Saturday night at the FleeceCenter, the Michigan Wolverines edged the Boston
College Eagles 3-2 in overtime to win their second NC$$ Championship in three
years.  It was a typical, tense final.  While there was some interesting
action, there were also long spells of mindless hockey.  BC, with its team
speed advantage, had the chances to put this game away, but couldn't finish.
Michigan was persistent and in the end produced the goals they needed for a
big win.
 
The match started with both squads nervous and the crowd really up for it.
Boston College was looking good and giving Michigan all kinds of problems with
some nice crossing patterns that were freezing the Wolverine defense.  Why the
Eagles dropped that clever tactic after the first, I have no idea.  Kevin
Caulfield (Mike Mottau) opened the scoring for BC early in the game when he
took a long ball pass from Mottau, and then drove a big slapper through the
goalie from the circle.
 
In the second, the contest had gone off the boil.  Both teams were using low
risk plays.  The Michigan power play had an extremely ineffectual attacking
shape to it.  However, the Wolverines tied the match at one when fresher Mark
Kosick (Bubba Berenzweig) put out a heck of a second effort and knocked home his
own rebound.  BC regained their lead on a power play when Mike Lephart (Bobby
Allen, Jeff Farkas) picked a pass out of midair and roofed it.  Allen made the
play when he was able to thread his point pass through traffic.  It looked at
that point like Boston College had the magic on their side.
 
The third period was easily the best hockey of the evening.  While the teams
looked exhausted, they created some fine up and down action.  Both goalies
made some excellent saves.  Finally in the last six minutes of the interval,
Michigan's Kosick (Bill Muckalt, Chris Fox) tied the match at two when he
drove in a rebound at the near post.  BC was guilty of sitting on its lead.
 
In overtime play was very sloppy as few players had anything left to give.
The teams took turns putting on some pressure and I felt the Eagles had some
of the more dangerous chances.  At last, with about two minutes left, BC put
together a wonderful three-way passing play, but just missed the open net.
Michigan stormed down into the Boston College zone and applied the pressure.
The Eagles were so tired they were pretty much standing around.  First-year
Josh Langfeld (Scott Matzka, Fox) circled out of the corner and buried his try
low at the far post to win the Championship for Michigan.
 
Michigan plays a very tight game.  They used their determination to see their
game plan through, and in the end, it worked.  I felt the experience factor
definitely helped the Wolverines.  They were able to stay cool when things
were not going well for them, and were always ready to go forward when they
could.  Senior defender Fox played an outstanding game.  He was a calm force
on the blue line that held things together.  Fresher Dave Huntzicker turned in
a strong coverage game.  He's a tough kid who can move.  Up front, first-years
Kosick and Matzka and sophomore Andrew Merrick added the zip the Michigan
attack needed.  The line of Matt Herr, Bobby Hayes and Justin Clark played
extremely well as a unit.  Clark's back-checking was perfect, Herr put on the
timely bursts and Hayes gave us some dazzling plays.  BC did themselves proud
to keep that line off the board.  Overall, a fine win for the men from
Michigan.
 
Boston College had this one in the bag and let it get away.  They had several
situations where they could have jumped out to a two or three goal lead, if
they had used their speed edge, and put the game out of reach.  The Eagles
were certainly the more interesting team to watch and made the memorable
plays.  They went very close and proved they are back.  Mottau had a strong
game using his tough defensive marking with his smart lead passes for BC.
Fresher blue liner Rob Scuderi looked good.  His coverage gave Michigan fits.
First-year Allen always was there to breakup plays and moved the puck on the
power play expertly.  Jamie O'Leary was a strong defensive forward, and was
even better when he remained on the legal side of things.  Blake Bellefeuille
made some sharp rushes and almost won it for the Eagles.  Fresher Brian Gionta
was his shifty self, and also did some fine penalty killing.  Marty Reasoner
played an intelligent game.  He used quick passes to release mates and was
able to beat the mass defensive system of Michigan.  Overall, Boston College
put on a good show, and it is clear from the young talent they have, that they
will be a power for many years.
 
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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