Despite losing GLI, 'M' leads conference

At the beginning of the season, Michigan captain Matt Herr warned that the Wolverines could lose 10 games in the first half of the season.

Fortunately, Herr's concerns haven't become reality.

After winning five of six games and all four CCHA contests since classes ended, the Wolverines are 17-4-1 (11-2-1 in the CCHA) and find themselves alone in first place in the CCHA.

With the five victories, Michigan goaltender Marty Turco tied former Michigan netminder Steve Shields' NCAA record of 111 career victories.

Turco tied the record Saturday night by shutting out Ohio State in a 6-0 Michigan victory.

MALLORY S.E. FLOYD/Daily For the first time in 10 years, the Wolverines are not champions of the Great Lakes Invitational. Michigan State won the tournament at Joe Louis Arena this year by beating Michigan in the championship game, 5-3. The Wolverines are, however, in a familiar position within their conference - at the top of the standings. Michigan has won 11 of 14 CCHA games and is in sole possession of first place in the league.

"The shutout makes it that much more special," Turco said. "But I'll think about it tonight, and I'll wake up in the morning and it's right back at it next weekend."

The Wolverines got on the board early during the power play, when Michigan forward Bill Muckalt blasted a shot from the point past Ohio State netminder Jeff Maund only one minute into the contest.

After Michigan took a 3-0 lead early in the second period on goals from Bubba Berenzweig and Bobby Hayes, the game turned ugly. Michigan spent much of the second on the power play.

The Wolverines capitalized on their opportunities, getting power-play goals from Muckalt and Herr to put the game away.

"The Buckeyes took themselves out of the game with the penalties," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.

Friday night's contest against the Buckeyes wasn't as easy. The Wolverines got a late goal from Sean Ritchlin and an empty net goal from Matt Herr to earn a hard-fought 4-2 victory.

After a scoreless first period, the Wolverines scored first early in the second when Bobby Hayes tallied a goal on a breakaway.

The Buckeyes came back 2 1/2 minutes later when Ohio State forward Todd Compeau scored on a rebound to tie the game.

After a goal by Josh Langfeld midway through the period, the Wolverines took a 2-1 lead into the third.

But Ohio State tied the game midway through the final period when Ryan Root beat Turco five-hole with a soft shot from the left faceoff dot.

Michigan took the lead for good at the 16:40 mark when Sean Ritchlin took a pass from Muckalt and beat Maund up high with a backhand shot.

For Ritchlin, the goal was especially big because it came in his first game back after being a healthy scratch in the previous three contests.

"I was so excited to play today, I was like a little kid out there," Ritchlin said. "I absolutely had a great time - it helps to score the game-winning goal, too."

The Wolverines suffered their only loss over the break in the Great Lakes Invitational after dominating it the past nine years. The Wolverines failed in their attempt to win an unprecedented 10th straight GLI title, losing in the championship game, 5-3, to Michigan State.

Michigan jumped out to an early 1-0 lead 25 seconds into the game, when Bobby Hayes slammed a rebound off a Bill Muckalt shot past Michigan State netminder Chad Alban.

Later in the period, the Wolverines had a chance to extend their lead to two goals when Michigan State's Brad Hodgins was called for a five-minute major for checking from behind, but the Wolverines couldn't capitalize.

"Penalties are always a factor in the game," Berenson said. "And this time it was a major penalty that we needed to take advantage of."

Just after the penalty expired, Michigan State forward Curtis Gemmel, who had been serving the penalty for Hodgins, stepped out of the penalty box, took a pass from Rustyn Dolyny and skated in alone on Turco. Gemmel beat Turco for his first goal of the season.

The Spartans took the lead less than a minute and a half later when Sean Berens scored off a rebound.

Early in the second period, Michigan tied the score at two when Muckalt one-timed a pass from Hayes past a sprawling Alban.

But the Spartans responded with two goals in two minutes - both from defenseman Mike Weaver - the first of which came only 32 seconds after Muckalt had tied the score.

Muckalt pulled the Wolverines to within one midway through the second period when he blasted a shot from the faceoff into the top corner of the net.

Midway through the third period the Wolverines appeared to tie the game, but Greg Crozier was ruled to have kicked the puck into the net, and the goal was disallowed.

Michigan State added an insurance goal by Andrew Bogle to make the final 5-3, ending the Wolverines' streak of GLI titles.

"It's frustrating to be on the other end of it," Muckalt said. "I guess it had to end sometime, but I'm extremely disappointed that it ended this year."

In their first round game, the Wolverines defeated a surprisingly tough St. Lawrence team, 3-2.

Michigan outshot the Saints, 47-17, but needed a late goal by Josh Langfeld for the victory.

Troy Kahler and Chris Fox also scored for the Wolverines.

In two games before the GLI, the Wolverines defeated Western Michigan 4-3 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids and 4-1 at home.

In the first game, Michigan took a 2-0 lead on goals by Langfeld and Andrew Merrick. But Western came back to tie it on two goals by defenseman Joe Corvo.

Michigan answered with a goal each from Muckalt and Herr and hung on for the 4-3 victory.

In the second game, the Wolverines cruised to a 4-1 victory, getting goals from Mark Kosick, Herr, Dale Rominski and Geoff Koch.

01-07-98