Michigan State 6, Mercyhurst 2
11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 10, 2007
Michigan State Coach Rick Comley
On the weekend...
It was a good weekend, I thought tonight got ragged, which is kind of unfortunate. Last night's game I thought was a pretty good quality game, tonight. They were thinner tonight though, they must have had a couple injuries last night because they only had ten forwards dressed. You could tell they got tired at times. Their goaltender played well but got tired at times. The positive for us we got some kids on the board scoring-wise that have not scored, so hopefully that relaxes them a little bit. And its hard not to look ahead to next weekend with Miami coming in.
On Crowder and Mueller scoring fourteen seconds apart...
I know, they were good goals too. Crowder really ripped his. They're both such good players we just need to get them going.
On the performance of goalie Bobby Jarosz...
I thought he was really good. I thought he was really solid for two, and then got a little bit scrambly in the third period. But overall he made some good saves and in that second period I think there were forty shots on goal between the two teams, so he made several really good saves - I was really pleased.
Mercyhurst Head Coach Rick Gotkin
Overall impressions...
We knew when these games were scheduled that they were going to be a big test for us, both physically and mentally. Michigan State has a very good hockey team, and they're very deserving of their No. 3 ranking. They know what it takes to win game in and game out, which is a great test for our guys. I just hope that somehow this is going to make us better somewhere down the road. I don't think too many people are shocked that Mercyhurst got beaten by Michigan State.
On going into the first intermission only down one goal...
I think that we all felt we had the tiger by the tail, so to speak. We were in survival mode at that point. I think we were just hoping that we could get to the third period, be close and have a chance to win. We thought that we battled pretty well in the first period, and then in the second period, the goals came quick.
On going up against Michigan State's power play...
We try to emphasize staying out of the box no matter who we're playing. It's quadrupally tough when you're killing penalties against Michigan State, let alone a five-on-three for almost three minutes.
Michigan State senior forward Chris Mueller
On what he takes away from the weekend series...
As far as seniors, we're taking a step as a team because in our three years here, we've been struggling against poor teams. You know we're going to play well against Miami or Michigan, but sometimes we just let teams come in here and walk over us at times. So I think it's a sign of maturity as a team, and we have to get the job done no matter who we are playing.
On playing alongside Tim Kennedy and Justin Abdelkader...
You just have to make yourself available and do the job on the line that coach wants me to do. It's a lot of fun, and I just try to put myself in a position to put the puck in the net.
On the team playing differently in front of goalie Bobby Jarosz...
You look back there and you don't see Lerg and it's a little weird, because for two years now, I've seen a little guy back there who's head doesn't go over the crossbar. We don't want to play more aggressive when Lerg is in there, because we know he is the best goalie in the nation. Our game is defense first, and whether it's Bobby or Jeff back there, we're going to start on defense and move to offense.
On the play of goalie Bobby Jarosz...
Bobby has been great in practice, and that's why he got a shot. I thought he played great. He made that breakaway save in the second period, and there were a couple of tips that he made saves on that would have been great saves for Jeff Lerg to make. He wasn't nervous before the game, which is a good sign, and if he gets another shot, he'll be fine.
Michigan State sophomore goalie Bobby Jarosz
On how he felt about getting his first start in net...
It was an unbelievable feeling. All of the guys have really had confidence in me, so that helped me a lot, and they really played well in front of me.
On when he found out he would be the starting goalie...
I found out this morning. So I had to call my parents right after, and they made the trip all the way up [from Crystal Lake, Ill.].
On how his preparation for the game was different...
It's been a while since I've started, so I was just trying to remember all the stuff I did in juniors and remember all of my pre-game rituals.
On how he was able to settle down as the game progressed...
I had a lot of nerves. But after their goal, the entire shutout thing is gone, and it's out of the way. The team started playing really well, and I got lucky a couple of times.
Michigan State freshman defenseman AJ Sturges
On scoring his first career goal along side of Chris Mueller and Tim Crowder's first season goals...
It's just one of those nights that everyone was just getting in on the action, and it's good to see that guys are getting in the flow of the season getting these goals.
On his first goal...
Well, I had the first shot that came down by the corner, then came back out. I kind of saw it, and saw the goalie look around, and I didn't really know what to do until everyone was coming at me. It was a pretty surreal thing. It was a great feeling though, having everybody come over. It's kind of a rush. It took me a while to stop shaking on the bench and take the grin off my face.
On Jeff Petry's goal moments later...
It was pretty nice to have it happen like that. He has had a lot of good chance for the goal, and it is a good feeling for him to have the monkey off his back. He had that going for him.
On his increased playing time...
Definitely. I got in for the first time last weekend, and I came in tonight. It's great to be back on the ice and get a feel for the game again. And it really helps to get a feel for the teammates when you get to be in a game situation with them. It has been really help for me.
On scoring goals with Petry in the same night...
We didn't really talk to much about it. We were all pretty excited for each other. We've got a good team so we are all behind each other. We are all really excited about it.
On getting more opportunities offensively, to shoot the puck...
I hope so. It's kind of a good feeling getting the puck down in the net and having it go in like that.
