April 28, 2003

Rematch! Michigan Draws Oakland in the First Round

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Head coach John Paul and the Wolverine coaching staff won't have to do much scouting to prepare for their first round matchup in the USLIA National Championship Tournament this year.  CCLA Offensive Player of the Year Billy Binge and the rest of the Oakland Grizzlies, Michigan's foes in yesterday's CCLA Championship game, drew the 13th seed and will play 4th seed UM at 2:30 next Wednesday in St. Louis.  The Wolverines defeated the Grizzlies twice this season, including a 19-8 win in the conference final yesterday.  This is Michigan's 5th straight trip to the national championship tournament.  It is Oakland's 1st trip to the tournament.  The winner of the game will face the winner of the #5 Brigham Young  - #12 Chapman match-up in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Paul said of the match-up, "We know Oakland well, but I don't know if that's a good thing.  It's tough to beat a good team three times in one season.  We'll have to guard against overlooking them at all and approaching this game with any kind of complacency.  Anything we want to accomplish in the tournament starts next Wednesday with Oakland."

This is Michigan's 5th straight trip to St. Louis for the USLIA National Championships, but the Wolverines have never advanced past the quarterfinals despite being seeded no lower than 5th in the four previous years.  Last year 5th seed Brigham Young knocked #4 Michigan out of the tournament in the quarterfinal round, and should the Wolverines get past the Grizzlies next Wednesday a probable rematch looms with the Cougars who are playing a seemingly overmatched Chapman squad in their first round game.

Two seasons ago Michigan entered the tournament as the #1 seed, but lost an 8-7 upset quarterfinal to UCSB, this year's #1 seed.  The Gauchos are on Michigan's side of the bracket this year.

The Wolverines have a week of practice before they fly to St. Louis next Tuesday.  The 2003 Awards Banquet will provide a day off this Sunday.

2003 USL MDIA TOURNAMENT BRACKET (www.uslia.com)