Tech Falls to Michigan 4-2 in GLI Championship Game
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Michigan (10-4-3) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
|
Michigan Tech (12-6-2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
DETROIT – Jake Jackson and Brent Baltus scored first-period goals to give Michigan Tech an early 2-0 lead, but Michigan rallied and eventually knocked off the Huskies 4-2 in the 51st annual Great Lakes Invitational championship game tonight (Dec. 30) at Joe Louis Arena.
"It was three games in one tonight," said head coach Mel Pearson. "We got off to a good start but we never felt comfortable. Obviously the second was their game and then the third I thought we came out, pushed the pace and drew some penalties but we couldn't get the bounce we needed."
Jackson started the scoring just 2:55 into the contest when he sent a laser past Michigan goaltender Steve Racine. After a great play to exit the defensive zone, Jackson took a pass from Dylan Steman, burned a Michigan defender wide and put a wrister just under the crossbar for his first goal as a Husky.
Baltus doubled the Tech lead at 14:21 of the first with a power-play marker from the edge of the crease. Two great passes on the man-advantage opened up space for Mark Auk, who settled the puck and put a hard shot towards the net. Batlus, who was posted up in front, got a stick on it and knocked the shot home for a 2-0 Tech lead.
The Wolverines countered with three second-period goals and sealed the victory with an empty-netter in the final minute of the game.
Jamie Phillips started for Tech and made 18 saves. Reid Sturos, Matt Roy and Dylan Steman all had single assists in the contest.
Michigan Tech (11-7-2 overall; 9-6-1 WCHA) is off until Jan. 8 and 10 when it travels to Arizona for the Desert Hockey Classic. The Huskies will play Connecticut in the semifinals on Jan. 8 before playing either Arizona State of Yale on Jan. 10.
NOTES: Baltus and Auk were named to the GLI All-Tournament Team … Michigan Tech outshot Michigan 29-22 … The Huskies were 1-for-3 on the power play while the Wolverines scored once in their three tries … The title game matchup was the 10th all-time meeting between MTU and U-M in the GLI championship game.
