Cornell skates by Wolverines in overtime

By Bob Miller/Michigan Beat Writer

Michigan tempted the overtime gods one too many times.

After coming out on the positive end of overtime wins against Notre Dame and Bowling Green in the CCHA championship tourney, first-seeded Michigan's season ended 3:35 into the first overtime period in upset fashion against fourth-seeded Cornell, 3-2, in the semifinal round of the NCAA Midwest Regional Friday night in Green Bay, Wis.

Kevin Lynch had knotted the game for the No. 2 overall Wolverines with only 4:01 left in the third period. Captain Luke Glendening opened the game's scoring when he gave Michigan a short-lived 1-0 lead only 1:10 into the first period.

“I liked the way our team started,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “The goal that was disallowed was obviously a factor in the game. I was wondering why it was being reviewed. Give Cornell credit, they got back in the game.”

Michigan thought it had a 2-0 lead early in the first period, but the goal was disallowed and Cornell turned the tide of momentum from that point.

"We had a strong start with Luke popping one and then when I put it in, emotions were running high," Lynch said. "But that was early enough in the game where I don't think it could have affected the outcome. We're a strong enough team where we could have come back, and we did at the end of the game."

The Wolverines had plenty of chances to make an offensive difference in regulation time. Numerous times, Michigan failed to connect on power-play attempts, including a five-minute major.

"We got shots, but we didn't score, and that was the frustrating part," Berenson said. "We needed to score. Especially when you're trailing in a game, your power play needs to score."