Saline, Mich. - The #1 ranked University of Michigan Men's Lacrosse defeated Buffalo by a score of 16-2 on Sunday afternoon (May 3) in the CCLA Conference Tournament Finals in Saline, Michigan at Saline High School. In the process, the Wolverines won their ninth CCLA Conference Championship in the past 11 years. The Wolverines started a bit slowly, but got things going in the second half, out-scoring their opponent 11-1 in the final thirty minutes.

It took the Wolverines more than half the first quarter to open the scoring as junior attackman Kevin Zorovich (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) scooped up a loose ball in front following an initial U-M shot, and buried it for the 1-0 lead. After another long scoreless stretch, Zorovich notched his second goal, scooping up another loose ball on the right wing and firing on cage just before the period ended as Michigan took a 2-0 lead into the second.

Michigan notched the first goal of the second quarter on the transition, as sophomore defenseman Harry Freid (Needham, Mass./Needham) picked up a loose ball in the Wolverine end, carried it up field and fired a 25-yard pass to sophomore attackman Trevor Yealy (Pittsburgh, Penn./Upper St. Claire) who was parked just outside the crease. Yealy faked low and went high for the 3-0 U-M lead early in the second.

Junior captain David Rogers (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) kept Michigan rolling with a dodge and fire from the right wing at 4:48 of the second. After Buffalo notched their first goal on the man-up just under three minutes later, the Wolverines responded with a tally from junior midfielder Svet Tintchev (Rockville, MD./Bullis) on a low screamer from 12 yards out. With the goal, Michigan led 5-1 going into the half-time break.

For the second game in a row, senior captain and defenseman Zach Elyachar (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) was the catalyst for a Wolverine tally, helping set up the first goal of the second half. After scooping up a loose ball near mid-field on the man-down, Elyachar threw a frozen rope to Yealy who faked the netminder for his second of the game.

Senior attackman Aaron Hodari (Bloomfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day) kept the momentum rolling just over a minute later, placing a bouncing shot in the upper corner as Michigan led 7-1 early in the third. Rogers added his second of the game at 8:33, on an assist from senior captain Riley Kearns (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Brother Rice) before Kearns got one of his own on a shot from the close left wing, finishing a feed from junior attackman Josh Ein (Potomac, MD./Bullis). Buffalo scored their second and final goal just eight seconds later immediately following the faceoff.

Hodari added his second of the game at the 2:55 mark of the third, on a dodge and fire from the left wing, before senior midfielder Anthony Hrusovsky (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) notched his first of the game followed by back-to-back dunk goals from Yealy as Michigan led 13-2 going into the final frame.

Over five minutes into the fourth, Michigan extended the lead on a tally from junior attackman Clark McIntyre (Little Silver, N.J./Rumson – Fair Haven) who finished a feed from Ein. Ein was on the other end the next time down, putting away a cross-crease pass from junior midfielder Michael Bartomioli (Pleasantville, N.Y./Pleasantville) for the 15-2 lead mid-way through the fourth.

Freshman attackman Colin Bayer (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) notched his first career goal for the Wolverines in exciting fashion to close out the scoring. Bayer took a pass from McIntyre a few feet out and while backing in, shoveled the ball into the cage to make it a 16-2 final.

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2009-05-04