March 20, 2010

Photo Gallery

Final Stats

By Drew Davis

DETROIT, Mich. - No. 2 Miami started slow, then tried to rally, but No. 17 Michigan ruled the third period during a 5-2 Wolverine victory in the semifinals of the CCHA Tournament Friday night at Joe Lewis Arena. Tommy Wingels and Trent Vogelhuber tallied goals for the RedHawks, who now face Ferris State in the third-place game tomorrow afternoon at 3:35 p.m.

Michigan, desparate for a victory to extend its season into the NCAA Tournament, scored first to take a 1-0 lead at 8:50 of the first period. The Wolverines extended the lead to 2-0 at 5:13 of the second period.

Forward Tommy Wingels got the RedHawks on the board at 16:55 of the second period, narrowing the Wolverine lead to 2-1. The junior captain took a pass from classmate Pat Cannone in neutral ice and carried it ahead on a 2-on-1 break. Just inside the right faceoff circle, Wingels shot a wrister past Michigan goaltender Shawn Hunrick.

The RedHawks went into the second intermission down one with momentum swinging in their favor, but Michigan quickly got the fans back into the game with a power play goal at 2:49 of the third period.

The Wolverines tacked on two more at 5:34 and 7:17 of the third period before junior Trent Vogelhuber added a power-play goal at 17:37 to conclude the scoring. Sophomore Chris Wideman and junior Any Miele assisted on the play. Vogelhuber positioned himself to set a screen in front of the net. Wideman sent a shot in that Vogelhuber settled and spun to beat Hunrick.

With Denver and Wisconsin both falling in the WCHA Tournament semifinals on Friday, Miami will likely still be a No. 1 seed when the NCAA Tournament field is announced Sunday.

"Things happen for a reason," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "You've got to learn from them." Wingels echoed the sentiments, "You have to regroup. This will refocus us, get us focused on the national tournament now."

Up-to-the-minute details on Saturday's game action are available at the MURedHawks.com live blog.