DETROIT — While the consolation game of the 49th annual Great Lakes Invitational wasn’t where MSU wanted to find itself on Saturday, there surely will be plenty of motivation to beat their opponent – No. 3 Michigan.
MSU (5-9-2, 0-1-1-1 B1G) will face hated in-state rival UM (10-3-2, 2-0-0 B1G) in the consolation game at Comerica Park on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. This is the second straight year the Spartans will battle the Wolverines in the GLI consolation game. U-M won that game 5-2, scoring four 3rd period goals.
Both MSU and U-M fell in dramatic fashion in the semifinals on Friday, MSU failing to advance to the championship game due to a 2-1 shootout loss against Michigan Tech (6-9-5, 4-4-4 WCHA) and UM losing in overtime 3-2 to Western Michigan (8-8-3, 3-5-0 NCHC).
MSU fought back to take a 3rd period, 2-1 lead, but Michigan Tech would quickly tie the game and send it to overtime. After a scoreless five minute overtime, Michigan Tech put two past sophomore goaltender Jake Hildebrand to push the Huskies into the championship game. The game was officially ruled a 2-2 tie.
U-M and WMU also played to a 2-2 tie after 60 minutes of regulation but wouldn’t need a shootout to decide the final score with Bronco sophomore forward Josh Pitt scoring an overtime goal for a 3-2 WMU victory.
Saturday’s matchup will be the first of at least five between these two rivals, but will not count toward the Big Ten standings. MSU and UM could also meet in the Big Ten Tournament in late March.
MSU went 1-4 against UM last season.
U-M will be missing one of its top scorers sophomore forward Andrew Copp, who is currently playing with the U.S. National Team in the World Juniors competition in Sweden. Copp, who is one of the Wolverines’ alternate captains, is second on the team in scoring with nine goals and five assists.
Senior forward Greg Wolfe continues to lead MSU in scoring, with points in five of the last six after another assist on Friday. Wolfe has seven goals and six assists.
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