February 23, 2003

 

Site: Los Angeles, California (Cromwell Field)

Scores: #6 Michigan 17, Southern California 1

Records: UM (1-0), USC (1-2)

Next U-M Game: Monday, February 24 -- vs. Whittier (Los Angeles, Cal.), 4:00 p.m. PST

 

Herbst Leads Michigan in Season Opener

Los Angeles, Cal. -- Senior attackman Ben Herbst (Pikesville, MD/Pikesville) exploded for 6 goals and 4 assists today as #6 Michigan crushed Southern California 17 - 1.  It was the season opener for the Wolverines, who were playing shorthanded with a total of 11 players in street clothes on the sideline.  Michigan improves to 1-0, while the Trojans fall to 1-2.

Sophomore midfielder Mike O'Leary (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton) got things started early with a ten yard shot off a Herbst feed 1:03 into the game.  Just 44 seconds later Herbst scored what would be the game winner when Jason Gratson (Clinton Twp., Mich./DeLaSalle) found him alone, and he blistered one past Trojan goalie Rick Stumm.

Over the next 24 minutes Herbst added two more goals and assisted on another, recording his fifth point in as many Michigan goals.  Anthony Ragnone (Flint, Mich./Flint Powers) and Jeff Hanna (Fayatteville, NY/Fayatteville-Manlius) scored in the last 1:10 of the half to build the Michigan lead to 7-0 at the break.

Herbst had his hand in Michigan's first two third quarter goals, assisting Hanna at 12:39, and then scoring one himself just 13 seconds later.  The Trojans finally got on the board at the 6:41 mark in the third when an errant Wolverine clearing pass was intercepted by Alex Hoover, and he was able to beat Michigan goalie Dan Webber (Weston, Mass./Weston).  Webber had six saves in 3 1/2 quarters of action.

In the final quarter Michigan emptied what little bench they had for the day, but the results were no different as five different Wolverines scored a total of six more goals for the final 17-1 margin.

Michigan faces Division III power Whittier College tomorrow in Los Angeles at 4:00 p.m.

NOTES

● 11 Wolverines were in street clothes for the game - two due to injury and 9 due to suspension for breaking team rules.  7 of those players will be back for the Whittier game tomorrow.  The suspensions left the Wolverines especially thin at attack, where only 3 of 6 players were suited up, and defense, where two starters were out.  Starting defenseman Brian Anderson (Lansing, Mich./Lansing Waverly) will sit one more game before returning Wednesday against UCSB.

● Michigan dominated statistically, winning 14 of 20 faceoffs, collecting 42 ground balls to USC's 19, and outshooting the Trojans 57-15..

● The Michigan extra-man unit, despite missing two key members for the day, went a respectable 3 for 6.

●  This was the first meeting of these two teams.  Michigan's record goes to 1-0, while USC drops to 1-2.

● Sophomore midfielder Trevor Broad (Grosse Pointe, Mich./University Liggett) went 8 and 1 on faceoffs and collected a team-high 6 ground balls.

● The Southern California weather cooperated today as it was mostly sunny and 65 at game time.  Heavy rain is expected for tomorrow's game against Whittier.

 

QUOTES

 

UM Head Coach John Paul

On the game overall: "This was a good start for us.  We were a little concerned coming into today with all the guys we had out, but everyone who had to step up, stepped up."  

On Ben Herbst: "Incredible day for Ben.  He has struggled at times in practice making the right decisions with the ball, but today he played as well as I've ever seen him play.  He is incredibly focused on our team goals this season, and that intensity is showing itself."   

On the play of the attack: "They were warriors today.  We only three guys suited up, and everyone knows we don't have the most physically imposing attack unit, but they played their butts off against a pretty physical USC team.  I think these guys look in the mirror and see 6-foot-2 when everyone else sees 5-foot-6."

On tomorrow's game against Whittier: "This is not the most important game of our season, since these guys aren't in our league, but the guys are really, really excited to play.  It's going to be a great opportunity to test ourselves against the best team we'll see this year."

 

GAME SUMMARY

Michigan vs. Southern California
Sunday, February 23
1:00 p.m. PST, Cromwell Field, Los Angeles, California

 

Score by Quarter     1     2     3     4     OT     Totals

Michigan …………   3    4     4     6                     17

Southern Cal....…..    0    0     1     0                       1

 

Michigan Scoring

Ben Herbst 6G/4A - 10 Pts.

Jeff Hanna 4G/1A – 5 Pts.

Chip Thomas 2G/2A - 4 Pts.

Ray Lombardi 0G/4A – 4 Pts.

Mike O'Leary 2G/0A – 2 Pts.

Anthony Ragnone 1G/1A – 2 Pts.

Chris Sigakis 1G/0A – 1 Pt.

Andy Vilardo 1G/0A – 1 Pt.

Jason Gratson 0G/1A – 1 Pt.

 

USC Scoring

Alex Hoover 1G/0A – 1 Pt.

 
Goalies
Michigan:  Dan Webber – 6 saves / 1 goal against, Jeremy Menkowitz - 1 save / 0 goals against

USC:        Rick Stumm – 9 saves / 11 goals against, Ryan Carmody - 6 saves / 4 goals against, Monte Wylie - 1 save / 2 goals against
 

Team Statistics     1        2        3        4       OT        Totals

Ground Balls

Michigan                10      14       9        9                       42

USC                      10        4       2        3                       19

Shots

Michigan                12      11      14     20                       57

USC                        6        4        2       3                       15

Face-offs

Michigan                  2        4        4       6                       14

USC                        4        0        1       0                         6

Clears

Michigan              14/14    8/9    8/10   5/7                   35/40

USC                    11/15   4/11   3/8     5/8                   23/42

Extra Man

Michigan                0/1      0/1    1/1     2/3                     3/6

USC                      0/1      0/3      -       0/1                     0/5


 
Scoring Summary

13:57 (1st)….UM….O'Leary (Herbst) ….UM 1, USC 0

13:13   (1st)….UM….Herbst (Gratson)….UM 2, USC 0

10:21  (1st)….UM….Herbst (Lombardi)….UM 3, USC 0

End of 1st Quarter: Michigan 3, Southern California 0

12:32 (2nd)….UM….Herbst (Lombardi) ….UM 4, USC 0

3:41 (2nd)….UM….Thomas (Herbst)….UM 5, USC 0

1:10 (2nd)….UM….Ragnone (Hanna)….UM 6, USC 0

0:04 (2nd)….UM….Hanna ….UM 7, USC 0

Halftime: Michigan 7, Southern California 0

12:39 (3rd)….UM….Hanna (Herbst) ….UM 8, USC 0

12:26  (3rd)….UM….Herbst (Thomas)….UM 9, USC 0

6:41 (3rd)….USC….Hoover….UM 9, USC 1

2:02 (3rd)....UM (EMO)....Hanna (Thomas)....UM 10, USC 1

1:18 (3rd)....UM....Vilardo....UM 11, USC 1

End of 3rd Quarter: Michigan 11, Southern California 1

11:46 (4th)….UM (EMO)….Thomas (Lombardi)….UM 12, USC 1

9:56 (4th)….UM….Herbst….UM 13, USC 1

8:51 (4th)….UM….Hanna (Herbst)….UM 14, USC 1

4:43 (4th)….UM….O'Leary….UM 15, USC 1

2:01 (4th)….UM (EMO)….Herbst (Lombardi)….UM 16, USC 1

1:56 (4th)….UM….Sigakis (Ragnone)….UM 17, USC 1

End of Regulation: Michigan 17, Southern California 1

 

Officials


 

Attendance