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Posted on Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 12:09 a.m.

OT upset: Cornell eliminates Michigan from NCAA hockey tournament, 3-2

By Pete Cunningham

cornell-celebration.jpg

The Cornell University hockey team celebrates it overtime game-winning goal in a 3-2 win over Michigan in the NCAA tournament.

Cornell Athletic Communications

Updated at 2:03 a.m.

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- Cornell hockey coach Mike Schafer called the fastest timeout of his 22-year coaching career on Friday night.

It was also the most effective.

Ninety-three seconds into the first period of a Midwest Regional semifinal at the Resch Center, Michigan had already scored two goals on its first two shifts. Schafer called a timeout so the team could regain its composure and help slow the momentum of Michigan's offense. He got more than he bargained for as the referees -- who were ready to drop the puck before the timeout -- reviewed and eventually disallowed Lynch's goal.

Had play resumed, the goal would not have been reviewable.

Lynch would get his goal back fifty-four minutes later, with just 4:01 left in regulation to force overtime, but it was a different game by then and the goal would only delay the heartbreak. Cornell's Rodger Craig scored 3:35 into overtime to beat No. 1 seed Michigan, 3-2, and end the Wolverines' season.

Cornell will face CCHA regular-season champion Ferris State in the regional final Saturday night, with the winner advancing to the Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla. Ferris State beat Denver, 2-1, in Friday's first semifinal.

Leaving the Michigan locker room after the game, captain Luke Glendening could barely muster the words to describe the end to his Michigan career. His last tournament run ended as his first one did his freshman year, with a first-round defeat.

"It's disappointing to end my career like this," said Glendening, slow in his speech still seemingly in awe that his Michigan career was over. "It's not about me, but it's definitely frustrating."

Michigan coach Red Berenson lamented that it wasn't the story book ending he had hoped for senior goalie Shawn Hunwick, the former walk-on who -- when his career began -- never thought it would end like this because he didn't think he'd see much, if any playing time and he'd be gone by 2011.

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Michigan forward Travis Lynch, left, attempts to chase down Cornell's Sean Collins.

Cornell Athletic Communications

And he was fine with that.

But as Hunwick evolved from the too-small walk-on to a top-10 Hobey Baker Award finalist, so too did his expectations. So on Friday, he was again in disbelief.

This wasn't what he came back for a fifth year for.

"I don’t think it really hits you yet when your season ends that quickly, you know, one shot," said Hunwick, who finished with 21 saves. "You never want to give up a goal to end the season, to end your career, and it’s happened the past three seasons with overtime."

A statement from game officials said there was "illegal contact" with Cornell goalie Andy Iles in his crease "that did not allow him to play his position" on Lynch's goal.

Schafer initially thought the goal would be reviewed, which would give his team time to regain its composure without burning the timeout so early in the game. When the officials indicated they weren't going to look at a replay, he decided he didn't care how early it was, his team needed time or this one could get away from them quickly.

"I was like, we need to regroup here, and then they went over during the timeout and took a look at it," Schafer said.

Berenson wasn't surprised at the timeout, but was with the result.

"I thought they called the timeout because of the momentum. I mean obviously we’d scored two goals in a minute-and-a-half and if I were their coach I’d probably call a timeout, too," Berenson said. "Goals are precious this time of year. ... I don’t think it deflated our team, but obviously it didn’t excite us."

Fourth-seeded Cornell (19-9-7) evened the score later in the period on a power play goal by John McCarron.

Special teams played a huge factor in the second period, starting when Michigan gave up its first shorthanded goal of the season just 40 seconds into the period, with Joakim Ryan finishing off a two-on-one rush.

Eight more penalties would be called in the frame, including a game-misconduct to Cornell's Armand de Swardt. A hooking penalty to Michigan's Jon Merrill led to a Cornell penalty shot, which Hunwick stopped to keep the score 2-1 heading into the third period.

Michigan (25-13-4) spent a total of 9:37 on the power play in the period, including 2:12 of 5-on-3 hockey. But the Wolverines couldn't get past goalie Iles, who was rarely out of position, making 17 saves in the period, most of the routine variety. Cornell had only managed 15 shots for the entire game to that point.

Iles was beat on a Luke Moffatt shot with less than two minutes remaining in the period, but got some help from his goalpost.

"Our penalty killers tonight were just unbelievable, especially on that 5-on-3," said Iles, who finished with 31 saves. "There were some shot blocks that probably go unnoticed...we were able to build off that momentum going into the third."

Craig's goal was just his second of the season, both game-winners.

"Anything can happen in the overtime," Berenson said. "Someobody can score their second goal of the year and that’s the way it is."

Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.

Comments

heartbreakM

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.

Another year of heartbreak!! AS usual, thanks to Red for losing gracefully--even though that goal looked legit. And thanks to the hard-working hockey Wolverines who always played hard and respectfully. As far as the refs and that disallowed goal--that is not what lost this game. Michigan had opportunity after opportunity in 5 on 4s and a few 5 on 3s. Cornell just outplayed us during those powerplays, and that to me was the biggest difference in this game.

LDR

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 5:32 p.m.

Goodness. It's just like 22 years ago...UM fans are a bunch of sore losers. GO RED!

genetracy

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.

I guess Cornell did not get the message to lay down.

Rocketron

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 1:24 p.m.

I hate to say it but I think it's time for Red to retire. He hasn't won an NCAA title in 14 years and it doesn't seem like his teams perform at a consistently high level. It is amazing to see a team like Michigan loaded with 13 NHL draft choices out of the tournament and a team like Ferris State with no NHL drat choices still in. It's a good thing they gave the CCHA coach of the year to Bob Daniels. He richly deserved it. I bet Michigan spent more money to install the new scoreboards at Yost this year than Ferris State spends on its entire hockey program. Red us a good recruiter but not a great bench coach. It often seems like his teams are undisciplined. How many dumb penalties did Merrill have last night?

hail2thevict0r

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.

Whhhhaaa??? He has taken Michigan teams to like 24 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. You're crazy if you don't think he's playing at a high level. Heck we just played in the NC game last year. You might want to check out what Michigan hockey was like before Red got here. I'll save you the time - it was nothing and it almost got the boot completely from Michigan's sports teams.

Blue Marker

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.

Congrats to Cornell. Their game plan was to play the lock, muck up the game and create turn overs and they did that. I think it's an ugly brand of hockey but it tends to work in playoff time. Think New Jersey Devils circa 1995. I love Shawn Hunwick but he had been giving up some juicy rebounds lately and it cost them. As for the refs....they gave Michigan every chance to win including an extended 5 on 3. So no, you can't put it there. Lastly, what is it about this site that draws so many trolls?

joe.blow

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 11:21 a.m.

Too bad, now the Sioux won't get to wipe the floor with you. We really wanted our revenge.

hail2thevict0r

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 10:52 a.m.

The title of this article should be: "Despite scoring 3 goals in regulation, the refs give the game to Cornell in OT 3-2".

GoBlue2009

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 4:13 p.m.

hiail2thevictor: *Check that, our last THREE Tournaments have ended with games in which goals were disallowed. We had ALL the momentum, and that killed it. How would Cornell fans feel if that were them? WAY TO GO CORNELL, FEEL GREAT ABOUT YOURSELVES FOR WINNING THAT WAY. As a Michigan Alum and hockey fan, I can't take losing like this every year. It's a conspiracy. Will we ever win another National Championship?

Joe Edwards

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 12:35 p.m.

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." - Virginia Tech Hokie fan

hail2thevict0r

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.

And of course you can use the "they should have played harder", "scored more goals", "scored the last goal in OT" and so on to explain other ways that Michigan could have won but lost the game. But it's far too hard, as a fan, to overlook an overturned goal in regulation when the game goes into overtime.

hail2thevict0r

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 12:05 p.m.

Well, let's just say - it doesn't help when the refs take away a goal. It gets especially annoying when the last two tournament games Michigan has played in were lost because of a overturned goal that should have been legit.

joe.blow

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 11:22 a.m.

Yeah, it was the refs fault for Michigan losing.

garrisondyer

Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 6:34 a.m.

Understatement of the night: this news is a bummer.