April 12, 2008

Event:  Men's Lacrosse

Site: Fort Collins, Colorado (IM Field)

Score:  #1 Michigan 10, #7 Colorado State 9 - 2OT

Records:  U-M (12-0, 3-0 CCLA), CSU (9-5, 0-2 RMLC)

Next U-M Game:  Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 7:30pm EST - vs. Western Michigan - Ann Arbor, Mich. (Pioneer High School)

Vasher Rescues Michigan in OT Win Over Colorado State

Event Recap I Boxscore I Notes & Quotes I Photos

Fort Collins, CO. - The #1 University of Michigan men's lacrosse team needed two overtimes to finish off a very determined Colorado State team Saturday night, defeating the Rams 10-9 in Fort Collins in a classic nail-biter.  With the Wolverines holding a slim 9-7 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, CSU notched two goals in the final frame to tie the game, but junior Peter Vasher (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) scored with 3:25 left in the second overtime to elevate Michigan to their 12^th win of the season.

Michigan opened the scoring on a bouncing shot from just outside the crease from Trevor Yealy (Pittsburgh, Penn./Upper St. Claire) after the first-year player dodged through two defenders.  CSU answered to even the score at 1-1 four minutes later on a shot from the left wing.  The Wolverines regained the lead under a minute later on a dodge and fire from the right wing from Vasher that bounced inside the left post. 

Sophomore David Rogers (Wayne N.J./Wayne) extended the lead to 3-1 on another shot from the right wing that once again snuck inside the far post to close out the first quarter scoring.

Josh Ein (Potomac, Md./Bullis) and Kevin Zorovich (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) notched back-to-back goals on the edge of the crease just 27 seconds apart early in the second quarter to give Michigan the 5-1 lead.  CSU scored to cut the lead to three mid-way through the quarter, before scoring again with just over three minutes left in the period to draw within two.  CSU finished one of their patented scoring runs as time expired to claw within one as the teams entered the half-time break. 

The teams traded goals early in the second half as Michigan opened the period on a shot that deflected off Vasher's stick and into the goal before Colorado State scored shortly after killing a one-minute man-down penalty. 

Michigan answered to rebuild their two-goal lead on a scrum in front that was back-handed into the net by Yealy.  Yealy scored again just 50 seconds later on the man-up on a feed from Zorovich from the right GLE.  Michigan was awarded another man-up opportunity two minutes later and Bobby Morales (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Brother Rice) capitalized from the top of the box with a side-arm shot for the four-goal lead. 

CSU wasn't about to back down however, notching back-to-back goals to draw within two with three minutes left in the third quarter to close out the scoring in the period. 

The Rams kept the momentum in the fourth, scoring mid-way through the quarter to cut Michigan's lead to the smallest of margins.  The teams traded possessions over the next seven minutes with the Wolverines holding on desperately to their one-goal lead. 

With under a minute left in the contest, Colorado State settled the ball in the Wolverine zone for one final attempt.  After working the ball around the box, CSU attackman Ben Wallace found himself open just outside the crease and buried the shot to even the game with just 26 seconds left.  Michigan won the ensuing faceoff but was unable to register a shot on goal in the final seconds. 

Both teams managed to put together solid possessions in the first OT, but neither club was able to find the back of the net, forcing a second overtime period. 

Once again the squads shared possessions in the opening moments of the second OT, but on Michigan's second opportunity, senior Mark Hammitt (Madison, N.J./Delbarton - Boston College) moved the ball to Vasher who dodged in on the right side and fired low for the game-winning tally.  Vasher was swarmed by his teammates as the Wolverines won their sixth game on the road vs. a ranked opponent this season. 

Statistically, it was a mixed bag for the Wolverines.  U-M was outshot by their opponent 57-38, and lost the groundball battle 33 to 29.  U-M was 15 of 22 on faceoffs, and finished 15 of 22 on clears, while CSU cleared the ball at a rate of 12 for 22.  Michigan scored twice on four man-up chances and kept Colorado State scoreless on their five attempts.

The Wolverines will be back in action on Wednesday, April 16, when they host Western Michigan at 7:30pm at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor in a game that was rescheduled from March.

NOTES 

●  This was Michigan's first win over Colorado State away from Ann Arbor.

●  Michigan improves to 2-5 all-time vs. Colorado State.  CSU and BYU remain the only two teams in the MCLA with winning all-time records against Michigan.

● Senior captain and faceoff specialist Brekan Kohlitz (St. Claire Shores, Mich./Notre Dame Harper Woods) finished 15 of 22 on faceoffs, taking every attempt.

●  Kohlitz also paced the squad with six groundballs.

●  Yealy and Vasher paced the team with three goal apiece.

●  With another dominant performance on the man-down, Michigan is holding opponents to only 13% on the man-up.

●  Yealy (3g, 0a) has scored at least three goals in seven consecutive games, totaling 27 goals in that span.

●  Michigan lost the shots on goal and groundball battle for the first time this year.

●  Senior goaltender Graham Townsend (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville East) put together another solid outing, finishing with 19 saves, including a key save in the first overtime.

●  Michigan has now defeated seven ranked teams this season, with six of those wins coming on the road.

QUOTES

Head Coach John Paul

On his general impressions:  "The reports we got said that Colorado State was a little down this year, and their record may indicated that, but we expected to see a very good team that would be playing with a little desperation, and that's what we got.  They gave us all we could handle.  Every time we pulled away, they came back.  This was a great win for us.  We had to gut it out against a good team on the road in a hostile environment when some things weren't going our way, and we did that."

On Vasher's goal: "We wanted to set up good possessions in overtime, but we also give most of our guys the green light to dodge if they see a good opportunity, and that's what Peter did.  He was able to roll into space where no slide could get to him, and he buried it.  With his size and speed, he's tough to stop."

On the CSU comeback:  "They were never really out of the game.  We wanted to put them away a couple of times when we had the chance, but they kept working hard.  CSU is known for their runs, and we expected them to get a couple, but we certainly didn't want to see it happen at the end there."

On CSU's offense:  "The difference today versus past games against them was that they were getting their goals in even situations.  We're more used to them scoring in transition.  They played much more of a patient, possession game tonight.  It was a smart gameplan, and they executed very well."

On the offense's inability to score in the fourth quarter:  "We rushed some things a couple of times.  We were careless or sloppy a few times.  Their goalie made some very nice saves.  It was frustrating.  We felt like we were right on the edge of putting the game away, but our offense couldn't capitalize on their chances.  Fortunately we got the one we really needed at the end."

On the rest of the regular season:  "We've been trying to compartmentalize the season, and this next segment of two games is our chance to wrap up another regular season CCLA title.  That's something we've done every single year the conference has existed, and we take a lot of pride in that record.  It's a tough week though.  Final exams begin this week.  We'll take Monday off and practice Tuesday to get ready for Western."

Senior Bobby Morales

On the importance of the win:  "It's a big win, absolutely.  It's nice to win blow-out games, but it's also nice to win a game like this.  It's going to be helpful for us to have a game that challenged us and went down to the wire.  If we're going to win a championship we're definitely going to have games like that down the road."

On re-focusing:  "I think a game like this brings us down to earth a little bit.  It shows that teams are continuing to improve throughout the season and we're going to have to elevate our game down the stretch to finish this off."

Junior Peter Vasher

On the game-winning goal:  "Coming down, Hammitt pulled the ball over to me, and I'm pretty sure I heard Kenny scream "Go!", and there was a shorty on me, so I liked the chances so I dodged and rolled back and shot and it went where I wanted it to.  I went down, and then I felt the guys jump on me, so I knew something good happened."

On the lessons learned:  "This is a good win for us and there is plenty to learn about a game like this.  To beat another quality team on the road just continues to prepare us for games like this in Dallas.  It shows that you have to play hard for a complete game to beat quality teams like this."

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