Michigan
21-8-4, 15-6-2CCHA
Northern Michigan
13-10-7, 9-9-6CCHA
Wolverines Can't Solve Wildcat Netminder, Fall 2-0
2/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For just the second time this season the University of Michigan ice hockey team suffered a shutout loss, falling 2-0 to Northern Michigan Saturday night (Feb. 10) in front of 6,378 fans at Yost Ice Arena. The loss snaps an eight-game unbeaten streak against the Wildcats dating back to October 1998.
Northern Michigan (13-10-7, 9-9-6 CCHA) took a 1-0 lead 7:51 into the first period on a goal by Bryce Cockburn. Chad Theuer led a two-on-one break up the left wing and fed a pass across the slot under a sliding Andy Burnes (Battle Creek, Mich.) to Cockburn, who tipped the puck past Josh Blackburn (Choctaw, Okla.). The score remained 1-0 throughout the contest until Fred Mattersdorfer added an empty-net goal with just one second remaining in the game to give the Wildcats the 2-0 victory.
The fifth-ranked Wolverines (21-8-4, 15-6-2 CCHA) outshot the Wildcats 25-19 but were unable to put one past NMU netminder Craig Kowalski. U-M's best chance came midway through the second period when Geoff Koch (Exeter, N.H.) caught the Wildcats on a line change and skated in alone on Kowalski. Koch cut across the slot and deked to his backhand but his shot was smothered by Kowalksi to keep the score intact.
Both teams turned in solid defensive efforts. Michigan limited the Wildcats to just 20 shots and held Northern Michigan to 0-for-4 on the power play. Blackburn made 17 saves on the night but dropped his record to 20-8-4 on the season. Kowalksi stopped all 25 Wolverine shots and picked up the win to improve his record to 7-6-4.
The Wolverines return to action Friday night (Feb. 16) when they host Notre Dame at Yost Ice Arena starting at 7:35 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| Goals By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Northern Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1st period
1, NMU, Bryce Cockburn 18 (Chad Theuer, Fred Mattersdorfer) 07:51.
PENALTIES - Mike Roemensky, MICH (ROUGHING) 11:19; Alex Sawruk, NMU (CHARGING) 15:10; Colin Young, NMU (ROUGHING) 15:10; Colin Young, NMU (ROUGHING) 15:10; Jeff Jillson, MICH (CROSS-CHECKING) 15:10; Jeff Jillson, MICH (CROSS-CHECKING) 15:10; J.J. Swistak, MICH (ROUGHING) 15:10; J.J. Swistak, MICH (ROUGHING) 15:10.
2nd period
PENALTIES - Sean Connolly, NMU (CROSS-CHECKING) 02:11; Mike Komisarek, MICH (ROUGHING) 04:47; Sean Connolly, NMU (ROUGHING) 04:47; Ryan Riipi, NMU (ROUGHING) 09:34; Ryan Riipi, NMU (ROUGHING) 09:34; John Shouneyia, MICH (CROSS-CHECKING) 09:34; Jimmy Jackson, NMU (KNEEING) 12:42; Alex Sawruk, NMU (TRIPPING) 15:17; Josh Langfeld, MICH (CHARGING) 19:17.
3rd period
2, NMU, Fred Mattersdorfer 7 (Chad Theuer, Sean Connolly) 19:59 (empty net).
PENALTIES - Peter Michelutti, NMU (OBSTRUCTION-HOOKING) 02:38; Mark Kosick, MICH (OBSTRUCTION-HOOKING) 04:11.
Shots on goal: NMU 7-4-8-19; MICH 5-11-9-25. Power plays: NMU 0 of 4; MICH 0 of 5. Penalties: NMU 10 (20 min); MICH 9 (18 min). Goalies: NMU, Craig Kowalski 7-6-4 (25 shots-25 saves); MICH, Josh Blackburn 20-8-4 (18-17). Referee: Mark Wilkins. Assistant Referees: Brent Gawlik, Kevin Langseth. Attendance: 6378. Time: 2:20.
Individual Player Statistics
## Northern Michigan G A PIM Sh +/- ## Michigan G A PIM Sh +/- --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- 5 Colin Young........ 0 0 4 0 +1 4 Andy Burnes........ 0 0 0 1 -1 8 Matt Hunter........ 0 0 0 1 0 5*Jeff Jillson....... 0 0 4 0 -1 9 Peter Michelutti... 0 0 2 1 0 8 Mike Komisarek..... 0 0 2 3 -1 11*Terry Harrison..... 0 0 0 2 0 9*Mark Kosick........ 0 0 2 1 0 12*Ryan Riipi......... 0 0 4 0 0 10 Scott Matzka....... 0 0 0 2 -1 14 Sean Owens......... 0 0 0 1 0 11 Joe Kautz.......... 0 0 0 0 0 15 Brent Robertson.... 0 0 0 0 0 12 J.J. Swistak....... 0 0 4 1 -1 16 Chad Theuer........ 0 2 0 0 +2 13*Mike Cammalleri.... 0 0 0 4 -1 17 Ryan Carrigan...... 0 0 0 1 +1 14 Craig Murray....... 0 0 0 1 0 18*Jimmy Jackson...... 0 0 2 3 +1 15 Jay Vancik......... 0 0 0 0 0 20 Dan Donnette....... 0 0 0 1 0 18 Geoff Koch......... 0 0 0 1 -2 21 Bryce Cockburn..... 1 0 0 1 +1 19*Andy Hilbert....... 0 0 0 1 -1 23 Alex Sawruk........ 0 0 4 0 0 21 Josh Langfeld...... 0 0 2 1 -1 25 Justin Kinnunen.... 0 0 0 3 0 22 Bill Trainor....... 0 0 0 1 0 26 Ambrose Tappe...... 0 0 0 0 0 23 Mike Roemensky..... 0 0 2 2 -1 27 Fred Mattersdorfer. 1 1 0 2 +2 25 Mark Mink.......... 0 0 0 4 0 33*Craig Kowalski..... 0 0 0 0 +1 27*Dave Huntzicker.... 0 0 0 1 0 39*Mike Sandbeck...... 0 0 0 3 0 28 John Shouneyia..... 0 0 2 1 0 44*Sean Connolly...... 0 1 4 0 +1 Totals............. 0 0 18 25 -11 Totals............. 2 4 20 19 +10
N O T E S
The Wolverines were held scoreless in their last 92:24 minutes of play -- the longest scoring drought of the season -- against Northern Michigan.
Northern Michigan's Craig Kowalski earned his first career shutout, handing Michigan its second shutout of the season. U-M lost to Michigan State 1-0 on Nov. 4.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Red Berenson
On the game ... "I think [Northern Michigan] played with a lot more bite tonight. They had a second-effort mentality right from the start of the game, and although it was their first shot of the game that went in the net, it held up. They really didn't give us much, and they kept us off-balance. They were in our face all night; they created turnovers. I don't think that we really had any glorious scoring opportunities in the game. They had a great game. I don't think that we had a bad game, but we didn't have a game good enough to match their effort tonight."
On the power play ... "The power play was really struggling tonight. Part of it is obviously giving credit to them. When you're killing penalties well, you're keeping the other team off-balance, and they did a good job of that. We didn't move the puck well; our passing was not sharp the whole weekend on the power play."
Senior Forward Josh Langfeld
On the game ... "I think we came out a little flat tonight; they took the play to us. They scored on their first shot and buried their chance, and that's how quick the game can turn. We tried to carry the play, and we did in the third period, but it was just too late. I think they played a little more physical tonight than they did last night. Overall, they were just ready to play tonight."
Contact: Jason Binge (734) 763-4423
