Michigan Gains Split From Miami

Saturday, October 11, 2003
Goggin Ice Arena, Oxford, Ohio

Looking to salvage a road split in their opening CCHA weekend the Wolverines got off to a fast start and took the lead early in this game. The opening goal of the game was started and finished by Henderson for the Wolverines. Henderson had dumped the puck deep into the Miami zone, but Miami moved to quickly move the puck back up the ice and out of their zone. However, Henderson continued to hound the puck and took it off the stick of a Miami defender and charged toward the goal. Henderson got off a low shot that was initially blocked, but the rebound came right back to Henderson who put it right back at the net, slipping it past the net minder for a one to nothing lead - unassisted.

Michigan would strike for their second goal of the night just over five minutes later, this time on the power play. Hunwick made a pass up the ice, through the Miami defense that Rohlfs was able to chase down. Just as the puck reached the goal line Rohlfs dove after the puck, swept it back out on goal, and somehow managed to get it past the goalie for Michigan's second goal of the night. The lone assist went to Hunwick.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan holding the two to nothing lead. However, it was the Redhawks who led in shots on goal with an eleven to ten count.

The second period would see no scoring by either team, but both teams would send a steady stream of players to the penalty box in a continuation of these two penalty filled games.

The penalties continued into the third period, though they didn't come in quite the same numbers as they did in the second. Miami would come up with their first and only goal of the game about eight minutes into the period with a shot from the slot that beat Montoya to the glove side.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of two to one. The Redhawks would end the game with a thirty-four to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal.

A much better game for the Wolverines as they played much better team defense, had much better special teams play, and of course Montoya had a much better night in goal, coming up with several incredible saves over the course of the night. It was an important win for the Wolverines as they were able to bounce back from a less than memorable game on Friday. The lessons learned this weekend should help propel Michigan into their next few weeks of play and into the remainder of the season.