The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SportsMonday
October 24, 2016 — 3B
‘M’ falls to Buckeyes in 2OT
After 109 scoreless minutes
marred
by
physicality
from
the onset, the Michigan men’s
soccer team
strived for
a
miracle
goal
or
at least a draw against visiting
Ohio State (3-3-1 Big Ten, 5-10-1
overall) Friday night.
But with just 23 seconds left
in the second overtime, Buckeye
midfielder Ben Fitzpatrick tapped
the ball from the top of the box to
forward Nate Kohl on the right
flank, whose right bender evaded
the outstretched arms of diving
Wolverines goalie Evan Louro.
The ball finished in the lower-left
corner of the net for the only goal
of the game, ending Michigan’s
bid to escape with a tie and one
point in the process.
“We fought really hard from
minute one, and it was just super
unlucky at the end to concede a
late goal after pushing numbers
forward,” said senior center back
Lars Eckenrode. “We had to get
something out of the game, and
unfortunately we got caught on
the break late, but I thought the
guys gave everything they could,
and that’s all we can ask.
“It’s a really tough pill to
swallow. We needed to win this
game — we didn’t come out with
any sort of points — so this is
really a tough one, one of the
toughest losses I’ve had to deal
with in my four years here.”
Though a 1-0 result for a
Wolverines team (1-5-1, 2-9-4)
desperate for a win to rise in
the conference standings was
unfavorable, another chapter of
the rivalry dramatically closed.
The chippy game featured
counterattacks by both offenses,
flying bodies on seemingly every
attack and a combined 34 fouls.
The officials issued four yellow
cards – one in the first half to Ohio
State defender Tyler Kidwell and
three in the first sudden-death
period.
Michigan
midfielders
Tyler Anderson and Ivo Cerda
each drew one, as did Buckeye
midfielder Abdi Mohamed.
The pushing, shoving and
other “extracurricular activity”
from the opening kickoff was
expectedly
intensified
for
a
typical
Michigan-Ohio
State
showdown.
“It’s always going to be a
physical
game
against
Ohio
State,” Eckenrode said. “There’s
a little bit of tension between
the two of us, that goes without
saying. The Big Ten is a very
physical conference … but today
was a little bit more than normal.
… I think it just adds to the
excitement
and
to some of the fire
that comes into
this rivalry.”
Both
teams
tried to outmatch
each
other
with
speed,
attempting long
balls down the
flanks
which
were
easily
swallowed up by
the impenetrable defenses. After
45 minutes, each collected four
shots, none on goal.
In the 60th minute, the action
picked up quickly on both sides
of the field and continued as such
for the remainder of the game.
The Wolverines had two scoring
chances in a one-minute span: a
pass from senior defender Rylee
Woods found freshman forward
Jack Hallahan in the box only
to finish high of the goal, and
a ball placed into the box by
junior defenseman Billy Stevens
was headed wide left by Woods.
The missteps led to a Buckeye
opportunity on the counterattack,
but
Louro’s
impressive
stop
preserved the stalemate.
Sophomore forward Francis
Atuahene and Hallahan, noted
for their speed and agility,
were subdued by two or three
swarming defenders each time
they touched the ball. The
attacking duo pieced together a
combined nine shots yet totaled
only one on goal.
However, Michigan pressed
on, but were unable to capitalize,
specifically inside the box. The
biggest threat came with 2:30
left in the second overtime
when Hallahan stepped over the
ball, spun around an Ohio State
defender and shot the ball right
over the crossbar from close
range.
“We certainly went for it in
the second overtime to try to
find a way,” said
Michigan coach
Chaka
Daley.
“Unfortunately,
we didn’t find
it. We had our
chances without
question,
a
number
of
quality chances,
a
number
of
opportunities in
and around the
18, (that were) drastically in our
favor and we didn’t take them.”
Daley
characterized
the
result
as
“an
unfortunately
broken record” — another game
that saw the Wolverines play
hard throughout but come up
short. Though they will be no
consolation for the devastating
loss, the final two regular-season
games, both at home, serve as
additional tests for the team to
bounce back.
“It’s certainly unfortunate,”
Daley said. “But we, as a group,
have to continue to fight and
compete and see how things go
the rest of the way.”
Michigan no longer unbeaten at home
It was senior night, the last
home game of the regular season
for the Michigan women’s soccer
team,
and
just
90
minutes
against
fierce rival Ohio State separated
it from finishing the season
undefeated
at
U-M
Soccer
Stadium. But by the time the final
whistle blew, the Wolverines
either lay on the turf devastated
or held their hands to their heads
in disbelief as the Buckeyes
celebrated a 2-1 win courtesy of a
stellar performance from forward
Nichelle Prince.
“Anyone watching the game
would’ve said Michigan were
the better team,” said Michigan
coach Greg Ryan. “They only
had one chance in the first half,
and one in the second that they
put away.”
Despite missing star senior
forward Nicky Waldeck, The
Wolverines (5-3-2 Big Ten, 9-4-3
overall) did in fact play some
of their finest soccer all year.
Playing a 4-1-4-1 formation, they
stifled the Buckeyes’ midfield and
played most of the game in Ohio
State’s half.
Michigan
created
many
chances, ending the game with 15
shots. But for all their creativity,
the
Wolverine
attacks
were
continually thwarted by Buckeyes
keeper Devon Kerr, who ended
the game with five saves.
“You gotta give their keeper
credit,” Ryan said. “She made
some fantastic saves, came off her
line well and had a great night.”
For all the chances Michigan
created, it managed to beat Kerr
only once. Thirty-one minutes
into the game, Martin, who
was playing as a lone forward in
Waldeck’s absence, turned and
lost her defender just outside of
the box to give herself time and
space to shoot. Kerr was forced
into a diving save but spilled
the ball into the box, where
sophomore
midfielder
Abby
Kastroll pounced on the loose ball
to tap it in and tie the game at one
goal apiece.
For
all
the
Wolverines’
dominance on the ball, Ohio State
was content to counterattack
and boot the ball up-field to the
only player on the turf who had a
better night than Kerr: Prince.
With every touch of the ball,
every drop of the shoulder
and every shot, Prince caused
problems for the Michigan
backline.
Charged with leading the
defense against the Buckeyes’
counterattacks, senior defender
Anna Soccorsi knew firsthand
just how tough it was to stop
Prince.
“(Prince) is just a great player
overall,” Soccorsi said. “She made
us work hard all night just to keep
up with her.”
Prince marked herself as the
player to watch just five minutes
into the game in what was Ohio
State’s first attack of the night.
After neatly controlling a long
ball, she kept the ball away from
three Wolverine defenders and
waited for support from her team.
With players making runs
on her left and right to stretch
the Michigan backline, Prince
ran at Soccorsi and freshman
defender Jada Dayne. Getting
to the edge of the box, she took
a shot that, though blocked by
the two center backs, fell on the
right side of the box in the path of
forward Sammy Edwards who,
unguarded, rifled a shot across
goal into the side netting.
The Wolverines dominated
what was left of the first half and
were able to equalize courtesy of
Kastroll’s goal.
With
all
the
momentum,
Michigan looked as though it was
going to take over the game. But
in what seemed like deja vu, Ohio
State scored another early goal to
start the second half, leaving the
Wolverines trailing once again.
Prince grabbed a goal for
herself just seven minutes into
the half. After getting down the
right wing, she sent a teasing
low cross into the Michigan box.
Soccorsi managed to get it out,
but only as far as Prince, who
sent a left-footed curler from
the right side of the box toward
goal. Goalkeeper Sarah Jackson
managed to get a hand to it, but
the power in the shot saw it end
up in the top left corner of the net.
“(Prince) is a handful for
everyone,” Ryan said. “She’s a
fantastic striker, she’s even on
Canada’s national teams. She’s
been a handful for four years, and
tonight she showed the quality
she has.”
The Wolverines spent the rest
of the half trying to find their
way through a stubborn Buckeye
defense that looked content to
sit back, soak up pressure and
play long balls to Prince, hitting
Michigan on the counter.
Then, with just seven minutes
left in the game, Prince found
herself with space outside the
box, roughly 25 yards from goal.
She pulled the trigger, attempting
to curl the ball over and around
the keeper. Jackson remained
static and looked to have been
beaten as the ball sailed over her
and crashed against the crossbar.
By that point the Wolverines
had run of ideas, and whatever
momentum they had seemed
to have been lost as Ohio State
comfortably saw out the rest of
the game.
With two players on top of
their game at either end of the
field, the Buckeyes stole three
points from under the noses of a
Michigan team that visibly played
its heart out on senior night.
“You can’t fault the intensity of
the girls out there tonight,” Ryan
said. “I thought it was some of the
best soccer we played all year in
terms of passing and connecting
between the girls and playing
through Ohio State.”
BEN KATZ
For the Daily
OHIO STATE
MICHIGAN
1
0
“We fought
really hard
from minute
one.”
Ohio State scores with 23 seconds left to top Wolverines
MEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER
FAHD AHSAN
Daily Sports Writer
OHIO STATE
MICHIGAN
2
1
Wolverines tie Michigan Tech, win shootout
It was more of the same for
the
Michigan
hockey
team
on Saturday. After losing the
possession
battle
and
being
outshot 45-18, the Wolverines
came roaring back on Michigan
Tech, but ultimately had to settle
for a tie, 3-3.
In
the
resulting
shootout
that will not count toward
their record, though, Michigan
prevailed, 2-1.
The deciding shootout goal
came from freshman forward
Jake Slaker, who fired a low
shot to beat Huskies goalie
Matt Wintjes on Wintjes’ glove
side. On the ensuing Michigan
Tech try, Michigan freshman
goaltender Jack LaFontaine came
up clutch with a kick save to send
the Huskies packing. But the
shootout win didn’t mean that
Michigan doesn’t have plenty of
places to improve.
“Michigan Tech was better
than us on the game,” said
Michigan coach Red Berenson.
“I thought they were better with
the puck, better without the puck,
and I thought Jack LaFontaine
kept us in the game. And then, a
couple of good individual efforts
salvaged the tie.”
After trailing late in the game,
the Wolverines were able to even
the score with 4:10 remaining.
Junior forward Tony Calderone
brought the puck up the left
side into Michigan Tech’s zone.
Calderone then left the puck out
front of the net for freshman
forward Nick Pastujov, whose
shot was blocked. Junior Cutler
Martin promptly finished off
the loose puck, though, tying the
game at three.
The game would eventually
go to overtime, where there
were multiple close calls, but
LaFontaine stood tall in net,
fighting
off
the
onslaught
of shots from the Huskies’
attackers.
“My number one thing is just
to compete,” LaFontaine said.
“Being in a situation like that,
you’re tired — your legs are just a
little bit heavier than they were
in the first (period). So you’ve
got to keep on competing. Good
things
happen
when
you’re
working hard, and I think that
showed today.”
Michigan’s first goal came
in an area in which it struggled
Friday: the power play. After
freshman
forward
Will
Lockwood drew an interference
penalty from a Michigan Tech
defender with a slick deke, the
Wolverines found themselves
with their first-man-advantage
opportunity of the night.
Junior
defenseman
Sam
Piazza fired a shot from the point
that rebounded off Wintjes.
Freshman forward Jake Slaker
found the puck in traffic and
dished it to Lockwood on the
backhand,
and
Lockwood
deposited it in the back of the
net, putting Michigan up, 1-0.
Then, after Michigan Tech
tied the game at one, senior
forward Alex Kile got on the
scoreboard. After winning a
loose puck in the corner, Kile
eluded a Huskies defenseman,
fell to his knees and still
managed to slide the puck into
the net on the backhand.
The Wolverines held a 2-1
lead entering the third period,
but once again, they couldn’t
keep the lead, giving up two
goals in the final period before
ultimately answering back.
“We’ve been leading into the
third period three or four times
this year, and we’ve blown it
every time,” Kile said. “So we
need to crack down defensively
and make sure that doesn’t
happen anymore.”
Michigan will now travel to
the East Coast next weekend,
where it will face Vermont and
Dartmouth. But the Wolverines
will start having to play better if
they want to keep up their early-
season success.
“We have to get better,”
Berenson said. “It’s not just
because we’re young. We’re a
different team than we were
last year. I like the fact that our
goalies are playing well. I like
the fact that our young players
are getting experience, but our
team has to be better.”
Michigan relies on
goaltending early
Saturday, the 11th-ranked
Michigan hockey team was
outshot,
45-18.
The
night
before, it was outshot, 34-27.
In fact, the Wolverines have
been outshot in every game this
season.
And yet, they’ve only lost one
of five games this year.
This
weekend,
Michigan
(3-1-1) managed to scrounge
up a tie against Michigan Tech
after Saturday’s game despite
holding
the
lead
heading
into the third
period.
The
Wolverines
were
consistently
outplayed and
outshot,
and
they had barely
scraped by the
Huskies
on
Friday
night
for a 4-3 win.
But their luck
appeared to run out as they lost
their lead in Saturday’s game,
settling for a tie.
“I just feel we have to play
better,” said Michigan coach
Red Berenson. “I know it was
a busy weekend and there was
a lot going on, but nevertheless
our team has to be a better
team. I like the fact that our
goalies are playing well. I like
the fact that our young guys
are getting experience, but our
team has to be better.”
With
a
tendency
to
be
outshot — and sometimes by a
lot — Michigan’s goaltenders
have had to keep the team
afloat.
Freshman goaltender Jack
LaFontaine was in front of the
net during the second match
up against Michigan Tech and
racked up 42 saves. And after
a 28-save game in his debut
last weekend against Ferris
State, where the Wolverines
registered a 2-1 win over the
Bulldogs,
LaFontaine
has
proved he can be reliable in
front of the net.
Friday
night,
freshman
goaltender
Hayden
Lavigne
showed that he was capable of
a solid performance as well,
recording his second win of the
season and tallying 31 saves.
His first win was a 29-shot save
shutout against Union, and
despite giving up three goals in
Friday’s win, he continued to
play well.
Even senior goaltender Zach
Nagelvoort, who shouldered
the team’s only
loss (4-3 at the
hands of Union)
looked solid in
front of the net.
Regardless
of
the loss, he came
away
with
36
saves out of 40
shots.
It’s clear that
the goaltenders
are capable of
fending
off
large
numbers
of
shots,
but
the
27-shot
deficit Michigan racked up
on Saturday night still isn’t
promising.
Being
outshot
has become a trend for the
Wolverines, and it’s one that
the goaltenders are seeing a
lot of. And while Michigan’s
goaltenders
have
played
well thus far, allowing the
opposition to have 40 plus shots
on goal usually isn’t a recipe for
prolonged success.
And the Wolverines know
that.
“There’s going to be games
where a goalie will steal you the
game,” Berenson said. “Maybe
(LaFontaine) stole us a game
at Ferris and so on, and maybe
(Lavigne) stole us a game last
night, when we were outshot,
outplayed and out chanced. We
have some talent in our locker
room, but I don’t think we’re
playing up to our talent yet.”
LANEY BYLER
Daily Sports Writer
“I don’t think
we’re playing
up to our
talent yet.”
ICE HOCKEY
AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily
The Michigan hockey team tied Michigan Tech, 3-3, on Saturday. Though the Wolverines won the shootout, the result is officially a tie game.
MIKE PERSAK
Daily Sports Writer