little bit more.”
As much as
the Wolverines
hurt
themselves
during crucial
attacks,
the
Buckeye
defense
stepped
up
and
stopped
Michigan from
finding
any
offensive momentum.
Ohio
State
managed
to
force
the
Wolverines’
top
scorers into harder shots and
fewer opportunities to pass.
Sophomore attacker Ian King
and
sophomore
midfielder
Mikie Schlossler combined for
17 shots, but scored just twice
due to defensive pressure.
Despite what happens on the
attacking end, the key to solving
Michigan’s possession problem
will have to take place at where
it starts. The Wolverines were
crushed on faceoffs all day, and
rotated between three players
to take draws. Michigan finally
settled on sophomore midfielder
Chase Brown, who also was the
Wolverines’ only healthy option
in defensive midfield.
Whether
it’s
Brown
or
Michigan’s starting faceoff man
— junior specialist Brad Lott
— taking draws in the future,
Paul just hopes someone will
step up and fix the Wolverines’
possession
troubles
at
the
source.
“We’ve got to be better at
facing off,” Paul said. “When
we’re playing very good teams
and we’re also at a faceoff
disadvantage everything else
has to go perfect. If it doesn’t,
then this is what happens.”
MEN’S LACROSSE
SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily
Junior midfielder Kyle Jackson scored two goals in Michigan’s 13-8 loss to Ohio State on Sunday afternoon.
‘M’ falls to Ohio State
By RILEY NELSON
Daily Sports Writer
The conditions Sunday could
not have been better for the
Michigan’s men’s lacrosse team
as it squared off against Ohio
State.
But
on
such
a perfect day, the Wolverines
(1-2 Big Ten, 5-6 overall) were
far from perfect, losing to the
11th-ranked Buckeyes, 13-8.
The afternoon showed a hard-
fought battle on both sides, with
a little extra fire underneath
every player. The effort was there
for Michigan, but the deciding
factor in Sunday’s matchup was
ultimately possessions.
The Buckeyes won 64 percent
of the faceoffs, something the
Wolverines expected, but it still
ended up costing them.
“Initially, they got a lot of
possessions,
which
affected
us
early,”
said
sophomore
defenseman Andrew Hatton.
“I think we can do a lot better
of a job clearing, picking up
the ground balls, getting those
possessions and settling it once
we have it.”
The Wolverines were strong
in the first half, leading Ohio
State by one or two goals for
most of the second quarter.
Michigan redshirt sophomore
goaltender Gerald Logan and the
rest of the defense did not allow
the Buckeyes to score for over 20
minutes at one
point.
But
when
Ohio State did
score,
things
fell apart for
Michigan.
The
Wolverines
only
had
14
successful
clears on 21 attempts, giving the
Buckeyes more opportunities
than they deserved.
“We knew it was going to
be a possession battle coming
into it,” said senior attacker
and
co-captain
Will
Meter.
“Obviously, they’re very good
offensively, so when you give
them opportunities, it’s going to
be pretty tough for you.”
Meter, along with five of his
teammates, each tallied one
goal, while junior midfielder
Kyle Jackson notched two goals.
While
both
the
statistics
and team say that the lack of
possession was the deciding
factor of this game, Michigan
instead chose to focus on the
positives.
“Our effort was outstanding,”
said Michigan coach John Paul.
“The
energy
to
start
the
game
was
outstanding.
If
we
could
bottle that first
quarter
and
bring that out
every
single
time we play
a quarter of
lacrosse, we’re going to be in
pretty good shape no matter who
we’re playing.”
Added
Meter:
“Everyone’s
really excited with the direction
of the team and where it’s going.
We don’t look at it as there’s
two weeks left in the regular
season and we’re fighting for our
lives to get a position. There’s
an opportunity in front of us,
and let’s see where we can get a
seeding position. I think if we
continue the confidence … good
things are going to happen.”
OHIO STATE
MICHIGAN
13
8
“We knew it was
going to be a
possession battle.”
“Every team
in the Big Ten
is so loaded at
faceoff.”
college boxing is entering a new
age of growth, and Michigan is
right in the middle of it.
“It’s fantastic,” Sensoli said.
“The line I keep saying is that
‘These are the good ol’ days. These
are the peak times we’ve ever had
for Michigan boxing.’ It’s going to
be hard to top the last two years.”
In
most
people’s
minds,
the golden age of boxing was
generations ago. A varsity sport
until an athlete death ended
such competition in 1960, the
combative and gory nature of
boxing that once made it one of
America’s most popular sports
was also its downfall. This
sentiment returned just a few
years ago, when Michigan club
boxing was kicked off campus,
unable to compete.
Practicing
in
coaches’
backyards and becoming self-
sufficient, the Wolverines not only
came back swinging, but with a
fresh new look. Joining the newly
formed USIBA and emphasizing
a female team, Michigan found
previously unheard of success,
winning more individual national
titles (12) in the past two years
than in decades of club boxing.
But as this year showed, the
rest of the nation is following
suit. Newcomer Virginia Military
Institute took the men’s title,
while numerous other teams
made their debuts in Ann Arbor.
The increase of teams makes the
event a special one in the boxing
world.
“I’ve never seen support the
teammates have for each other
as we have in college boxing, no
matter where we go,” said USA
Boxing Chief of Officials Mac
McCadden. “A lot of it is because
these young folks, they’re not
going to be professional boxers.
They’re going to be doctors,
lawyers, take care of my cars. They
have all these other aspirations.
They do this because they love to
do it and it’s fun.
“I can’t tell you how much
improvement we’ve seen. The
resurgence of college boxing is
tremendous for us. You can tell
with the increased number of
athletes and quality of fights
in just a few years. As long as it
continues to grow, the sky’s the
limit.”
For three days the IMSB gym
was constantly filled with bouts of
all weight classes and skill levels.
But in contrast to college boxing
competitions of the past, it was
clear that boxing was no longer a
boys’ club.
“I remember my Dad coming
home a few years ago saying like
‘There’s a girl trying out,’ and we
all thought it was kind of weird,”
said junior Alec Sensoli, whose
father coaches both teams. “Then
that one girl blossomed into more,
and now it’s just this big thing,
and it’s amazing. They went from
nothing to team champions.”
Behind
the
training
and
leadership
of
defending
champion
Kate Johnson,
the
women’s
team not only
bested
the
competition, but obliterated it en
route to the team title.
Looking to match, the men sent
seven competitors to the finals,
including an open bout between
senior and team president Kevin
Bosma and VMI’s Nick O’Leary
that proved to be the apex of the
event. But the two-time defending
national champion Bosma fell by
TKO, leaving the younger Sensoli
as the lone male champion.
“Kevin’s OK, (but) that was a
rough one,” Tony Sensoli said.
“He’s our leader and the backbone
of our team, he’s carried us
through these last couple years
and is a big part of where this
team is. He’s the best kid that I’ve
ever coached, or as a person. So
I hate to see him go out this way,
but I know he’ll bounce back, he’s
a terrific kid.”
More
importantly,
both
Michigan and college boxing
found success on its biggest stage
yet, ensuring that it can be a main
event for the good ol’ days to come.
“I used to go to practices and
fights when I was younger, and
it kind of died off,” Alec Sensoli
said. “But now it’s getting big
again, and it’s just awesome to see.
Boxing’s kind of making a little bit
of a comeback, but it’s great seeing
college boxing where it is today.”
Added McCadden: “The quality
of the boxers has improved
tremendously
in three years.
I think a lot
of it has to
do
with
the
enthusiasm,
the
camaraderie
these
teammates have for each other,
and the ability to not be envious
of each other and share each other
and to support each other.”
“That’s something you don’t
see in any other level of boxing.”
Following
the
final
bell,
fans,
athletes
and
officials
were mingling around the area,
taking in the final moments of
the experience. When a group
of elementary-school girls were
shadow boxing outside of the
building, it was clear that the
resurgence of college boxing
also marked a clear change
in culture around the sport,
making it a comeback that just
might last.
BOXING
From Page 1B
MEN’S TENNIS
Michigan rebounds
for Senior Day win
By ALEX KHALIFEH
Daily Sports Writer
It’s not easy to compete in back-
to-back matches on consecutive
days. Struggling in the first one
doesn’t make it any easier.
But that’s what the Michigan
men’s tennis team went through
this weekend when it faced
Minnesota on Saturday and
Wisconsin on Sunday.
With the the Little Brown
Jug on the line, Michigan (2-7
Big Ten, 5-15 overall) faced
early deficits in each of its
three doubles matches against
Minnesota (8-1, 17-6).
There
were
opportunities
for the Wolverines to shift
momentum in their favor. The
No. 2 doubles duo of redshirt
freshman
Alex
Knight
and
freshman Leo Hua attempted to
come back against the Golden
Gophers’
Felix
Corwin
and
Leandro Toledo, cutting their
lead to 7-5. But Knight and
Hua were unable to ride their
momentum, ultimately losing,
8-5.
In that case, and overall,
the Wolverines were unable to
capitalize.
“(Corwin
and
Toledo’s)
returns were really good,” Hua
said. “They were on top of us
after their returns … we weren’t
dictating the points … they had a
good edge over us.”
Though Hua and Knight lost
in doubles, Hua’s performance
at No. 3 singles was worthy of
recognition, as it was the only
point Michigan won in a 6-1
defeat.
After
taking
a
loss
to
Minnesota,
Michigan
found
much
more
success
against
Wisconsin (3-6, 7-15).
The Wolverines came out
strong, as the No. 3 doubles duo
of sophomores Kevin Wong and
Tyler Gardiner won six straight
games to come back and beat
the Badgers’ Jakhongir Jalalov
and Michael Sinha, 8-6. The
comeback secured the doubles
point for the Wolverines.
“I think, mentally, (Gardiner
and Wong) felt like (Jalalov and
Sinha) weren’t better than them,”
Michigan coach Adam Steinberg
said. “They got a game and saw
what happened. … (That match)
was huge. We needed that.”
The doubles point, followed by
three straight singles victories by
Hua, Wong and Knight, helped
Michigan earn a 4-0 lead against
Wisconsin.
Though the match was already
decided, eyes focused on seniors
Michael Zhu and Alex Petrone,
who looked to grab victories in
their final matches at the Varsity
Tennis Center.
While he was frustrated by
his play against Wisconsin’s
Jalalov, Petrone made efforts to
work on his court movement and
got to balls quickly. Despite the
adjustments, Petrone lost in a
third-set tiebreaker, 10-5.
Zhu faced similar difficulty
against
the
Badgers’
Josef
Dodridge. After losing his first
set, 7-5, Zhu struck back in the
second, to the tune of winning
four straight games. He went on
to win, 6-1.
In the tiebreaker, with his
chance to serve and leading 9-8,
Zhu committed a double fault.
“(After that error), I was pissed
off at myself,” Zhu said. “The
only positive aspect about getting
pissed off is you use it to drive
yourself to win the next point. It’s
bad to let it consume you.”
Zhu showcased his ability to
let go of the mistake, securing the
tie breaking set with two straight
points and winning, 11-9.
For Zhu and Petrone, they say
goodbye to a place they called
home court for four years. But
Zhu found time to put his final
game into perspective and not let
the emotions get ahead of him.
“Just thinking: It’s the last
time I’m warming up before a
dual match,” Zhu said. “It’s the
last time hearing the national
anthem,
last
time
huddling
together over the block ‘M.’ But
once you start playing, it’s like
any other day.”
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Alec Sensoli and Dylan Gooch fought for the heavyweight crown Saturday.
“These are the
good ol’ days.”