WMU gets split with Wolverines

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan Beat Writer

Each team won in the other's building as Michigan and Western Michigan split their home-and-home series this past weekend.

Friday night, WMU upset the No. 8 Wolverines with a 2-1 win at Yost Ice Arena.

Carl Hagelin gave UM a 1-0 lead going into the third period, but Ian Slater and Kevin Connauton scored in the final 20 minutes to shoot the Broncos to victory.

"You do not want to say that Western Michigan's goal were unearned goals," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "They won the faceoff on the first one, but to score so easily, that was tough. We worked so hard to get one goal, and then it was a one-goal lead going into the third period. I thought we were playing okay, and then during the first five minutes of the third period we were not playing well, and then we got a couple of chances, but then Western came down and scored too easily.

"Goals against are so precious. You know that all these games are going to be close games. There is not much difference between these teams, so you just can't give up goals that easily."

Riley Gill earned the win in net with 33 saves, while Billy Sauer made 15 stops for the Wolverines (8-4-0, 5-3-0-0 CCHA).

Last night in Kalamazoo, Louie Caporusso's natural hat trick in the third period led UM to a 5-0 shutout and the series split.

David Wohlberg and Tim Miller also scored, Aaron Palushaj tacked on three assists and Brandon Burlon a pair to back Bryan Hogan's 20-save outing.

"The team played very well in front of me," said Hogan. "Again, they made it easy for me. I just had to make one or two big stops to keep us in it. We were already ahead, but it makes it easier for the team to play with a bigger lead. I have to thank the team a lot for getting me my first shutout. They definitely made it easy. It's nice to get that first shutout out of the way so I can get the jinx out."

Gill stopped 20 shots for WMU.

Michigan takes on Miami on the road next weekend, while the Broncos (2-7-3, 1-4-3-1 CCHA) are idle before heading to Notre Dame the weekend after Thanksgiving.