April 10, 2003
NCAA Semifinal
The New Gophers, Same as the Old Gophers

NCAA Tournament Coverage

Brackets | Info Minnesota-Michigan Notebook UNH-Cornell Recap UNH-Cornell Notebook Other Stories --------------------------------- Michigan's Andy Burnes Minnesota's C. Harrington Cornell's Sam Paolini UNH's Patrick Foley --------------------------------- Midwest Reg. Final East Regional Final Northeast Regional Final West Regional Final Midwest Reg. First Round East Regional First Round Northeast Reg. First Rd. West Reg. First Round --------------------------------- East Reg. Capsules Northeast Reg. Capsules Midwest Reg. Capsules West Reg. Capsules East Reg. Preview Northeast Reg. Preview Midwest Reg. Preview West Reg. Preview

By Nate Ewell

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Minnesota's 3-2 semifinal victory over Michigan is sure to draw comparisons to last year, when the Gophers beat the Wolverines by the same score on their way to the national title.

But as the Gophers have said all season, they're a different team this year, even though they have a chance to repeat as champions and become the tournament's first back-to-back champions since 1971-72. Those differences were clear tonight, as freshmen Gino Guyer and Thomas Vanek scored the tying and overtime goals, respectively, and goaltender Travis Weber, a backup last year, was the team's best player.

Minnesota 3, Michigan 2 OT
Team	Goal	Str
Time	Assists
First Period
1-MI	Brandon Kaleniecki (14)	EV
9:33	A. Ebbett
Second Period
2-MI	Jed Ortmeyer (18)	EV
14:38	J. Tambellini
1-MN	Troy Riddle (26)	EV
17:45	T. Vanek, M. Koalska
Third Period
2-MN	Gino Guyer (13)	EV
1:35	B. Tallackson, C. Harrington
Overtime
3-MN	Thomas Vanek (30)	EV
8:55	Unassisted
Goaltending
MI: Al Montoya, 68:55, 29 saves, 3 GA
MN: Travis Weber, 68:55, 31 saves, 2 GA
Penalties: MI 4/8; MN 5/10
Power Plays: MI 0-5; MN 0-4
Attendance: 18,702

Weber was especially effective early, carrying the Gophers through a sluggish first period. Michigan took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but the score could have been much more lopsided. Weber made 14 saves as the Wolverines held a 15-5 shot advantage in the period.

"We really needed to score more than one goal in the first period," said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. "We were playing well, we had them on their heels, we needed to make those chances count, because you knew that they were going to have their way in parts of the game."

Minnesota head coach Don Lucia used the intermission to calm his team, reminding them that they needed to have the heart of a champion.

"I was a little surprised in the first period how nervous we were," Lucia said. "We couldn't make that first pass from our defense, and that's usually one of our strengths. I really think that the key to the game for us was the play of Travis (Weber) in the first period. The game could have been over after the first."

Things turned the Gophers' way in the second, as they outshot Michigan 15-6. That didn't keep the Wolverines from claiming a 2-0 lead, however, as Jed Ortmeyer's forechecking led to a Minnesota turnover that Ortmeyer ended up converting for a goal.

"When we got down 2-0, I had flashbacks to last year's game," Lucia said. "We were up 2-0 after two and ended up winning 3-2 – that's what was going through my mind."

Just over three minutes later, Troy Riddle got the Gophers on the board. Michigan goaltender Al Montoya made the initial save, but when the rebound dropped to the ice Riddle reached around to post from behind the net to poke it just over the line.

Minnesota maintained its momentum early in the third and got the tying goal from Guyer. Freshman Chris Harrington made a good play to keep the puck in at the blue line and gave it to Barry Tallackson, who made a terrific pass to Guyer in the slot.

Michigan had an apparent go-ahead goal waved off 9:51 into the third period, when referee Scott Hansen blew the play dead before the puck entered the net.

Both teams had chances late in regulation. Montoya stretched to his right to stop Minnesota fourth-liner Jon Waibel's wraparound bid with 3:41 remaining. Thirty seconds later, Michigan's Jason Ryznar had a great chance with Weber out of position, but Minnesota defenseman Paul Martin dove to stop the puck.

Vanek's goal at 8:55 of overtime came on a great individual effort and gave the rookie 30 goals on the season. Skating behind the net, he stopped and turned quickly, losing the defender, and stepped in front with a clear path to the goal. His shot beat Montoya five-hole.

"It means we're in the championship game," said Vanek, when asked what the goal meant to im. "I'm happy that we're still playing hockey."

And now Vanek and the rest of these new-look Gophers have a shot at the same prize their predecessors earned last year.