A second-half explosion sees Michigan surge past Bellarmine, making the Knights the only non-Mercer program to suffer more than one defeat at the hands of the Maize and Blue.
Tempo Free
From the official box score, a look at the tempo-free stats:
| Bellarmine 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellarmine | Michigan | ||
| Faceoff Wins | 11 | Faceoff Wins | 17 |
| Clearing | 13-16 | Clearing | 15-16 |
| Possessions | 28 | Possessions | 36 |
| Goals | 9 | Goals | 16 |
| Offensive Efficiency | .321 | Offensive Efficiency | .444 |
Michigan won the possession battle in both phases, and was more efficient on offense than the Knights. That’s a pretty good way to win a game. Of course, it wasn’t all easy, with U-M turning it on after the break.
Notes
At halftime, Michigan trailed 7-5, with 16 possessions for and 17 against. However, most of Bellarmine’s possessions came on clearing attempts – and most of those clearing attempts came after a Michigan shooter rang the pipe. Statistically, Bellarmine was very strong in the first half, but once Michigan’s shooters found their accuracy and the faceoff battle was going to determine possession, the second half was a cakewalk. U-M had 20 possessions after the break to 11 for Bellarmine.
Brad Lott was very good on faceoffs for Michigan, winning 16 of 24, and although that comes with some streakiness, he also was so intimidating for BU specialists that they jumped early a few times, with a handful in the first half resulting in a 30-second EMO in the second quarter (though the Maize and Blue didn’t convert).
Gerald Logan’s story was somewhat similar to the arc for the team on the whole: a shaky start, then he settled in. Of course, it’s much easier to settle in when you aren’t being pelted with shots: He faced 16 on goal before halftime, saving nine. Only five more came in the rest of the game (thanks in part to Michigan’s possession dominance), and he saved three of them.
On offense, Michigan had a number of stars, which tends to be the case when the team scores 16 goals, seven of them assisted. Senior attack David McCormack scored four, and sophomore midfielder Mikie Schlosser did the same while adding an assist. Junior middie Kyle Jackson had two goals and a helper. The most surprising performance probably came from sophomore attack Ian King. He had one assist during the entirety of last season… and two in the third quarter alone against Bellarmine (three total for the game). Last year’s leading scorer will still be primarily a finisher for his team, but he’s diversified.
U-M caused 13 Bellarmine turnovers in 28 possessions, a darn good number in a relatively slow game (despite the final score, just 64 total possessions). Obviously most of the non-CT possessions ended with goals, something the Wolverines will have to clear up. Mack Gembis was the defensive hero with two of the caused turnovers and four ground balls.
Onetime Michigan commit Austin Shanks scored three goals for Bellarmine, all in the first half. Ryan Scinta contributed three assists along with a goal, while Jack Perkins had two goals and an assist.
Elsewhere
Michigan recap. Postgame notes. Boxcscore. Photo gallery. Maize n Brew recap. Michigan Daily’s Shawn Heroor with the gamer. Bellarmine recap.
Up Next
Michigan-Detroit. Tonight. Preview is already up because I’m just getting around to writing a recap of last weekend’s game a week later.