Monday, October 29, 2007

Michigan Tech and No. 1 UND split

By Andy Bourdeau / Michigan Tech Beat Writer

Michigan Tech
(4-2-0, 3-1-0) has been improving, which has been evident with last season's finish and this season's start, but few would have thought the wins would continue over a team ranked No. 1 in the nation.

On Friday, the Huskies managed a 3-1 win over North Dakota, lead by the man in the pipes, Michael Lee Teslak. This is the Huskies first victory over a top-ranked team since 2005, when they beat Wisconsin.

The Huskies received goals from Bennet Royer, Drew Dobson and Jimmy Kerr on their way to the 3-1 victory Friday night. The game was played in front of 2,650 people, but the atmosphere and noise had a feeling as if it were sold out. They watched the home team put together the best game of the year, if not of the past three years.

The Huskies matched the intensity of the Fighting Sioux and were able to get the bounces their way and get a huge upset.

Teslak (left) made 26 saves on 27 shots and was absolutely phenomenal in net, stopping nearly everything the Sioux could send his way.

Royer started the scoring, in the second when Jordan Baker sent a pass across the crease, to Royer, who had a look at an empty net and did not disappoint. UND tied it before the second intermission on a rebound that Teslak could not control.

Dobson's goal came in the fifth minute of the third, when he threw a high shot at the goal that somehow made it through. UND pulled the goalie and generated some good chances, but could not get the equalizer.

Jordan Foote took a rebound out of the zone and found Kerr, who skated in on the empty net and put the game away.

Saturday was a different story, as UND fought back for the split in convincing fashion, 6-0 over the Huskies. Both teams played most of the game on special teams, but it was MTU on the wrong side at the end.

Tech had a few chances early in the game, but could not capitalize on any. Baker had the best chance when he found himself on the receiving end of a centering pass, only to hit the post on the redirection.

Rob Nolan started in net, but was not able to come up with the big saves we have seen all year. He did not return when the players came to the ice in the third.

T.J. Oshie had a hat trick for UND and showed why they have one of the best offenses in the nation.

Michigan Tech will make their first road trip of the year, to a very good Wisconsin team, this weekend.

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