Michigan sweeps aside Western Michigan

Michigan seniors (top) Morgan Ward, David Rohlfs, Tim Cook, Mike Mayhew and (kneeling) Jason Dest, Matt Hunwick and T.J. Hensick after last Saturday's home finale at Yost Ice Arena.

(Photo by Eric Bronson, Wolverine Photo)

Michigan wrapped up the home portion of their schedule last Saturday on Senior Night with a 3-1 win over Western Michigan to complete a home-and-home set with the Broncos.

Jack Johnson, David Rohlfs and Chris Summers (first NCAA goal) tallied for the Wolverines and goalie Billy Sauer stopped 19 shots for the win in net.

Mark Letestu scored WMU's lone goal and Riley Gill stopped 42 shots in the loss.

"It is fitting that David Rohlfs, a senior, would score the winning goal," U-M head coach Red Berenson said. "We have gone through games now where we have scored five, six, seven, or nine goals in games, and then we are in a game like tonight where it was a one-goal game. It was a good game. Western Michigan played well, and we played well. They scored a big shorthanded goal, and we scored a big short-handed goal."

The previous night, U-M took a 7-4 win at Lawson Ice Arena.

Brandon Naurato scored a power-play goal at 11:22 of the second period, jumpstarting a key run for the Wolverines. With the game tied 2-2 after the first period, Michigan took charge with three unanswered goals, as Naurato's score was followed by tallies from T.J. Hensick and Johnson. Hensick added a second goal in the third period and U-M hung on for the win.

Andrew Cogliano, Travis Turnbull and Jason Dest scored Michigan's other goals and Sauer finished with 20 saves.

For the Broncos, Paul Szczechura scored twice and Jason Moul and Letestu added the other pair. Daniel Bellissimo turned aside 29 shots for WMU.

Michigan (21-9-0, 16-6-0 CCHA) travels to Bowling Green on Friday and will then face Michigan State at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Saturday. Western Michigan (12-15-1, 9-12-1 CCHA) hosts Alaska Friday and Saturday.