The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SportsWednesday
October 21, 2015 — 3B

Freshman Connor stars in win

By KEVIN SANTO 

Daily Sports Writer

It was late in the second period, 

and the Michigan hockey team 
was facing a threat. Mercyhurst 
had just tied the game at two.

But 16 minutes into the frame, 

freshman forward Kyle Connor 
came to the rescue.

The 

Michigan 
rookie 
found space 
on the right wing and sniped the 
side netting to light the lamp and 
give the Wolverines a 3-2 lead.

Michigan didn’t look back from 

there, and in a gritty, back-and-
forth game, that score held for the 
11th-ranked Wolverines (2-0).

“I liked the way that we battled 

at the end,” said junior center JT 
Compher. “We were winning 
races, getting pucks out and 
playing the way that we’ve been 
talking about for the last month — 
good defensive hockey. I liked that 
better than scoring six or seven 
goals.”

The Wolverines commanded 

play in the first period, but it took 
them 17 minutes to find the back 
of the net.

After 
junior 
defenseman 

Michael Downing fired a shot 
just inside the blue line, junior 
forward Alex Kile found himself 
in the right place at the right time. 
The puck rebounded down near 
the crease, and Kile found twine 
to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.

The even score line prior to 

the goal was far from indicative 
of Michigan’s performance in the 
opening 20 minutes.

The 
Wolverines 
applied 

pressure 
and 
prevented 

Mercyhurst (2-0 Atlantic Hockey 
Conference, 3-3 overall) from 
maintaining 
any 
legitimate 

possession in its offensive zone 
while outshooting the Lakers 19 
to five.

Michigan’s 
most 
dangerous 

offensive opportunities in the 
first frame came off the stick of 
Compher.

In 
the 
10th 
minute, 
the 

Wolverine captain picked up 
the puck at center ice and beat a 
Mercyhurst defenseman one-on-
one before firing a shot just high 
of the net.

Despite missing the target, 

Compher’s shot almost found the 
net — rebounding off the glass 
and deflecting off of Mercyhurst 
goaltender Brandon Wildung’s 
shoulder just wide of the net.

Just minutes later, Compher 

generated a similar threat, once 
again using his stick skills to 
break through the defense before 
whipping a shot that was corralled 
by Wildung.

But Michigan’s dominance to 

open the game didn’t last long.

Two minutes into the second 

period, the Lakers took advantage 
of a power play to even the game 
at one. Though junior goaltender 
Zach Nagelvoort deflected the 
first effort by forward Kyle Cook, 
the puck fell in front of the net and 
forward Jack Riley finished an 
easy tap-in.

The 
Wolverines 
responded 

quickly. Four minutes later, junior 
center Max Shuart picked up a 
puck on the left side of the ice and 

attacked a two-on-one situation. 
He threaded the needle to junior 
forward Evan Allen, who coolly 
finished to recapture the lead.

It seemed as if Michigan 

couldn’t hold onto any lead it 
gained, however.

Just six minutes after Allen’s 

goal, the Wolverines were caught 
in 
a 
dangerous 
two-on-one 

situation of its own.

Mercyhurst forward Taylor 

Best caught the Wolverines on 
a counter and carried the puck 
into the offensive zone, drawing 
the 
coverage 
of 
sophomore 

defenseman Cutler Martin, before 
firing on goal. Nagelvoort made 
the initial save, but his sprawling 
effort on the rebound wasn’t 
enough, as forward Jonathan 
Charbonneau put it away to tie the 
game for a second time.

Though Michigan tallied 45 

shots, Connor’s was the final goal 
of the night, as neither team could 
find twine in the third period.

The 
Wolverines’ 
lead 
was 

in jeopardy at one point in the 
final period, however. With five 
minutes left in the game, Martin 
was sent to the penalty box for 
interference. 
But 
Michigan’s 

penalty killing unit went to work, 
allowing the Lakers only one 
shot and earning the approval of 
Michigan coach Red Berenson.

“Everybody was dialed in. We 

fronted the shots or blocked shots, 
and we didn’t give up any good 
shots,” Berenson said. “There’s 
a part of the game (when) you 
can sense desperation, and I like 
our team when we play with 
desperation. That was part of (the 
penalty kill).”

After allowing four goals on 

Friday, the Wolverine defense 
was stifling, allowing just 21 
shots to Mercyhurst — a result 
of Berenson’s decision to replace 
forward Niko Porikos with junior 
defenseman Kevin Lohan.

Nagelvoort, 
who 
replaced 

Friday’s starter Steve Racine 
in net, anchored the defensive 
unit with 19 saves — including a 
barrage of shots just in front of net 
during the final minutes of play.

While the Wolverines weren’t 

perfect, they finished their season-
opening 
homestand 
with 
the 

number two in the win column. 
And in comparison to last season’s 
shaky start, Michigan will take the 
victories, perfect or not.

RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily

Freshman forward Kyle Connor scored the game-winning goal in Michigan’s victory against Mercyhurst.

MERCYHURST
MICHIGAN 

2
3

Goalies capable 
in ‘M’ victories

Racine and 

Nagelvoort both 

started this 

weekend

By MINH DOAN 

Daily Sports Editor

With less than 7:30 left in the 

game and the No. 11 Michigan 
hockey 
team 
up 
3-2, 
Zach 

Werenski held the puck inside 
the left circle, just a few feet away 
from the Wolverine net.

The usually steady sophomore 

defenseman took two steps and 
pushed the puck forward before 
being stripped by Mercyhurst 
forward Jack Riley, who had 
already scored once for the 
Lakers.

Riley took two steps before 

firing at the Michigan net. 
But 
junior 
goaltender 
Zach 

Nagelvoort was up to the task, 
sliding across the crease and 
making a blocker-board save to 
deny Riley the game-tying goal.

Later in the game, with the 

time winding down and an empty 
net behind it, Mercyhurst (2-0 
Atlantic Hockey Conference, 3-2 
overall) pushed forward, looking 
for its elusive third goal of the 
night to tie the game.

Again, Nagelvoort was up to 

the task, stopping a flurry of shots 
in the final minute en route to a 
3-2 Wolverines victory.

“I thought (Nagelvoort) played 

fine,” said Michigan coach Red 
Berenson. “He wasn’t tested a 
lot, and when he was, in crucial 
times — isolated chances — he 
was good.”

Friday 
night, 
it 
was 
a 

different goaltender in the net 
for the Wolverines (2-0). Senior 
goaltender Steve Racine started 
the game in Michigan’s season 

opener after Berenson and the 
coaching staff saw a “slight edge” 
in his play leading up to the game.

While Racine gave up two more 

goals than Nagelvoort, the senior 
finished with 26 saves compared 
to Nagelvoort’s 19 on Sunday.

“I thought he played good,” 

Berenson said. “He didn’t play 
great, he played good. I can’t tell 
you there were bad goals, but any 
goalie will tell you when they give 
up four goals, you say ‘I should’ve 
got that one,’ or ‘I could’ve got 
that one.’ ”

But as the scoreboard showed, 

neither 
Michigan 
goaltender 

was perfect. The duo allowed six 
goals combined on the weekend, 
and each goaltender allowed at 
least one tally that they could 
have been reasonably expected 
to stop.

On Mercyhurst’s first goal 

Friday, Racine was beaten stick-
side on a shot from Lakers forward 
Kyle Cook. On Mercyhurst’s 
second goal Sunday, Nagelvoort 
gave up a big rebound that Laker 
forward Jonathan Charbonneau 
was able finish to knot the game 
at two.

But neither goaltender was 

completely at fault. Four of the six 
goals came on odd-man rushes, 
and in most scenarios, there 
wasn’t much they could do.

At the end of both games, 

Berenson said Racine was “fine” 
and Nagelvoort was “good,” but 
neither was excellent.

But both netminders were 

capable, as they helped Michigan 
earn two wins to start off the 
season.

And with so many games left to 

play, that’s all that matters right 
now.

“We have two goalies that can 

play,” Berenson said. “Don’t be 
surprised if you see both of them. 
Or if one of them gets hot, we’ll 
play the hot goalie.”

ICE HOCKEY

Michigan earns draw

By TYLER COADY

For the Daily

With both teams jockeying for 

a spot near the top of the Big Ten 
standings, Sunday’s matchup in 
Minneapolis 
between the 
Michigan 
women’s 
soccer team and No. 11 Minnesota 
was set to be a tight one. After 
regulation and two overtime 
periods, neither side could could 
claim three points, and the two 
settled for a scoreless draw.

The Wolverines (5-2-2 Big 

Ten, 10-5-2 overall) entered 
the game coming off a 3-2 loss 
to Wisconsin, in which they 
blew a 2-0 lead in the last 30 
minutes. Despite late defensive 
breakdowns against the Badgers, 
the Michigan defense looked 
rejuvenated against the Golden 
Gophers (6-2-1, 11-3-3).

Minnesota started the game 

strong 
offensively, 
generating 

numerous chances. Despite the 
scoring opportunities, Michigan 

sophomore goalkeeper Megan 
Hinz stood tall to keep the Golden 
Gophers at bay. Hinz recorded 
one of her best outings of the 
season, stopping all six shots she 
faced for her fourth shutout

“I am really pleased with our 

grit and effort day,” said Michigan 
coach Greg Ryan. “I loved the way 
that we played defensively.”

The 
Wolverines, 
despite 

giving up some good chances, 
also had offensive forays of 
their 
own. 
Junior 
forward 

Nicky Waldeck put a header 
just over the bar in the 15th 
minute, and redshirt sophomore 
forward Ani Sarkisian, who has 
scored seven goals this season, 
proved difficult to contain as 
she notched three shots in the 
match, though neither could find 
the back of the net.

In the second half, Michigan’s 

defense stifled Minnesota and 
held its opponent to only one 
shot in the final 60 minutes. The 
Golden Gophers are now scoreless 
in their last two matches.

On the other side of the ball, 

the Wolverines had possession 
in Minnesota’s territory for long 
stretches as they notched five 
shots on net in the frame. Their 
best 
chances 
came 
through 

sophomore 
midfielder 
Emma 

Groffsky and junior defender 
Melissa Kreutz, whose shots 
tested Minnesota’s goalkeeper.

In overtime, both teams failed 

to muster any concrete scoring 
chances. 
Michigan 
recorded 

just two shots. By the end of the 
second overtime period, both 
teams appeared as if they were 
content with settling for a draw.

The Wolverines are still just 

two points back of the Golden 
Gophers, but are now five points 
behind 
conference-leading 

Wisconsin. Michigan has two 
games left to play, a home match 
against Purdue and an away 
contest at Penn State.

“We are in a good spot right 

now,” Ryan said. “We need to be 
better attacking and we need to 
finish our chances, but if we can 
play with this kind of effort, we 
will get to where we want to be.”

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Hinz posted a clean sheet in Michigan’s draw against Wisconsin.

Wolverines win twice

By LELAND MITCHINSON 

Daily Sports Writer

In its second overtime period 

against Northwestern on Friday 
night, the Michigan field hockey 
team knew it was playing on the 
edge. One goal either way would 
end the game.

Fortunately 
for 
the 

11th-ranked Wolverines, the final 
goal came off the stick of senior 
defender Lauren Thomas on a 
penalty corner shot from the top 
of the circle, winning the game, 
4-3.

“Honestly at first I was so 

tired, I was just happy that it was 
over,” Thomas said. “It’s always a 
good feeling knowing that you’ve 
kind of done that for the team, 
and everyone had worked so 
hard for the whole game that it 
felt really good to be able to top 
it off.”

The game began in almost the 

exact opposite way for Michigan 
(5-1 Big Ten, 13-3 overall), as 
the Wildcats scored their own 
penalty corner just over a minute 
into the game.

The 
Wolverines 
answered, 

however, 
as 
sophomore 

midfielders Katie Trombetta and 
Veerle Lubbers scored back-to-
back goals within 30 seconds of 
one another to give Michigan the 
2-1 lead.

Northwestern 
(3-3, 
10-6) 

opened the second half with its 
own pair of consecutive goals to 
reclaim the lead.

Down 3-2 with less than 

five 
minutes 
remaining, 
the 

Wolverines needed someone to 
step up if they had any hope of 
defeating the Wildcats on the 
road.

Senior 
forward 
Shannon 

Scavelli was there when her 
team needed her, and slotted one 
past Northwestern goalkeeper 
Lindsay von der Luft to knot the 
game at three.

The Wolverines’ defense, led 

by strong play from sophomore 
goalkeeper Sam Swenson, held off 
late pressure from Northwestern 
to send the game to overtime.

In the first overtime period, 

the teams battled back and forth 
to try to gain an advantage. With 
time expiring, the Wildcats won 

a penalty corner and a chance 
to close out the game. Swenson 
was at the top of her game yet 
again, making one of her career-
best 14 saves. Eight of Swenson’s 
saves came after regulation — an 
effort that sent the game to a 
second overtime period, when 
Thomas scored her eventual 
game winner.

“You really have to focus on not 

letting your nerves get to you, and 
just (try to) organize your team,” 
Swenson said. “I try and get rid of 
my nerves by talking to the team, 
getting everyone in the right place 
and getting everyone set for their 
best scenarios. You just have to 
really focus on the game and not 
even think about the possibility of 
what could happen.”

After its overtime thriller, 

Michigan traveled to Central 
Michigan 
to 
take 
on 
the 

Chippewas. 
Unlike 
their 

battle with Northwestern, the 
Wolverines had no trouble this 
time on their way to a 4-0 victory 
Sunday.

Redshirt sophomore forward 

Carly Bennett opened the scoring 
for Michigan with her first goal 
of the season, and fellow redshirt 
sophomore 
Allie 
Sardo 
and 

Thomas each added goals to make 

it a 3-0 halftime lead.

“Today we definitely couldn’t 

underestimate them,” Thomas 
said. “It was important for us to 
get the goals that we did get early 
on, and although I’m a defensive 
player, being on the penalty 
corner attack there are huge 
chances for us to get the goals and 
win the game, so to be a part of 
that is really big.”

The 
Wolverine 
defense 

completely shut down Central 
Michigan, 
not 
allowing 
the 

Chippewas to take a shot in the 
first half.

Trombetta scored her second 

goal of the weekend to put a cap 
on a successful weekend for 
Michigan.

“It’s not an easy thing to come 

off a big double-overtime win 
and then have to drive two and 
a half hours on the same day you 
are going to play,” said Michigan 
coach Marcia Pankratz. “I was 
proud of the team for staying 
focused. ... It’s a big win.”

Though the Wolverines come 

away from the weekend with 
two important victories, there is 
no time to relax, as they face off 
against rivals Michigan State and 
Ohio State in the final two weeks 
of the season.

RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily

Lauren Thomas scored the winning goal for Michigan on Friday.

MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA 

0
0

