4/8/00 – After the 7^th Ranked Michigan men’s lacrosse team swept 3 ranked opponents last weekend, they knew they had some unfinished business with #8 Tennessee coming to town. Last weekend’s accomplishments would quickly be forgotten if the Volunteers caught the Wolverines resting on their laurels. Any concerns were quickly laid to rest as Michigan showed once again that they will be a team to be reckoned with as tournament time approaches. Jeff Hadwin’s (Vestal, NY/Vestal HS) 5 goals led the Wolverines to a 16-8 victory.

Tennessee got on the board first as sophomore sensation Jason Lewin beat his defender and the slide and rifled one past Michigan goalie Josh Charm (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS). It was the only lead the Vols would have all day, however, as the Wolverines reeled off the next three. Hadwin scored first to tie it up on a beautiful Dave Bernard (Litchfield, CT/Westminster HS) drive and feed. Tom Burns (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Brother Rice HS) then found a cutting Pierce Davis (Wellesley, MA/Wellesley HS) who beat Tennessee goalie Joe Weatherly to put Michigan up 2-1. Hadwin’s second and third of the game, along with one Tennessee goal off a man-up opportunity, made the score 4-2 after one.

The Wolverines extended their lead to three 5:10 into the 2^nd quarter on a Bernard bullet that found the corner. Michigan leading scorer Adam Denenberg (Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion HS) then got on track with his first of four goals when he beat Weatherly after a costly Tennessee turnover on a clear attempt. Clears turned out to be a major factor in the game as the Vols continually had trouble with the Michigan ride. The gritty Michigan attack constantly harassed the Tennessee longsticks, limiting them to only 19 clears in 43 attempts. The two teams traded goals before the end of the half, to make the score 7-3 after two.

Tennessee made a run at the Wolverines in the 3^rd, outscoring Michigan 4-2 and cutting the lead to 9-7 with a Kirk Barkely goal with only 1 second to go. Unfortunately, they lost Weatherly about halfway through the quarter to a knee injury when he took a hit from Kevin Keenan (Bloomfield, MI/Seaholm HS) as they both fought for a loose ball along the sidelines. Attackman and occasional goalie Nate Tutt, who shut down the Wolverines in St. Louis last year, stepped in to take his place.

The Michigan ride once again proved critical early in the 4^th as Hadwin knocked down a clearing pass and found Dan Jerneycic (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Univ. of Detroit Jesuit HS) who slipped a left-handed quick-stick past Tutt to go up by three. Tennessee cut the lead back to two 1:18 later on an Andy Frick goal, but it would prove to be their last of the game. The Wolverines blew it open on a Davis goal, then three straight from Denenberg, all unassisted. Michigan head coach John Paul cleared the bench with four minutes to go as the Wolverines cruised to the 16-8 win.

Michigan faces Division II varsity Northwood this Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in Midland.

Assists: UM – 9 (Burns T. 2, Denenberg 2, Hadwin 2, Jerneycic 1, Davis 1, Bernard 1)
UT – 4 (Tutt 1, Lewin 1, Mahshie 1, Muir 1)

Saves: UM – 13 (Charm 13)
UT – 18 (Weatherly 11, Tutt 7)

Face Offs: UM 17 (Keenan 7/13, Davis 6/9, Tucker 3/3, Marchena 1/ 2)
UT 10

Ground Balls: UM 47 (Davis 9, DiCamillo 5, Deutch 5, Denenberg 4, Gregor 4, Marchena 4, Burns T. 3, Keenan 3, Kim 3, Hadwin 2, Tucker 2, Jerneycic 1, Herbst 1, DeLamarter 1, Willis 1, Martus 1)
UT 34

Shots: UM 46 (Denenberg 13, Hadwin 7, Jerneycic 5, Burns T. 4, Herbst 4, Davis 3, Bernard 2, Willis 2, Vilardo 2, Marchena 1, DiCamillo 1, Martus 1)
UT 25

Clears: UM 31/41
UT 19/43

Extra-man: UM 3/5
UT 1/6

Officials: Rob Quinn, Dana Friend, Roger Pattie

Attendance: 249