As always, goalie Turco comes up big in big games

BOSTON - Ten minutes into overtime, Marty Reasoner broke in alone on Michigan goaltender Marty Turco. With the national championship on the line, Turco surprised Boston College's leading scorer and poke-checked the puck away.

Along with the poke-check on Reasoner, Turco made 28 saves on the night and was named the most outstanding player of the championship.

Turco's performance against the Eagles was nothing unexpected for the Wolverines. During his four seasons at Michigan, Turco has recorded 127 career victories, 16 more than the previous record holder, Steve Shields.

"Marty hasn't had to be a star player very often," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "But this season was his biggest test. Has he passed the test? No question. He kept us in games at the start of the season."

In the beginning of the season, Turco, along with forward Bill Muckalt, kept the Wolverines in the game on most nights and helped the young Wolverines to a second-place finish in the CCHA.

WARREN ZINN/Daily For Michigan's 10 freshmen, this end-of-the-season pose was a new one. But for the upperclassmen, it was old hat - after two national championships in three years, the outgoing seniors surpassed last year's group as Michigan's winningest class.

And as good as Turco was at the beginning of the year, he saved his best for the NCAA Tournament. After recording his record second NCAA shutout in a 4-0 victory over New Hampshire, Turco faced the biggest challenge of his career against Boston College.

But despite his credentials, Turco started out shakily against the Eagles. Late in the first period, Boston College forward Kevin Caulfield fired a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that eluded Turco and found the far side of the net.

"The first goal sucked, and he knows that," Michigan defenseman Bubba Berenzweig joked. "I was a little pissed at him, and I told him that no more of those should go in."

But after giving up the first goal, Turco surrendered a rebound goal to Eagles' forward Mike Lephart in the second period.

In the third period and in overtime, it was Turco's time to shine.

Along with stopping Reasoner on the breakaway, Turco stopped all nine of the Eagles' shots in the third period and all three shots in overtime.

WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan's fans have paid homage to Marty Turco for four years, but on Saturday,after Michigan outlasted Boston College for the second national championship of Turco's career, he returned the favor.

On two occasions during overtime, however, Turco let shots get by him. But fortunately for the Wolverines, one careened off the crossbar and the other one hit the post.

"That was pretty scary," Berenzweig said. "Especially the first one, the one off the crossbar."

But despite the fear felt by his teammates, Turco remained calm and concentrated on doing his job.

"I'm not going to sit there and ponder about it when the puck hits the crossbar," Turco said. "The puck's still in the zone and I've still got hockey to play. My career isn't over at that point."

Marty Turco's importance to the team goes beyond his play in the net. In the lockerroom after the third period, Turco was joking around and his confidence gave the team confidence.

"The amazing thing about Marty Turco is that he's always cool," backup goaltender Gregg Malicke said. "No matter what happens, he's so calm and in control. When we were going into overtime, I was biting my nails - I was so nervous - and I looked over at Marty and he was joking around."

"I just think he's a great college goalie," Berenson said. "He gives a coach confidence. Coming into this game tonight I said, 'I don't think our team is as good as Boston College, but we've got the goalie we want in this game.'

"But if it comes down to goaltending, as it usually does in a close game, I'll take Marty Turco."

04-06-98