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HISTORY |
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WOLVERINES CAPTURE
1998 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN
THRILLING 3-2 OVERTIME VICTORY
BOSTON -- The Michigan Wolverines captured their second
National Championship in three seasons, both in overtime, and NCAA record ninth in program
history, with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Boston College Eagles in front of
a NCAA Final Four record 18,276 fans in the Fleet Center.
The Wolverines received a great game from freshman
Mark Kosick, who scored two goals, and outstanding goaltending by senior Marty
Turco, who
made 28 saves for his second national title, but the hero of the game was freshman Josh
Langfeld, who scored the title clinching goal with 2:09 left in the first overtime period.
Following a Boston College two-on-one opportunity deep in the Michigan zone, the
Wolverines cleared the zone and worked the puck in the corner to the left of the Boston
College goal. Chris Fox took a pass from Scott Matzka deep in the corner and held the puck
until he received support from Langfeld. Langfeld took the drop pass and, from the left
wing boards, wristed what looked to be a harmless shot into the short side of the net for
his 19th goal of the season and a goal that set off a wild celebration on the ice.
- Turco turned aside four great Eagles scoring chances in the
overtime session alone as he captured all-NCAA Tournament and Tournament Most Outstanding
Player honors. Twenty-five seconds into the overtime session, BC forward Brian Gionta
unleashed a slap shot from the slot, resulting in a great Turco pad save. Boston College
then hit the crossbar and post on opportunities 8:00 and 10:40 into the extra session,
before getting its final opportunity 33 seconds before Langfeld scored the game winner.
- Michigan tied the game, 2-2, with 6:12 left in the third period on
Kosick's second goal of the game. Chris Fox let go a hard low shot from the inside of the
face-off circle to the right of the Boston College net, which was redirected by Bill
Muckalt. Boston College goaltender Scott Clemmensen, who had a tremendous game of his own
stopping (32 saves) made the stop, but Kosick was waiting at the goal crease to the left
of the net and banged in the rebound for his 14th goal of the season.
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- Boston College got on the board first 4:19 into the game. The
Eagles won a battle along the boards and the puck came free to Mike Mottau. Mottau made a
pass from his own zone to Kevin Caufield waiting at the Michigan blueline. Caufield skated
into the faceoff circle to the left of the Michigan net and ripped a slapshot ice level
past Turco to the glove side for his ninth goal of the season.
- Michigan tied the game, 1-1, at 7:47 of the second period, with
hard work in front of the Boston College net. Defenseman Bubba Berenzweig pinched in from
the point, gathered a pass from Greg Crozier and floated a wrist shot on net from the
faceoff circle to the left of the Boston College goal. Clemmensen made the original save,
but Muckalt and Kosick whacked at the rebound in the crease. Kosick was able to chip the
puck over Clemmensen as the BC goalie was sprawled on the ice.
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- Boston College regained a one goal lead on a power-play goal late
in the second period. With 1:22 left in the period, defenseman Bobby Allen wristed a shot
on goal from the blueline, which was redirected by Jeff Farkas just outside the goal
crease. Turco made the initial save, but Mike Lephart was waiting for the rebound and
roofed a shot for his 15th goal of the season and 2-1 Boston College advantage.
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