Grizzlies advance to semi-finals

OU knocks off UMD with ease

By Brittany Ochtinsky
Contributing Reporter

Some would call it luck that the University of Michigan-Dearborn upset second-seeded Ohio in double overtime on Wednesday. Others would call it luck that the Wolves came down with a case of food poisoning later that night. But the Golden Grizzlies had one goal in mind -- to make it to the semi-finals on Saturday -- and it drove them to the net five times en route to a 5-1 victory.

The two teams were no strangers coming into the tournament. They had met three times in the regular season, with Oakland winning the first two in overtime and the Wolves taking advantage of a worn-down Grizzlies' roster over Thanksgiving weekend.

But the Grizzlies had come so far since that last meeting and with the Championship game three days away, there was no time to dwell in the past.

Tim Michaels matched his goal total for the season when he netted a pair in the opening period. He capitalized twice on the power play, firing shots from the point.

"I got a new stick before the game, actually," said Michaels. "I think it gave me confidence. Normally during a game, I didn't shoot the puck a lot, I was looking for passes. I finally had the confidence to shoot the puck when I had it."

Jeff Einheuser also scored for the Grizzlies in the first period, which stood as the game-winning goal.

"Basically, it was just hard work on our line. We got it deep, Bertolo had the patience and I got the one-timer," said Einheuser. "It didn't hit me until after the game that I scored a goal that meant something. It means a lot when you're out there, but it means a lot more after the game, knowing you helped your team win the game."

The Wolves tried to get back in the game in the third period with a goal from Jason Vella, but the Grizzlies distanced themselves yet again when Garrett Kondratek struck on the power play.

"The power play is really moving, it's really going along great," said Head Coach Sean Hogan. "Finally! I guess all the complaining we did all year long is paying off. We constantly practiced it and we know what we're supposed to do. I'm just glad it's coming together now. I guess it doesn't really matter until you get here anyway."

With over three minutes to play, UMD pulled their goalie in hopes of sparking some offense but instead surrendered an empty-net goal to Will McMahon, which was only his second of the tournament.

As the teams had met three times over the course of the regular season, they knew the players to key in on, McMahon for Oakland and Steve Rademacher on UMD. The Grizzlies held Rademacher off the scoresheet, while all McMahon could manage was an empty-netter.

"We were obviously pretty fortunate to play U of M Dearborn instead of Ohio, and we were also fortunate they were pretty sick," said Hogan. "We came out with a mission, we weren't about to lose to U of M Dearborn and it showed."