By Michael Florek, Daily Sports Writer
Published January 23, 2010
BIG RAPIDS -- This weekend could've been Michigan’s opportunity.
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After a 2-0 win over No. 9 Ferris State on Friday night at Yost, the Wolverines traveled to Big Rapids looking for the sweep and three valuable points in the conference standings that could bring them into sole possession of fourth place.
But the Wolverines missed another opportunity, losing 3-2.
And that wasn't the only missed opportunity that Michigan had. In the first period, Ferris State’s Casey Haines drove down the left wing while the Bulldogs were shorthanded and let go of a wrist shot. Junior goaltender Bryan Hogan, who was square to the shooter, missed the puck as it went in between his left pad and his glove.
Despite not scoring the first goal, the Wolverines came back, just as they did against Alaska a week ago.
Midway through the second period, with Michigan on the power play, freshman A.J. Treais sent a pass across the crease that was deflected. The rolling puck found its intended target on the backdoor, however, and sophomore David Wohlberg banged it into the net.
But unlike last weekend, the Wolverines were not able to push this game into overtime and a shootout.
Bulldog defensemen deked around one Wolverine and shot a wrist shot on frozen rope into the top corner. Hogan pleaded his case, saying that he was interfered with in front. The referees went to review the goal and while Hogan was slightly bumped into in front, he was outside of the crease and the officials decided to uphold the goal.
The Wolverines had some chances to tie up the game and they took advantage as much as they could. With just over two and a half minutes left to play, an interference call gave Michigan its ninth power play of the game. A shot by Wohlberg was tipped past Bulldog goalie Pat Nagle to tie the game with just two minutes remaining.
All the momentum gained from that goal was snuffed out just 14 seconds later when senior Steve Kampfer took a holding penalty. With just 24 seconds remaining in the game, a shot from the point found its way through a screen and trickled past Hogan, costing Michigan the game and an important point in the standings.
Check back Monday for full coverage of Michigan’s home-and-home split with Ferris State.
