In surprising style, hockey captures second national title in three tries

BOSTON - With the score deadlocked at two goals apiece between Michigan and Boston College in the NCAA Championship game, Michigan assistant coach Mel Pearson approached the dry-erase board hanging on the wall and scrawled two words - déjà vu.

Pearson was referring to the 1996 title game, in which forward Brendan Morrison scored a goal in overtime to give the Wolverines a 3-2 victory over Colorado College.

Heeding the coach's words, Michigan forward Josh Langfeld went out and fulfilled Pearson's prophecy by scoring a goal with 2:09 left in overtime to give the Wolverines another 3-2 victory and their ninth NCAA Championship in school history on April 4 at the FleetCenter in Boston.

WARREN ZINN/Daily After Josh Langfeld scored the title-winning goal in overtime, Michigan returned to a familiar position with its favorite possession - the NCAA championship trophy.

Deja vu - all over again.

"When we finally won it (in 1996), it was a monkey off everyone's back at Michigan," Berenson said. "This game, we shouldn't have been here, we shouldn't have won - yet we did. And it's an even greater feeling."

Langfeld's goal was set up by a pass from Michigan defenseman Chris Fox, who sent the puck from the left corner of the rink. Langfeld then wristed a low shot that slipped by Boston College goaltender Scott Clemmensen. The goal almost didn't happen, with the Eagles (27-9-5) almost scoring on several occasions during overtime, including two pipe-knocking shots on the net.

"If a few bounces would have gone our way it would have been a different game," Boston College forward Marty Reasoner said. "Sometimes you don't get those bounces."

Although the victory eerily reminded many of Michigan's championship victory in 1996, this past season's Wolverines are far from similar.

While that team was led by seasoned veterans, the 1997-98 Michigan (34-11-1) hockey team was best characterized by youthful exuberance - and on Saturday night, it showed.

Michigan's three goals were scored by freshmen, on a night when seniors like captain Matt Herr and assistant captain Bill Muckalt were bottled up by the Boston College defense.

"This team is something special," Herr said. "This was a total team effort. Billy and I didn't score a goal tonight - everybody else did. That's what wins championships - great teamwork."

In the championship game, it was a combination of strong play by Michigan's freshmen forwards, like Mark Kosick and Langfeld, as well as superb goaltending by senior Marty Turco that pushed the Wolverines to victory.

Turco, named the most outstanding player of the NCAA Tournament, kept the Wolverines in the contest allowing their offense to take time to get on track.

WARREN ZINN/Daily Forward Mark Kosick scored Michigan's first two goals in the NCAA championship game in Boston, setting up Josh Langfeld's game-winning shot in overtime.

After falling behind 1-0 after the opening period, Michigan finally broke through in the second when center Kosick evened the score for the Wolverines. Kosick banged away at a Bubba Berenzweig rebound and deflected the puck off Clemmensen's mask - after the netminder went down to block Berenzweig's initial shot.

After Michigan's score, it was Turco who took over for the Wolverines, as the goaltender virtually stood on his head to keep the score tied at one.

On two particular occasions, Turco erased mistakes by his blueliners on what should have been go-ahead goals for the Eagles. But even Turco could not thwart Boston College's final scoring chance of the second period.

Holding the man-advantage after a hitting-from-behind penalty on Herr, Boston College's Bobby Allen faked a shot, freezing Michigan's defense before sending the puck on net.

Teammate Jeff Farkas then intercepted Allen's shot and flipped the puck toward forward Mike Lephart, who put it past Turco for a 2-1 lead.

It wasn't until late in the third that Michigan would even things up again, with Kosick stepping up again for the Wolverines with a rebound shot. This time, Fox sent a puck goal-bound, which was redirected by Muckalt. Stopped by Clemmensen, the puck came out to Kosick, who again took advantage of being in the right place at the right time, knotting the game at two.

"Mark Kosick showed a lot of resilience for a young kid," Pearson said. "Coming in and playing at this level - I give that kid full marks."

Early on, the Eagles were quick to take advantage of the decided home-ice edge, scoring roughly five minutes into the first period.

Boston College set the tempo from the outset, utilizing its speed to get up the ice and pass Michigan's defense.

One such effort materialized into a goal for the Eagles, when Boston College forward Kevin Caulfield flew up the right side of the ice along the boards.

Caulfield received a pass from teammate Mike Mottau and fired a slapshot from the right face-off dot past the right leg of Turco. The score electrified the crowd and put the Eagles up early, 1-0.

09-08-98