Michigan Beats Arizona State, Claims Third Straight National Title
By Tim Haslam
(Photo Credit Ben Haslam)
Commerce City, Colorado (May 15, 2010) – No. 1 Michigan won it’s third straight MCLA Division I National Championship on Saturday after beating No. 3 Arizona State 12-11 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Although Michigan has dominated the MCLA for the past three years, Michigan Head Coach John Paul admits this year was different.
“This year was a struggle for us,” said Paul. “This year things weren’t coming quite as easily as they had in the last two years and we really had to work in a lot of games this year. ”
The National Championship game was no different. Arizona State didn’t give up and played the Wolverines tightly the whole game, never trailing by more than 3 goals.
Arizona State attackmen AJ Redford open the scoring just 46 seconds into the game. Two minutes later Michigan scored to level the game and then took the lead 39 seconds later when Trevor Yealy found the back of the net. Both teams had long possessions that lead to good shots, but even better saves from the goalies. Arizona State broke through with 5:21 left on a Tyler Westfall goal. Michigan won the ensuing face off and took it and scored a quick goal to even the score at 3. Arizona State scored two more goals and Michigan added one with 7.7 seconds remaining in the first quarter, ending the quarter with a score of 5-4 in favor of the Sun Devils.
The second quarter was a defensive quarter as only Michigan scored two goals and Arizona State was held scoreless, giving the Wolverines a one goal lead at halftime.
Arizona State started the second half the same way they started the first half – by scoring a quick goal off the face-off which tied the score at 6. Michigan scored two more goals before Arizona State capitalized on two Michigan penalties. Michigan would score once more before the end of the quarter to make the score 9-7.
Yealy opened scoring in the fourth quarter and gave Michigan their biggest lead of the night at three goals. Arizona State went on a two goal run in the middle of the fourth to bring the game within one, but Michigan answered with their own two goal run to extend the lead again to three.
Arizona State called a timeout with 4 minutes left in the game but failed to produce a goal, giving Michigan the opportunity to waste time. However, Michigan committed two penalties at the 2 minute mark which allowed Tyler Westfall to score and cut the lead to two.
Michigan won the ensuing face off and got it into their own box to waste time. After calling a timeout, Michigan attackmen Kevin Zorovich rolled the ball out of bounds on a pass that was intended for a helping attackmen. Arizona State threw the ball down the field and was able to get a goal with 8 seconds left when Tyler Westfall cut across the crease, caught the ball, dove and shot it past Michigan goalie Mark Stone. Michigan won the ensuing face off but threw the ball out of bounds near the box, giving Arizona State one more chance for a goal. Arizona State midfielder Ryan Westfall wound up when the whistle blew and threw the ball toward the cage. An Arizona State player caught it but his shot went wide as time expired, giving the Wolverines the win.
“This team just will not be denied,” said Paul. “We had so many close games. When they need to dig deep, they dig deep, everyone of them.”
Michigan finished the season with a 19-1 record including CCLA playoffs and the MCLA Tournament.
