Michigan
26-12-5
Mercyhurst
22-12-5
Wolverines Slip Past Mercyhurst in NCAA West Regional
3/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The No. 6 seed Mercyhurst ice hockey team, making its first trip to an NCAA Division I Championship in any sport, gave Michigan, the No. 3 seed in the West Regional, all it could handle Saturday evening (March 24) in front of 6,792 fans at the Van Andel Arena. In the end, the Wolverines survived the matchup, edging the Lakers 4-3 to advance to Sunday's NCAA quarterfinal against St. Cloud State.
In what many expected to be a one-sided affair, the game remained a nail-biter until the final horn, especially in the final minute of regulation when Mercyhurst pulled goaltender Peter Aubry.
An emotional Mercyhurst six gave U-M a battle in the first period. Sophomore Mike Muldoon opened the scoring for the Lakers at 3:31 of the first period, scoring on the first power play of the game. Scott Matzka (Port Huron, Mich.) brought Michigan even less than four minutes later with a wrist shot from inside the right faceoff circle. Mike Cammalleri (Richmond Hill, Ontario) scored six seconds later to give Michigan the lead, stealing the puck from a Laker defenseman and beating Aubry on the short side.
Mercyhurst came back to tie it on an unassisted goal by Brad Olsen on backhand shot. The puck came loose from the corner and Olsen was all alone in front of Josh Blackburn (Choctaw, Okla.). Aubry kept the Lakers in the game, stopping 19 of 21 Wolverine shots in the opening period. Mercyhurst only managed seven shots on Blackburn.
The score remained tied at two goals apiece through the second period as both the Wolverines and the Lakers were unable to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities. Midway through the second period, Mercyhurst center Adam Tackaberry picked up the loose puck near the blue line for a breakaway on Blackburn. The Michigan goaltender held his ground by closing his five-hole and directing the puck into the corner. Several minutes later, Michigan, too, received a golden opportunity when Cammalleri rang a shot from the slot off the elbow of the crossbar. The game evened out in the second stanza with Mercyhurst playing even with the Wolverines.
The third period had the feeling of overtime for all 20 minutes. Tackaberry knocked home a rebound on a power play at 6:15 of the third period to put the Lakers up 3-2. Blackburn stopped the point shot from Jody Robinson but Tackaberry was all alone to the right of Blackburn to knock it home. The Lakers had the man advantage at the time with U-M's Dave Huntzicker (Ann Arbor, Mich.) off for hooking.
Michigan stepped up its play midway through the third period with a number of opportunities, the best coming from John Shouneyia (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) shot at 12:25 from point-blank range. The pressure continued until Mark Kosick (Victoria, B.C.) tied the game on a power play goal at 7:22, receiving a pass on the left side from Shouneyia. The Wolverines finally took the lead for good when Andy Hilbert (Howell, Mich.) ripped a slap shot from the point and beat Aubry low to his left with only 3:33 left in the game.
The winner of Sunday's game bewteen the Wolverines and the Huskies will advance to the Frozen Four in Albany, N.Y.
GAME SUMMARY
| Goals By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Mercyhurst | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Michigan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
1st period
1, MC, Mike Muldoon 6 (Louis Goulet) 03:31 (pp).
2, MICH, Scott Matzka 9 (Dave Huntzicker) 07:11.
3, MICH, Mike Cammalleri 27 (unassisted) 07:17.
4, MC, Brad Olsen 26 (unassisted) 18:31.
PENALTIES - Joe Kautz, MICH (SLASHING) 02:36; Jody Robinson, MC (HOLDING THE STICK) 03:45; Tom McMonagle, MC (SLASHING) 07:51; J.J. Swistak, MICH (INTERFERENCE) 11:21; Peter Rynshoven, MC (TRIPPING) 14:45; Josh Langfeld, MICH (INTERFERENCE) 15:38.
2nd period
PENALTIES - J.J. Swistak, MICH (CHARGING) 02:49; Mark Chambers, MC (SLASHING) 05:38; Adam Rivers, MC (CROSS-CHECKING) 18:35.
3rd period
5, MC, Adam Tackaberry 16 (Jody Robinson, Jeff Gould) 06:15 (pp).
6, MICH, Mark Kosick 13 (Andy Hilbert, Mike Komisarek) 09:22 (pp).
7, MICH, Andy Hilbert 26 (Jay Vancik, Mike Cammalleri) 16:27.
PENALTIES - Dave Huntzicker, MICH (HOOKING) 06:10; Mike Muldoon, MC (HOLDING) 07:57; Adam Rivers, MC (HOLDING) 17:40; Scott Matzka, MICH (HOOKING) 17:40.
Shots on goal: MC 7-8-9-24; MICH 21-15-15-51. Power plays: MC 2 of 5; MICH 1 of 6. Penalties: MC 7 (14 min); MICH 6 (12 min). Goalies: MC, Peter Aubry 19-10-2 (51 shots-47 saves); MICH, Josh Blackburn 25-12-5 (24-21). Referee: Mike Schmidt. Assistant Referees: Matt Smith, Bill Jones. Attendance: 6792. Time: 2:33.
N O T E S
Michigan's first two goals of the game -- by Scott Matzka and Mike Cammalleri -- came only six seconds apart. This sets a new NCAA Regional record for fastest consecutive goals and ranks as the second fastest consecutive goals in NCAA Tournament history. A pair of Wolverines retain the record for the fastest consecutive goals in tournament history. In 1948, Gordon McMillan and Wally Gacek scored goals five seconds apart against Dartmouth in the national championship game en route to Michigan's first-ever national title.
The Wolverines tied their season high for shots on goal with 51 against Mercyhurst goaltender Peter Aubry. Earlier in the season, Michigan had 51 shots in home games against Alaska-Fairbanks (Nov. 11, 8-0 win) and Notre Dame (Jan. 23, 9-0 win). It was only the third time U-M had 50 shots or more in game this season.
Saturday's NCAA West Regional first-round battle was the first time a Wolverine team has played any team from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
U-M defenseman Andy Burnes (Battle Creek, Mich.) did not dress for Saturday's game. He has not returned to the U-M lineup since he sustained a concussion on his first shift against Nebraska-Omaha in the semifinal game of the CCHA Championship.
Scott Matzka's goal ended his eight-game goal-scoring drought that dated back to Feb. 17 at Ohio State.
Mike Cammalleri has scored a goal in six of his last seven games. He now has seven goals and three assists during the stretch. Cammalleri's goal and assist tonight give him his third multi-point game in his last seven games and is his second of the postseason.
Andy Hilbert's goal and assist tonight give him his third multi-point game in his last seven games and is his second of the postseason.
This is Michigan's third straight first-round win in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines have played in the second round of the tournament every year since the NCAA moved to a single-elimination format in 1992.
In the West Regional's first game Saturday afternoon, Wisconsin beat Providence 4-1. The Badgers will take on No. 1 seed Michigan State Sunday afternoon in the first game beginning at 2 p.m.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Red Berenson
On the game ... "I think they (Mercyhurst) stayed in the game and it could have gone either way. We couldn't score on our best chances. (Josh) Blackburn did a good job making key saves vs. them."
U-M Sophomore Forward Andy Hilbert
On the victory ... "This was definitely a tough game. Both goaltenders played a great game in net. We knew it would tighten up in the end. We had nerves at the beginning, but we were able to pull it together in the end."
U-M Senior Forward Mark Kosick
On the comeback ... "We were getting desperate since we had been getting chances all game. The puck just wasn't going in. We were fortunate to get the goals we were able to score."
Mercyhurst Head Coach Rick Gotkin
On the team's first NCAA Division I appearance ... "This has been a tremendous experience for me and all the kids. We knew we had a daunting task, but as long as we stayed in the game we had a chance. I'm as happy as I can be. The penalty kill was a good as it could be. We have great players who do whatever has to get done. They deserve all the credit."
Mercyhurst Junior Goaltender Peter Aubry
On the game ... "Our players did a good job. They concentrated hard and gave 110 percent. We held our own pretty well and weathered the storm. I just want to thank the MAAC and the NCAA for the opportunity."
Mercyhurst Senior Forward Eric Ellis
On playing in the NCAA Tournament ... "I'm really proud of the team. That was the best way to go out. We're disappointed, but we're really proud. We knew it would be a tough game."
Contact: Bruce Madej (734) 763-4423
