Saturday, December 28, 2002

HUSKIES FALL TO #10 MICHIGAN, 5-3, IN GLI SEMIFINAL

DETROIT, Mich. -- Tenth-ranked Michigan used four power play goals on
the way to a 5-3 win over Michigan Tech Saturday night before 18,012
in semifinal action of the 38th annual Great Lakes Invitational at
the Joe Louis Arena.

It was a 1-1 standoff after the opening period. The Wolverines took
the lead at 11:48 as Jed Ortmeyer beat Cam Ellsworth from the left
ffaceoff circle. The Huskies evened the game with just :24 left in
the stanza. Freshman Chris Conner took the puck off Colin Murphy's
rebound and came across in front to put the puck in the far corner
past Al Montoya.

Tech took a 2-1 lead at 4:10 of the second period as Murphy deflected
an errant UM pass from behind the net off his body in front and
sticked is past Montoya. Michigan evened the game at 10:35 on the
power play as Ortmeyer banked a shot off the pads of Ellsworth from
just below the goalline. Michigan took the lead for good on the power
play at 15:07 as Jeff Tambellini found the back of the net from
between the goalline and the bottom of the left faceoff circle. It
was 3-2 UM after 40 minutes.

The Wolverines got a pair of power play markers in the third period
-- at 5:19 and 17:35 -- to take a 5-2 lead, before Conner put one
home on the backhand from in front at 19:33 to account for the 5-3
final.

Ellsworth made 23 saves in the loss, while Montoya had 19 stops to
pick up the win.

The Huskies will face Michigan State in Sunday's (Dec. 29) GLI
third-place game with opening faceoff set for 1:30 p.m.

NOTES: Chris Conner extended his point streak to a team-best six
games with his two-goal effort . . . Sophomore forward Colin Murphy
returned from a knee injury that he suffered on Dec. 13 at Northern
Michigan and promptly contributed a goal and two assists . . . The
Huskies played without freshman forward Brandon Schwartz. The St.
Cloud, Minn., native is out indefinitely after suffering a knee
injury Dec. 13 at NMU.
--
Dave Fischer, Assistant Athletic Director
Michigan Tech University
1400 Townsend Drive
SDC, Room 233
Houghton, MI  49931-1295
([log in to unmask] -- 906-487-2350)
Michigan Tech Huskies on the Web: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com
MTU Sports Hotline: (906) 487-2606