March 31, 2007

Site:  Ann Arbor, Michigan (Oosterbaan Fieldhouse)

Score:  #1 Michigan 12, #11 Arizona State 13

Records:  U-M (7-1, 3-0 CCLA), Arizona State (8-2, 4-0 WCLL)

Attendance: 525

Next U-M Game:  Sunday, April 1, 3:00 PM EST - vs. Oakland - Pontiac, Michigan (Notre Dame Prep HS)

Wolverines Fall to Arizona State

Event Recap I Boxscore I Notes & Quotes I Photos

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The #1 ranked University of Michigan men's lacrosse team dropped their first game of the 2007 campaign, falling 13-12 to #11 Arizona State on Saturday (March 31) in Ann Arbor, Michigan at Oosterbaan Fieldhouse.  In a back and forth contest that featured 17 ties or lead changes, ASU held on in the final moments to win their second game vs. a #1 opponent in a week's span after defeating then #1 Oregon on Tuesday (March 27). 

Offensively, things got off to a quick start for both teams.  On Michigan's second lengthy possession of the game, senior attackman Matt Hudson (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) dodged in on the right side and fired a low shot low to the goaltender's stick side for the opening goal of the contest.  Immediately following the goal, ASU was called for an illegal stick penalty, resulting in a three-minute man-up advantage.

Behind the eight-ball early, Arizona State took advantage of a Wolverine turnover at midfield and evened the game at 1-1 on a man-down goal from Eric Nelson.  Michigan regained the lead at 2-1 on a tally from junior Mark Hammitt (Madison, N.J./Delbarton - Boston College) on the man-up, but the Sun Devils wouldn't back down, netting back-to-back goals to take a 3-2 lead mid-way through the quarter. 

Trailing for only the second time in '07, Michigan tied the game on a dodge from deep on the right side from junior Bobby Morales (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Brother Rice), only to see ASU regain the lead 53 seconds later on a goal from just outside the crease.  The see-saw action continued as junior attackman Peter Krauss (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) scored from his knees with a defender draped over his back to knot the game at 4-4 after one quarter. 

The Sun Devils opened the second-quarter scoring on a man-up goal 2:30 into the period on shot from the left side from Anthony Laflam.  Krauss answered at 10:33 on his second of the game after he dodged in from the right side and fired high on net.  ASU's offense continued to play as advertised, netting two goals in the next two minutes to build a two goal lead at 7-5 halfway through the second. 

Minutes later, a thirty-second interference call on Arizona State resulted in a chance for Michigan to draw within one, and Mark Hammitt responded scoring on a long-shot from 13 yards out just before the penalized Sun Devil player made his way back into action.  Arizona State continued to earn quality chances deep in the Wolverine box however, and rebuilt their two-goal lead at 1:02 on another tally from just outside cage to close out the scoring in the first-half.

Michigan scored the all-important first goal of the second half, grabbing momentum just over a minute into the third quarter on a quick-stick goal from the right side of the crease by Matt Hudson.  After the ensuing faceoff win by Michigan, Bobby Morales fired a shot from 15 yards out that rung off the cross-bar.  The Wolverines scooped up the loose ball however and found Morales open again at nearly the exact same spot.  This time Morales fired a skipping shot that snuck inside the left post to tie the game at 8-8 mid-way through the third quarter.      

The teams traded possessions as the third quarter carried on with Arizona State grabbing the lead again with 2:06 left in the period on another goal from the top of the crease.  A slashing call on ASU gave the Wolverines a man-up chance to close out the quarter and the Wolverines capitalized, as senior Evan Fox (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) scored his first of the game to tie the contest at 9-9 with one quarter left to play.

After six minutes of back and forth play in the final frame, Arizona State re-gained the lead at 9:08 on a dodge from the right side by Dave O'Neil.  Michigan answered right back on a dodge of their own from Matt Hudson who fired a low shot that found it's way through traffic to knot things up at 10-10 with half a quarter remaining.  Arizona State was undaunted; grabbing the lead again at 6:08 after a missed assignment gave ASU another premier opportunity down low.  The Sun Devils extended their lead to 12-10 30 seconds later on a goal from Tyler Westfall.  Michigan didn't pack it in however, as Mark Hammitt added his third of the game to draw within one with just over four minutes remaining. 

Arizona State scored on their next possession coming out of a timeout for the 13-11 lead, but with just 29 seconds left, Evan Fox notched his second of the game to draw within one again.  However, the Wolverines were never able to mount another offensive chance in the game's waning moments, falling 13-12 to the Sun Devils.      

Statistically, Michigan won nearly every category, with U-M outshooting ASU 47-25, and scooping up 39 groundballs to the Sun Devil's 32.  The Wolverines won 19 of 28 faceoffs, and cleared the ball at a rate of 19-25, while Arizona State finished 24-30.  U-M was 3-5 on the man-up while ASU posted 1-5 totals. 

Michigan will look to bounce back on Sunday (April 1) when they travel to Rochester, Michigan to take on Oakland University at 3:00pm EST at Notre Dame Prep High School.

NOTES

● Junior faceoff specialist Brekan Kohlitz (St. Claire Shores, Mich./Notre Dame Harper Woods) finished 19-25 at the "X", while fellow faceoff specialist, freshman David Reinhard (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) finished 0-2. 

● Junior faceoff specialist Lawrence Okwali (Silver Springs, Md./Springbrook) missed the game due to illness.

● For the third game in a row, Kohlitz also paced the team with 10 groundballs. 

● Senior goaltender Ryan Kaufman (Olney, Md./Magruder) finished the contest with 7 saves.  Tonight's game marks the first time this season that Kaufman has allowed more goals than saves recorded. 

● The loss at Oosterbaan marks the first time the Wolverines have lost at home since a 9-8 loss to St. Vincent on February 19, 2005.  Arizona State is only the second MCLA team to beat Michigan at home.  The only other one to do it is Colorado State.

● Evan Fox led all Wolverines with 5 total points on 2 goals and 3 assists.  Tonight's game marks only second time this year that he hasn't scored at least three goals in a game. 

● Michigan's annual visitors from the University of Tokyo lacrosse team arrived Thursday and were at the game tonight.  Six Tokyo players will stay just over three weeks, living and practicing with the Michigan players and taking back what they learn to their team in Japan.

● Roughly 140 players, parents, and fans from Hartland High School's lacrosse program attended the game and stuck around to mingle with Wolverine players afterwards. 

QUOTES

U-M Head Coach John Paul

On the game itself:  "Going into these big games we talk about executing and all of the little things that add up to a victory.  We didn't do those things, especially in the first half.  We had a lot of turnovers tonight.  We also didn't shoot very well.  All of these things are mental issues.  I'm not sure why we weren't ready.  Their offense was very efficient and they executed much better than we did."

On ASU's offensive effort:  "They've got five or six different guys they can go to, and they're all big threats.  It puts a lot of pressure on your defense.  Every time you slide to help, they find the open man and they were also finishing well.  They made a few spectacular plays where they found an open guy in traffic.  There was nothing we can do about those, but we're always disappointed when you give up 12 goals." 

On the offensive effort:  "I also think if we were more consistent offensively we wouldn't have put the "D" in that position as much.  We put a lot of pressure on the defense because we were giving them transition opportunities."

On the #1 ranking and the weight it carries:  "I think it's impossible not to think about the ranking.  Both teams actually.  They came in fired up to play another #1 team.  You can say you're not going to think about it, but you always will.  Ultimately you've still got to play.  Some guys might be motivated by defending the ranking; some guys might feel more pressure.  Regardless you're going to have to deal with pressure at some point, especially in the post-season."

On playing a quality offensive opponent:  "When you're playing a great offensive team it's pretty much pick your poison.  We're not at the point yet where we're a great defensive team.  We want to be there, and we're taking strides, but we're not there yet.  We need to put a little more pressure on the other areas to step up.  We can't drop the ball, we've got to get more groundballs, and we've got to shoot better."

On playing Oakland:  "All you can do is tell the guys to be ready.  One of our missions is to re-establish our CCLA dominance this year.  Hopefully that will flick a switch for them so they're ready to go tomorrow.  This is the last game we have this season that we should dominate if we play the way we're supposed to.  A good team puts this game behind them.  We've got a lot of season left to prove ourselves." 

Senior midfielder Matt Hudson

On the influence of the #1 ranking:  "This week after the polls came out I think a lot of guys were trying to figure out exactly what that meant.  I wouldn't say we were thinking about it a lot, but I think we started to think about defending the ranking.  And obviously they came in jacked to play us, and it's the first time in awhile a team has come in here ready to play us." 

On the second-half improvement:  "I think we executed a little better in the second half.  We ended up in a run-and-gun game which I don't think we really wanted to do.  But I was happy to see us come out a little stronger after the break.  We had opportunities at the end, but at least no one quit on us.  We didn't back off, but we just couldn't cash in at the end."

Senior defenseman Brad Ferriell

On his impression of the game:  "I think we came out a little nervous at the start of the game.  Offensively we were getting it done, but defensively we were all over the place.  Our mind was everywhere and it results in your body being in the wrong place as well.  They had a lot of off-ball motion and I think we were getting confused at times on the back-side."

On the game tomorrow:  "Well first off it's a rivalry game.  They're going to come to play.  They always come to play.  They were an under-dog a couple of years ago when they beat us there, and they're home again tomorrow.  We'll be looking to get back at it though after tonight."

Contact: Joe Hennessy (734) 276-8493, jjhennes@umich.edu