Release

Second Half Comeback Secures Second Straight Title

May 16, 2009

Notes

● Junior faceoff specialist David Reinhard (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) finished 11 of 25 and scooped up a team-high 8 groundballs to increase his team lead to 211, which is a Michigan single-season record.

● Zorovich and Rogers led the team with three goals each.

● This was the first hat-trick for Rogers, who scored all of his goals

● A total of 7 Wolverines scored in the contest.

● Michigan improves to 3-0 all-time vs. Chapman. Two of those wins have come in the MCLA national championship game (2008 and 2009).

● Michigan took fewer shots, collected fewer ground balls and lost the faceoff battle for the first time this season.

● The Wolverines held Chapman's potent extra-man unit to only one goal on five attempts.

● Sophomore goaltender Andrew Fowler (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Hotchkiss, CT) played the entire game and recorded a career-high 15 saves, including 12 in the pivotal second half.

● The Wolverines increased their MCLA record win-streak to 40 straight games.

● Tonight's game was broadcast live on Fox College Sports and will be replayed several times throughout the summer. It was the third time this season that the Wolverines have been on national television.

QUOTES

Head Coach John Paul

On his general impressions: "This was eerily similar to February's game out in California, and I think that relaxed us a bit going into the locker room at halftime. We came back in a much harsher environment last time, and the guys knew it was just a matter of executing some fundamental things better that we usually execute. I told the team at halftime to break it down into five minute segments. We won the first two segments 2-1, and we were back in it from there."

On the success of the zone defense: "We went into the same zone in February under very similar circumstances, and had a very similar result. I don't think coming out in man-to-man was a bad call, but just like the last game our defense was under so much pressure early because we weren't executing on offense or controlling the possession battles. I was worried that they would have a good adjustment for the zone this time, but obviously it made a difference."

On staying with Fowler for the entire game: "We came very close to making a change at halftime, but we knew he was still very confident, and that was key. His head wasn't down, and he seemed like he was giving off the vibe that he wanted to keep going to prove he could play better. We would have been quick to pull him if he came back out and struggled, but he played tremendously in the second half."

On the scoring trends in the game: "There was so much in the first half that wasn't going our way. We hit a couple of pipes, and Yealy got stoned once right on the crease, which never happens. We felt like we could get it going if we were a little smarter with our offensive chances. We were rushing things. If we could have smarter possessions, and start doing a better job limiting their possessions, we felt like the tide could turn."

On the Chapman ride: "They were pressuring up a lot, and we made a few mistakes on our substitutions that hurt us. A few times we were late finding the open guy under pressure. We got it settled once we understand where the open man was, but overall they were pressuring and riding much harder than they did the last time we played."

On the big picture and the streak: "We made a big culture change last year, and we brought Ken Broschart on board, and both of those things have made huge impacts on our success. We demand so much from our guys, and they really respond. They take pride in the fact that they win by outworking everyone else in the off-season and in practice. The old Michigan saying, 'Those who stay will be champions' is a driving theme for us."

Senior captain Zach Elyachar

On his impressions of the game: "They came flying out in the first half and got a couple of quick goals. I don't think we were nervous, I think they just played a little better than us early on, and we weren't getting the kind of possessions we usually get. They were outworking us on the little things, and that completely changed in the second half. Coach told us to break it down into sections and we did that. We won those sections and we won the game. We buckled down on defense and started to put the ball into the back of the net."

On the program: "After the Northeastern loss a couple of years ago this entire program made some big changes. The players completely recommitted themselves and we changed our mindset on how we wanted to treat this team. Coach changed the way we operated, we brought in Kenny, and we continued to bring in solid talent. All of those things combined helped us get to where we are now."

Senior captain Riley Kearns

On the offense: "We weren't getting dominated or anything early on. We hit a couple of posts and that goalie came up with some big saves. When we were down at the half, we knew we had done this before and if we stuck with our game-plan and executed it the way we we're capable of, we knew we'd be fine."

On the mindset of this offensive unit: "I remember being on the side-line during that Northeastern loss and it was terrible not being able to help. Coming back the next year with a new dedication, bolstering the staff, and taking our practice and workouts to a new level; the entire attitude changed around here. That attitude is what brought us back-to-back National Championships."

Junior captain David Rogers

On the game in general: "That was the most amazing comeback I've ever experienced. It was a total team effort from all the guys. The defense was unbelievable in the second half, and Fowler really stood on his head and saved us. They were hot tonight, but we knew we would outwork them in the end. Focusing on the five-minute sections really helped us."

On the the team's work ethic: "I take a lot of pride in running down the field with a guy in the fourth quarter and knowing he's bent over and can't breathe anymore. People say we're a second half team, but we're also a first half team. But you can really take something from the fact that we work so hard and we do so much conditioning. It doesn't matter what the half-time score is when we're out there playing because you know you're going to be able to out hustle them and out-work them in the second half."

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