Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Friday, February 19, 2016 — 7

Wolverines to take on Ferris State

By JUSTIN MEYER

Daily Sports Writer

The No. 6 Michigan hockey 

team takes a break from Big Ten 
play to take on in-state rival 
Ferris State on 
Friday night at 
Yost Ice Arena.

The unusual 

disruption 
in 

conference play 
will be a rare 
opportunity 
to watch the 
Wolverines 
play 
a 
stout 

defensive 
opponent. 
The 
Bulldogs 

have posted a 
respectable 2.5 
goals-against 
average 
this 

season — good enough for 20th 
in the NCAA — but have been 
especially impressive in the 
second half. Since Jan. 1, they 
have lowered that mark to 1.7. 
In contrast, Michigan’s GAA of 
3.0 ranks in the bottom half of 
Division I hockey.

The game is a throwback to 

the CCHA era for the Wolverines 
in terms of opposition — Ferris 
State was a fellow member — 
and playing style. The Bulldogs 
have given Michigan (9-2-3 Big 
Ten, 18-4-5 overall) fits since 
the dissolution of the conference 
three years ago, compiling two 
wins and a tie in three games.

“Ferris State has been good 

about reaching out to Michigan,” 
said 
Michigan 
coach 
Red 

Berenson. “When the Big Ten 
formed three years ago, instead 
of us having to schedule four 
non-conference games, we have 
to schedule 14. Why not play 
some of the teams from the 
CCHA that still want to play us?”

This year, Ferris State (12-8-4 

WCHA, 14-10-6) has been held 
together by standout freshman 

goaltender Darren Smith. Since 
assuming 
the 
starting 
role, 

Smith has provided a solid 
foundation for a team that has 
been 
otherwise 
tumultuous. 

His .932 save percentage is the 
second best among freshmen, 
and the best when limiting that 
group to netminders who logged 
over 1000 minutes.

“They can skate and they can 

play, but their DNA has been 
their defense,” Berenson said.

Wolverine fans will also be 

happy to see freshman forward 
Cooper Marody return to the 
ice after a prolonged absence 
from illness. Berenson plans to 
play Marody alongside senior 
forward 
Justin 
Selman 
and 

freshman 
forward 
Brendan 

Warren.

“(Cooper) 
feels 
good,” 

Berenson said. “He wants to 
play and he’s had a few practices 
now. It’s going to take him a little 
while to get caught up in terms 
of quickness and conditioning, 
but that’s why you have to play.”

Marody’s 
return, 
and 
a 

potential shakeup on defense, 
will result in a lineup shuffle. 
Sophomore 
forward 
Tony 

Calderone 
is 
out, 
while 

sophomore 
defender 
Cutler 

Martin took reps at forward 
in practice. He would give 
Michigan 
a 
bigger 
physical 

presence 
on 
offense 
while 

sophomore defender Sam Piazza 

fills the void on defense.

As senior goaltender Steve 

Racine’s play has improved, 
much of the spotlight has been 
focused on the shaky defensive 
unit. Michigan’s coaching staff 
has reiterated the emphasis on 
bringing down the goals-against 
average before the postseason, 
but one stat supporting the 
Wolverines’ case as contenders 
is goal margin. Michigan’s goal 
margin per game mark of 1.78 is 
fourth in the nation.

When Ferris arrives with its 

hard-nosed style Friday night, 
it should offer the best chance 
yet to evaluate just how far the 
Wolverines have come on the 
defensive end.

Ferris State 
at Michigan

Matchup: 
Ferris State 
14-10-6; 
Michigan 
18-4-5

When: Friday 
7:35 P.M.

Where: Yost 
Ice Arena

TV/Radio: 
MGoBlueTV

AMANDA ALLEN/Daily

Freshman forward Cooper Marody is expected to return to the Michigan lineup against Ferris State on Friday.

Michigan set for 
Seminole faceoff

By AVI SHOLKOFF

Daily Sports Writer

On Feb. 21 of last year, fifth-

year senior right-handed pitcher 
Sara Driesenga threw five solid 
innings to lead the Michigan 
softball team to a 13-1 victory over 
Oklahoma.

It turned out to be her last 

game of the season.

As the Wolverines chased their 

second national championship in 
Oklahoma City, Driesenga could 
only help her teammates from the 
dugout due to a rib injury.

Now, a healthy Driesenga has 

No. 2 Michigan (4-1) in prime 
position to make another deep 
run in the Women’s College 
World Series.

In four games — including 

two starts — Driesenga leads the 
Wolverines pitching staff with a 
1.85 ERA and 11.1 innings pitched.

Needless to say, Driesenga 

loves pitching in the circle again.

“We had our fall games and it 

was good to get back out there,” 
Driesenga said. “(But) to be out 
there when it matters, to know 
that everyone is still behind me no 
matter what happens, it’s great.”

Driesenga and the Wolverines 

will look to build on their 
successful showing from their 
first weekend in Tallahassee, 
where they will take on Florida 
State and Virginia Tech in the 
ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The 
Wolverines 
have 

experience playing against the 
Hokies, defeating them, 3-1, in 
the final game of last week’s USF 
Wilson-Demarini tournament.

Despite the previous result, 

though, Michigan has chosen to 
downplay the victory, instead 
focusing on how it can improve. 
The game was the only one that 
lasted the full seven innings, and 
the Wolverines scored just three 
runs, their lowest total in their 
four wins.

As a result, Michigan coach 

Carol Hutchins believes her team 
must play better both offensively 
and defensively this time around, 
as it may once again face Hokies 
right-handed 
pitcher 
Maggie 

Tyler, their innings-eater and No. 
1 starter.

“We were definitely getting 

behind and swinging at her 

pitches,” Hutchins said. “When 
a pitcher is ahead, and they’re 
smart, they won’t give you 
something good to hit. So I think 
we can command the zone better 
and force (Tyler) to bring it in, 
that will be our strategy.”

Some 
Wolverines, 
though, 

believe 
the 
rematch 
against 

Virginia 
Tech 
will 
prove 

beneficial in preparing for games 
later in the season when the 
team will compete in three-game 
series.

“If we do see that pitcher 

again, a lot of us will have a 
game plan in mind,” said senior 
outfielder Olivia Richvalsky. “We 
will definitely be taking what we 
learned from the first game to get 
ready for Big Ten.”

In 
Michigan’s 
other 
two 

games, it will face the Seminoles, 
who it defeated twice last season.

The Wolverines will pay close 

attention to Florida State’s two 
Jessicas: infielder Jessica Warren, 
who hit 19 home runs last year 
and has seven RBI thus far, and 
redshirt junior pitcher Jessica 
Burroughs, who has a 1.65 ERA 
on the season.

In last weekend’s tournament, 

Michigan drew 22 walks, a 
testament to the team’s emphasis 
on patience at the plate.

“We 
definitely 
emphasize 

commanding the zone, (taking) 
what they give you,” Hutchins 
said. “If they give you a meatball, 
smack it. If they give you a ball, 
take it, because walks are as good 
as hits. We emphasize being on 
base, anything you can do to be on 
base (because) walks are equally 
effective.”

While Driesenga is back and 

injury-free, junior right-hander 
Megan Betsa is still ailing. She 
was 
considered 
questionable 

before last week’s slate of games 
but managed to pitch 10 innings 
and strike out 20.

Hutchins believes Betsa will 

play, but how much remains 
unclear.

“She’s improving. I expect 

she’ll 
pitch 
some 
innings,” 

Hutchins said. “How many will 
be dictated by how she’s feeling.”

But with a healthy Driesenga 

and a strong, patient offense, 
Michigan will have a good chance 
regardless of its ace’s health.

SOFTBALL

‘M’ hosts Penn State on Senior Day

By TED JANES

Daily Sports Writer

Sitting at No. 9 in the Big 

Ten standings, the Michigan 
women’s basketball team is still 
on pace to avoid 
the four-team 
play-in 
series 

that kicks off 
the 
Big 
Ten 

Tournament.

But 
as 

Michigan 
coach 
Kim 

Barnes 
Arico 

has 
said 

countless times 
this 
season, 

anything 
can 

happen on any 
given day, so 
all is still up for 
grabs in this 
final stretch.

The Wolverines (7-8 Big Ten, 

15-11 overall) have three games 

left to solidify a spot in the 
Big Ten’s top 10, and it starts 
Saturday when they host Penn 
State.

Michigan played the Lady 

Lions (5-10, 10-16) back on Jan. 
17, escaping Happy Valley with 
its first win there since 2001.

The 15-year drought ended 

when 
three 
of 
Michigan’s 

guards — sophomore Katelynn 
Flaherty, 
freshman 
Boogie 

Brozoski and senior Madison 
Ristovski — combined to go 
13-for-14 from the free-throw 
line in the last minute of play.

Penn State remained in the 

game down the stretch, but 
Michigan was able to seal it from 
the charity stripe.

“Anytime you get a win (at 

Penn State)… well, it’s not an 
easy place to win,” Barnes Arico 
said after the game. “To come 
away with a win is satisfying. We 
led most of the game and really 
made great runs, but they made 

big baskets.”

In that game, Flaherty scored 

a team-high 23 points to lead the 
Wolverines to a 91-87 victory. 
The midseason 
game 
was 

a 
huge 

confidence 
boost for the 
Wolverines, 
who 
were 

coming off a 
narrow loss to 
Maryland.

Oddly 

enough, 
Michigan 
has 

a similar script written this 
weekend.

Having lost to No. 6 Maryland 

on Wednesday by 20 points, 
despite 
leading 
at 
halftime, 

Michigan has yet another chance 
to bounce back after the Terrapins 
halted its three-game win streak.

A 
flight 
delay 
scrambled 

the Wolverines’ travel plans, 

landing them in Maryland at 3 
a.m., much later than scheduled. 
Barnes Arico commented after 
the game that the delay and lack 

of rest may 
have 
been 

part 
of 
the 

reason 
the 

Wolverines 
“were 
exhausted 
in the fourth 
quarter.”

This 

weekend, 
though, 
Michigan 

stays home and there are no 
excuses.

Saturday’s game at Crisler 

Center also marks the last 
scheduled 
home 
game 
for 

Michigan’s 
three 
seniors 
— 

guards Madison Ristovski and 
fifth-year Halle Wangler and 
forward Kelsey Mitchell.

Wangler 
does 
not 
make 

regular appearances, but both 
Mitchell 
and 
Ristovski 
have 

taken on larger roles as starters 
this season, and their additions 
have supported the Wolverines 
at crucial times. Ristovski (6.7 
points per game, 3.4 assists, 2.6 
rebounds) and Mitchell (7.2 points 
per game, 4.8 rebounds) have both 
been consistent in boosting an 
underclassmen-heavy team.

While Michigan could return 

to Crisler in the postseason for 
the WNIT, the seniors have been 
nostalgic about their last run 
since early in the campaign.

“It’s very weird that I’m 

already a senior,” Ristovski 
said on the team’s media day 
in October. “I feel like the last 
three years have gone by so 
quickly.”

Ristovski’s 
career 
has 

seen many ups and downs, 
highlighted 
by 
an 
NCAA 

Tournament 
appearance 
her 

freshman year and a deep run to 
the WNIT semifinals last year.

NCAA Tournament chances 

are waning, and making a run 
in Big Ten Tournament is the 
team’s best hope.

Another win against Penn 

State this weekend can put the 
Wolverines in a position to do 
just that. 

Penn State 
at Michigan

Matchup: 
Penn State 
10-16; 
Michigan 
15-11

When: 
Saturday 
12 P.M.

Where: Crisler 
Center

TV/Radio: 
BTN

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Senior forward Kelsey Mitchell could be playing her last game at Crisler Center against Penn State on Saturday.

“I feel like the 
last three years 
have gone by 
so quickly.”

