Saturday, January 18, 2003

TECH DROPS 3-1 DECISION TO #2 COLORADO COLLEGE

HOUGHTON, Mich. -- Sophomore netminder Cam Ellsworth gave Michigan
Tech a chance, but second-ranked Colorado College was just too much
as the Huskies dropped a 3-1 decision to the visiting Tigers Saturday
night in Western Collegiate Hockey Association at the MacInnes
Student Ice Arena.

It was a scoreless first period, with Ellsworth making 28 saves. And
yes, 28 is indeed correct. The Huskies had seven shots on net.

The scoreless tie went deep into the second period, before the Tigers
finally struck on the power play at 18:39 as Tom Presissing scored
from the top of the right faceoff circle.

CC extended its lead to 2-0 at 2:47 of the third on Tyler Liebel's
fourth goal of the year. Tech got back in the game as Brett
Engelhardt banged in his 12th of the season out in front with Chris
Durno and Frank Werner earning assists. CC got back in front by a
pair on a nifty backhand shot from Peter Sejna at 12:08 at short
range and to Ellsworth's right. The Huskies applied some solid
pressure on a late power play and with Ellsworth pulled, but could
get no closer.

"We hung in there," said Tech Head Coach Mike Sertich. "Cam gave us a
chance against one of the very best teams in the country."

Ellsworth finished with 55 saves, the most by a Tech netminder since
Luciano Caravaggio made 61 saves in a 1-1 tie against Sertich's
Minnesota-Duluth team on Nov. 25, 1994, in Duluth. CC's Curtis
McElhinney made 22 stops.

Tech continues its six-game homestand next weekend vs. Alaska
Anchorage. Opening faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. (EST) both Friday
(Jan. 24) and Saturday (Jan. 25).

NOTES: Sophomore defenseman Clay Wilson (Sturgeon Lake, Mich.) had
his six-game point come to an end . . . Senior Chris Durno
(Scarborough, Ont.) extended his point streak to four games with an
assist . . . Junior forward Jon Pittis (Calgary, Alta.) injured his
shoulder in the second period and is likely out for at least two
weeks.