May 17, 2008

Event:  Men's Lacrosse

Site: Irving, Texas (Texas Stadium)

Score:  #1 Michigan 14, #2 Chapman 11

Records:  U-M (20-0, 7-0 CCLA), Chapman (19-2, 8-0 WCLL)

Next U-M Game:  Season Has Concluded

Culmination!  Michigan Tops Chapman for First MCLA Title

Event Recap I Boxscore I Notes & Quotes I Photos

Dallas, Tex. - The #1 University of Michigan men's lacrosse team captured their first MCLA National Championship on Saturday night (May 17) in Irving, Texas at Texas Stadium, defeating the second-seeded Chapman Panthers by a score of 14-11.  After leading for most of the game, Michigan allowed Chapman to draw even mid-way through the third quarter.  The Maize and Blue buckled down however to score five unanswered between the third and fourth quarters before fending off one final Panther run. 

Chapman got on the board first at the 12:11 mark with a quick-stick goal, but the Wolverines were able to answer three minutes later on a dunk goal from freshman Trevor Yealy (Pittsburgh, Penn./Upper St. Claire) after being fed by sophomore David Rogers (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills).  Senior Peter Krauss (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) gave Michigan their first lead of the contest at 8:19 but Chapman answered right back themselves, knotting it up at 2-2 on a dodge and fire from the right wing. 

The Wolverines regained the lead at 5:42 after junior Peter Vasher (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) scooped up a loose ball in front, spun and fired high for the 3-2 lead.  Senior Mark Hammitt (Madison, N.J./Delbarton - Boston College) extended the lead to 4-2 on a blast from the top of the box that went right over the left shoulder of the Panther netminder.

After a Chapman turnover in their own box, sophomore transfer Kevin Zorovich (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa - Marist) fed junior attackman Riley Kearns (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Brother Rice) who was parked 10 yards out.  Kearns turned and fired high for the 5-2 lead to close out the first-quarter scoring.

Both teams traded possessions throughout the first 10 minutes of the second quarter, but neither team was able to produce any quality chances as the both defenses were up to the task.  Chapman eventually broke through first on a dodge down the right wing followed by a shot that snuck inside the far-side post.  Chapman notched their second goal in a row less than two minutes later to claw within one with 2:21 left in the first half. 

Michigan slowed the Panther momentum a minute later as sophomore midfielder Svet Tintchev (Rockville, MD./Bullis) dodged from the left wing and fired high for the 6-4 lead as the Wolverines took a two goal lead into the locker-room.

U-M scored immediately out of the half, after a clean faceoff win from senior captain and faceoff specialist Brekan Kohlitz (St. Claire Shores, Mich./Notre Dame Harper Woods) produced a clean possession for Michigan.  After the Wolverines initial chance on goal came up empty Zorovich picked off a pass in front and buried the ball into the open goal for the three-goal lead. 

Chapman clawed within two four minutes later on a dodge from the right GLE, before scoring at the 7:59 mark to cut the lead to the slimmest of margins.  A shot from the top of the box gave the Panthers their third unanswered goal of the quarter to even the game at 7-7 with 6:48 left in the third. 

Sensing the tide turning, U-M wasn't about to see their title hopes dashed and regained the lead at 5:12 on a long, bouncing shot from Vasher from the far left wing.  Zorovich extended the Wolverine lead to 9-7 on a dodge from the right GLE, before firing low for his second of the game.  Hammitt added his third of the contest for the 10-7 lead on a dodge down the middle as the Maize and Blue took a three-goal lead into the final frame.    

Tintchev added his second of the game on Michigan's first solid possession of the fourth on a blast from the left wing before Kohlitz won the ensuing faceoff, raced down field and fired high for the 12-7 lead. 

After five unanswered goals from Michigan, Chapman called a timeout to slow the Wolverine momentum and was able to score right out of the timeout to draw within four with 11:59 left.  Rogers answered right back for the Maize and Blue for the 13-8 lead just over a minute later. 

The Panthers wouldn't go away however, scoring a man-up goal at 8:50 to draw within four once again.  A low shot from the left wing found the back of the cage for Chapman at 5:36 as Michigan hung desperately to the 13-10 lead. 

Chapman continued their late game run on a quick-stick goal in front to claw within two with just 2:46 left in the game.  Kohlitz's superior play on faceoffs continued however, and the Wolverines were able to secure possession in the waning moments of the game, working the ball around the box before Vasher found himself open just outside of the crease.  With Panther goaltender Daniel Kirkpatrick harassing Hammitt behind the net, Hammitt fed Vasher for the open-net goal to seal the victory.  

The Wolverines doused Head Coach John Paul in a traditional "Gatorade bath" before storming the field once the clock hit 0:00 to celebrate the program's first National Championship.

Statistically, Michigan won every category.  The Wolverines outshot their opponent 44-35 and won the groundball battle, 36 to 22.  The Wolverines were 21 of 29 on faceoffs, and finished 17 of 21 on clears, while riding Chapman to 14 for 21 totals.  The Maize and Blue failed to score on two man-up attempts, while the Cougars scored on their lone chance.

With the conclusion of the season, please visit MGoBlue.com for all of your Michigan Lacrosse information over the summer months including information on the bevy of camps hosted by the Wolverines.

NOTES

● Michigan became the first team in the MCLA era (1997 - present) to finish a season with a perfect record.  They are also the first team from a conference outside of the WCLL or RMLC to win a national championship.

●  Kohlitz finished in his career with another dominant effort on faceoff's winning 21 of 29 to go along with his fourth-quarter goal.

●  Kohlitz also paced the team with 11 groundballs.  With 138 groundballs this season Brekan Kohlitz is now tops in career groundballs with 386. 

●  Zorovich paced the team with four points on two goals and two assists while Vasher led the team with three goals. 

●  This was the first meeting between the two teams. 

●  Goaltender Graham Townsend (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville East) finished with 13 saves including a number of point-blank attempts.

●  The game was televised by Fox College Sports.  Please check your local listings for air dates or visit http://msn.foxsports.com/fcs.  The first airings will be June 14 and 15.

●  The Wolverines earned a number of spots amongst the All-American list that was announced throughout the game.  Brekan Kohlitz and junior defender Zach Elyachar (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) both earned 1^st-team All American honors while Trevor Yealy, Mark Hammitt and Peter Vasher all earned spots on the second team.  Freshman defenseman Harry Freid (Needham, Mass./Needham) earned a third-team honor, while Graham Townsend, senior long-stick midfielder Alex Martusiewicz (Troy, Mich./Troy), and senior captain and midfielder Bobby Morales (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Brother Rice) all grabbed Honorable Mentions.

QUOTES

Head Coach John Paul

On his general impressions:  "I'm just so proud of this group of guys and they deserve it more than any team I've been a part of.  They worked incredibly hard all season long and persevered through everything we put them through.  I'm especially happy for this group of seniors.  They did an amazing job this year."

On their offense:  "They are a tremendous offense, and they tested our defense all game long.  They scored 11 goals on us and no one has scored double-digits on us all year.  Graham came up with some big-time saves.  We knew they would have the ability to come back on us at any time, and at half-time we told the guys that we're going to have to continue to score goals if we were going to win the game.  It was as much up to the offense to keep the cushion throughout the game."

On the play of Brekan: "What a great way for him to go out with his play during the tournament. He scored that goal late vs. Georgia to get back the lead, and with the game tonight against a kid everyone talked about being one of best faceoff guys in the country.  But I think Brekan proved tonight he's the best at what he does at our level. I've worked so closely with him and to see the pride he puts into his work and to see it result in this is great."

On the second-midfield line:  "We knew we were going to need goals from our second line, and we got three goals from that group and that's the margin of victory right there.  It’s the way the team has been all year, with a ton of scorers who can break defenses down.   Obviously Yealy put together a great year and if people leave him open on the crease he's going to score, but if you try to shut him down you're just opening it up for the rest of the guys, who are all completely capable."

On the process of coaching the team:  'This is the first year we've had a real, full-time staff and having Ken [Broschart] on the staff is a huge help and having Scott [Morrison] step up with the defense  like he did was a major factor for us.  We've put so much more into this season than in the past...it's translated into how much we've progressed and improved.  They have more confidence in us because we've got to work with them more, and get to know them better.  This is not just a closer team of 40 guys, it's a tight group of 50 with everyone who's associated with this program, and that's what makes this special". 

On the legitimization of the win:  "I think it's not only big for us, but it's big for the MCLA that someone outside of the WCLL or the RMLC won it.  There were two first-time final four teams as well.  A lot of teams have been waiting for a non-western team and I think that responsibility had fallen on us.  Hopefully it allows some other teams to realize that they could get there to.  Look at the way Georgia played us; how well Boston College played here."

On the look at the entire season:  "When you look at how far this program is coming and when you consider that we opened up the fall against defending National Champion Johns Hopkins, in Ann Arbor, on our field in front of 3,000, it's a pretty magical year.  I don't think any of us could have envisioned this after the way last year ended."

Senior Long-stick Midfielder Alex Martusiewicz

On the team:  "For everything to gel the way it did is amazing.  Over the last eight months of practicing we've come together so much.  The incredible support you get from everyone throughout the season is nothing short of miraculous.  There is so much that goes on behind the scenes and that just really came together this week.  JP was bold from day one with this season, considering our fall ball and our schedule and it all paid off."

Senior Midfielder Bobby Morales

On the win:  "It means everything.  This was going to be the last time you took the field and to go out in that fashion with a career win is what makes it so special.  This year was a never a cake-walk and this team bought into everything the coaches asked for, and to experience it as a senior was just amazing."

Senior Midfielder Peter Krauss

On the year:  "A lot of hard work came to fruition.  We always knew we could do it, but when it actually happens it just leaves you speechless.  I just didn't know how to react when we first won and it's just starting to sink in right now.  It's something I dreamed about since I first dreamed about playing Michigan Lacrosse.  We didn't win one game in the fall and we got our butts kicked in every scrimmage, but it goes to show you that nothing in life worth having comes easy.  We stuck with it and got to the top."

Senior Goaltender Graham Townsend

On the experience:  "Having everyone here and taking care of business going undefeated is just an unreal experience.  It hasn't sunken in yet, but I'm sure it will.  You couldn't ask for anything better in your senior year.  To finish it all off like this is something I'll never forget."

Senior Attackman Doug Bell

On the senior class:  "Having such good friends to experience this with was amazing. It took us all four years but it was all worth it.  The coaches did such an amazing job and we were always prepared and all the hard work paid off."

Senior Attackman Thomas Lehman

On the season:  "Each year definitely has a different feel and each team has a different mentality, but this year from the beginning we knew everything could come together and nothing but a National Championship would satisfy us this year.  The entire process of this season just showed you where our program has come to in terms of everything that goes on."

Senior Attackman Matt Mierendorf

On the entire process:  "I think we put a major emphasis on hard work this season and right now we're reaping the rewards of that.  I've never played on a tighter team.  Our ultimate goal was always a National Championship and it all came together in the end."

Senior Midfielder Mark Hammitt

On the final result:  "Considering all the hard work we put in this year, I think we expected to be here at the end.  I think once we won that first BYU game we realized this could be something special and our confidence just grew from there.  We just wanted to complete our mission and went into every game expecting to win.  This year we decided to be a complete team and when you look at how much we hustled, how we worked for all the groundballs, and how hard we rode, that's what makes all the difference."

Senior Faceoff Specialist Brekan Kohlitz

On the team:  "I was just telling some other people that this group feels so much more like a family than a team.  To go out like this just makes it all seem perfect.  To be rewarded with all of the hard work that we put in throughout the entire season makes it so special."

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