Michigan State University Athletics
From The Lockerroom
2/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 15, 2003
Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Notes
Michigan vs. Michigan State
February 15, 2003
Michigan State Coach Rick Comley
"It was a great series of hockey - we really needed this game tonight. This was a big win for us mentally, emotionally, and like I told the kids in the locker room before the third period this is a make or break game."
"I told the kids that if we were going to salvage anything out of this season we're going to have to go out and win the final period of hockey. We took a three-goal lead and then they (UM) got two quick ones on us an it turned into a bit of a barn burner, but we were able to hold them off and get the big win."
Michigan Coach Red Berenson
"It was a disappointing game to lose. Not that you come in here and expect to win easy, you don't, but you expect to build on last night and come in here and get a better start. The first period we played pretty well but we gave up two sloppy goals in the second period and then we had to come from behind, but we did. I thought we turned the game around and at the end of the second period we had them on their heels. The puck was not going in, Nystrom had a great chance and hit the post. We were getting chances that we did not capitalize on and it finally caught up with us."
Freshman forward Colton Fretter
On the crowd at Munn Ice Arena
"That was the loudest I've heard the crowd in a long time. Obviously that's huge being at home, it picked everyone up."
On losing to Michigan yesterday
"Yesterday, we played a solid game, but we just didn't get some of the bounces we did tonight."
Sophomore forward Jim Slater
On team play
"Our team showed a lot of heart and guts, and came out the winner
On the crowd at Munn Ice Arena
"The crowd was a huge factor, everyone's into it. That's what college hockey is all about - the fans, the band, white shirts all over the place. We put on a great show tonight."
Senior defenseman John-Michael Liles
On his goal
"I said to myself, 'If I get any chances just get it on net and one will sneak through. The first one snuck through and the second was about as slow as a goal has ever gone in, but you get in on net, and sometimes those things happen."
On if MSU had lost tonight
"It would have hurt, especially being up three goals there - that's something that's kind of plagued us all year. But, we battled through it and we regrouped and we were able to hold them off, and come away with
