2000-2001 Michigan Men's Lacrosse -- Game #05

Michigan 17, Sonoma State 8
6:00 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2001
Oosterbaan Fieldhouse, Ann Arbor, MI

Wolverines Crush Cossacks 17-8
USLIA’s #2 over #1 in Michigan Invitational Opener

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The much anticipated showdown between #1 Sonoma State and #2 Michigan did not live up to expectations as the Wolverines jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and held on for a commanding 17-8 win.

   Michigan attackman Jeff Hadwin (Vestal, NY/Vestal HS.) returned to the form that made him a pre-season All-American, as he scored 8 of the Wolverine goals. Most of Michigan’s goals were the result of feeds through the aggressive Cossack defense. Hadwin was able to find space on the crease throughout the game, as he helped build a 5-0 Michigan lead at the end of one.
Though the Cossacks responded with two early second quarter goals from lead scorer Will Bursun, they were unable to keep up with Michigan’s offense. The second quarter continued to be hot for the Wolverines who pumped in seven more goals building a haftime score of 13-3.
In the third quarter Michigan’s offense slowed things down and penalties kept them off the field. Sonoma capitalized with three goals to Michigan’s two, but at the end of the third Michigan was still out in front with a commanding 15-6 lead. Both teams scored twice in the final quarter and the game ended 17-8.

   Other Michigan scorers were Dave Bernard (Litchfield , CT/Westminster HS) with 3 goals, Tom Burns (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Brother Rice HS) with 2 goal and 3 assists, Ben Herbst (Pikesville, MD/Pikesville HS) with 2 goals and 2 assists and Kevin Chan (Manhasset, NY/Manhasset HS) who added 4 assists.

   In the Invitational nightcap, Colorado State swarmed the Texas Longhorns 16-3. Michigan faces the #5 Rams tomorrow night at 8pm. Texas and Sonoma State square off at 5:00.
 

NOTES
• Two Wolverines, sophomore midfielder Andy Vilardo (Rockville, MD/Wootton HS) and freshman defenseman Jason Hall (Pittsford, New York/Pittsford Sutherland HS), have been diagnosed with season-ending injuries. Vilardo dislocated his shoulder in practice, and Hall is suffering from a herniated disk. Both will have surgery.

• Sophomore goalie Sooman Kim (Troy, Mich./Troy HS) had his best day as a Wolverine, turning away 13 shots while allowing only 6 goals.

• Jeff Hadwin’s eight goals added to his Michigan career record (since the inception of the USLIA) 229. This was also his second most prolific day as Wolverine. He scored nine goals against Minnesota State – Mankato last May in the first round of the USLIA national tournament.

• Many of Sonoma State’s midfielders and attack were playing with new sticks. A bag carrying most of their short sticks was misplaced by United Airlines. The new sticks came from Michigan and nearby Warrior Lacrosse.

QUOTES
UM Head Coach John Paul
On Michigan’s fast starts this season…”Ever since our first two games, we’ve been jumping out of the gate pretty well. Our intensity has been outstanding. We had a 21-9 ground ball advantage at the half tonight and a 30-10 advantage in shots. We need to keep that up if we are going to be successful against Colorado State tomorrow.”

On Sonoma State’s stick problem…”We did what we could to help them out with some of our own sticks. I know if I was Doug Carl, I would be pretty crazy in that situation. I’m not sure how much of a factor the sticks had in the game, but Sonoma is a much better team than our score indicated.”

On beating the number one team in the country…”Obviously, this is a milestone for our program, but we play a Colorado State team tomorrow night that is very impressive. I’m not sure we match up as well with them, and I know they are focusing on this game for the weekend. This is an interesting year. There seems to be a lot of parity at the top. I don’t know if the rankings are going to mean that much. Whoever gets hot at St. Louis is going to win this thing.”



Box Score
Michigan vs. Sonoma State
Friday, March 23, 2001
6:00 p.m., Oosterbaan Fieldhouse, Ann Arbor, Michigan

 

Goalies
Michigan: Sooman Kim – 13 saves / 6 goals against
Jeremy Menkowitz – 1 save / 2 goals against
Sonoma State: Dominic Gomez – 1 save / 10 goals against
Jaime Refvem – 6 saves / 7 goals against


Team Statistics

Officials
Rob Wyman, Fred Zantsen, Tom Bensman
 

Attendance
643


Scoring Summary