Sports In Brief for Mar. 15, 2015
Top News of the Week
HOCKEY SWEEPS UAH AND ADVANCES TO WCHA FINAL FIVE
Michigan Tech will face Bowling Green at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., on Friday (Mar. 20) in one of two WCHA Final Five semifinal games. The Huskies advanced to the Final Five after shutting out Alabama Huntsville last weekend. Tech earned a 1-0 victory in triple overtime on Friday (Mar. 13) and a 3-0 triumph on Saturday (Mar. 14) to complete the sweep in its first home playoff series in 22 years. The Tech-Bowling Green matchup is set for 5:07 p.m. ET. Minnesota State and Ferris State will meet in Friday’s second semifinal at 8:37 p.m. ET. The Broadmoor Trophy Championship Game is set for Saturday (Mar. 21) at 7:07 p.m. ET. All three games will be televised live on Fox Sports North. Tickets are available at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by calling 800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.
PRE-FINAL FIVE ALUMNI/FAN EVENT AT THE LIFFEY
The Michigan Tech Alumni Association will host a casual gathering for Michigan Tech fans and alumni one hour prior to Michigan Tech’s Friday (Mar. 20) hockey game at the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul. The event will be held at The Liffey, across the street from Xcel Energy Center.
HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES FROM HOCKEY’S 2014-15 SEASON
• Tech is 28-8-2 and has the most wins in the country. The last time the Huskies won 28 games was 1980-81.
• Tanner Kero was named the WCHA Player of the Year last week. He is the third Husky behind Rob Murray (1971) and Mike Zuke (1976) to receive the award.
• Mel Pearson won his 71st game on Saturday to become the second winningest coach in school history. John MacInnes (555-295-39) is the leader.
• The triple overtime win on Friday over Alabama Huntsville lasted 118 minutes and 48 seconds. It was the longest game in Tech history, the second longest in WCHA history and the seventh longest in NCAA history.
• Goaltender Jamie Phillips has the most wins in the country (27), is second in goals against average (1.61), and third in save percentage (.938). He recently broke the Michigan Tech record for shutouts in a season with six.
• Tech last appeared in the WCHA Final Five in 2012—Coach Pearson’s first season on the bench. The Huskies lost to Denver in overtime.
• The Huskies have nine WCHA Tournament Titles with the last coming in 1981. That season was also the last time they appeared in the NCAA Tournament.
WOMEN’S HOOPS FINISHES 2014-15 AT 28-3
Michigan Tech was upset by Ashland in Saturday’s (Mar. 14) Midwest Regional Semifinal game. The 2014-15 Huskies compiled a 28-3 overall record with an overall GLIAC regular season title, a GLIAC North Division crown and a GLIAC Tournament Championship to their credit. Tech ranked No. 8 in the final WBCA national poll and hosted the NCAA Midwest Regional for the third time in six years (ninth time overall). The Huskies’ 28 wins tied for the fourth-most in the 40 years of the program’s history.
MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON ENDS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team qualified for the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive year in 2014-15 and finished with a 19-9 record. The Huskies were defeated by No. 15-ranked Indianapolis in the Midwest Regional Quarterfinal round in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday (Mar. 14). Tech’s men placed second in the GLIAC North Division and boasted the GLIAC and Midwest Region Player of the Year in Ben Stelzer, who finished his career with 1,755 points—seventh most all-time.
What’s Happening Next Week
Monday, Mar. 16, 2015
Mel Pearson Show, 10-11 a.m. on Mix 93.5 FM
NCAA Women’s Basketball Midwest Regional Championship
• Lewis vs. Ashland, 7 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 20, 2015
Pre-Final Five Game Party at The Liffey (St. Paul, Minn.), 4 p.m.
WCHA Final Five Semifinal: Hockey vs. Bowling Green State, 5:07 p.m. (Live TV, FSN North; Live Radio, Mix 93.5 FM)
Saturday, Mar. 21, 2015
Men’s Tennis hosts Walsh, 10 a.m.
Hockey at WCHA Final Five Championship*, 7:07 p.m. (Live TV, FSN North; Live Radio, Mix 93.5 FM)
Sunday, Mar. 22, 2015
Men’s Tennis hosts Ohio Dominican, 10 a.m.
NCAA Hockey Selection Show on ESPNU, 12 noon
All times Eastern • Home events in bold • *With win in previous round
Last Week’s Results
Hockey (28-8-2, 21-5-2 WCHA)
WCHA First Round Playoffs in Houghton, Mich.
3/13 — at No. 4 Michigan Tech 1, Alabama Huntsville 0, 3OT
3/14 — at No. 4 Michigan Tech 3, Alabama Huntsville 0
Women’s Basketball (28-3, 20-2 GLIAC)
NCAA Midwest Regional in Houghton, Mich.
3/13 — at No. 8 Michigan Tech 71, Cedarville 59
3/14 — Ashland 70, at No. 8 Michigan Tech 51
Men’s Basketball (19-9, 16-6 GLIAC)
NCAA Midwest Regional in Louisville, Ky.
3/4 — Walsh 77, at Michigan Tech 58 (GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinal)
Nordic Skiing
3/11-13 — Michigan Tech 16th at NCAA Championships (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
Track & Field
3/13-14 — Michigan Tech at Coastal Carolina Invitational (Conway, S.C.)
Men’s Tennis (1-7, 0-2 GLIAC)
All matches at Spring Tennis Fest, Hilton Head, S.C.
3/8 — Davis & Elkins 6, Michigan Tech 3
3/10 — Florida Tech 9, Michigan Tech 0
3/11 — Edinboro 7, Michigan Tech 2
3/12 — George Mason 8, Michigan Tech 1
Women’s Tennis (5-12, 4-8 GLIAC)
All matches at Spring Tennis Fest, Hilton Head, S.C.
3/8 — Michigan Tech 6, Davis & Elkins 3
3/10 — Florida Tech 9, Michigan Tech 0
3/11 — Edinboro 6, Michigan Tech 3
3/12 — George Mason 8, Michigan Tech 1
3/13 — Indiana (Pa.) 8, Michigan Tech 1