ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source)-In a lopsided NCAA Tournament opener for the University of Michigan hockey team over Colgate, the Wolverines scored 11 goals which is the most in a NCAA Tournament game since 1961 and the most goals ever in Regional game.
Freshman Adam Fantilli says, “In the second period we really found our stride after we weren’t happy with ourselves in the first period.”
After a 1-0 lead for the Wolverines in the first period, they erupted for seven goals in the second period and an 8-0 lead. Five of the seven goals came in a five-minute time frame as seven different players scored.
“We had a plan in the first period and I thought it was a good period going back and forth. We didn’t get enough pucks behind them. Once we started getting pucks behind them and feeding our four check and our ozones, things happened and guys got confidence from it and just kept going,” said interim head coach Brandon Naurato.
Rutger McGroarty led the team with a hat trick scoring one in the second and two in the third on power plays. Luke Hughes recorded five points on the night with a goal and four assists as 16 of the 19 Wolverines recorded a point.
Nick Granowicz put Michigan on the board first in the first period at 9:40 for the 1-0 lead. It was Eric Ciccolini that started the scoring spree in the second period on a power play at 7:33. Adam Fantilli (8:18), Frank Nazar III (11:06), Mark Estapa (11:36), and McGroarty (12:31) had the five goals in the five-minute span with two within 30 seconds of each other. Gavin Brindley added the sixth goal at 15:49 and then Hughes scored a short handed goal at 16:54 for the 8-0 lead.
Colgates’ lone goal came at 3:03 in the third period. Michigan added three more goals in the third on power plays with two from McGroarty (10:17, 12:52) with the other from Dylan Duke (10:33).
Michigan will now take on Big Ten foe Penn State in the Midwest Regional final on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN 2 for the right to go to the Frozen Four.
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