Rick Comley now has 598 wins. One as head coach of Michigan State.
The Spartans squeezed by Colgate 2-1 Saturday in the consolation game of the Maverick Stampede in Omaha to take home the third-place trophy.
“Every game feels more comfortable,” Comley said. “But you can’t just walk into a program as rich in tradition as this one and feel comfortable right away.”
Michigan State made sure the game was going to be a tough man competition and dictated the game early. In fact, the Spartans defense held Colgate to just four shots in the entire first period.
But the Raiders did get a goal from one of those four shots. Grinding out in the crease and battling with goalie Matt Migliaccio, Raider forward Kyle Doyle scored his second goal of the year, from his stomach.
On the momentum of the late-period goal, Colgate rattled off 10 shots in the first five minutes of the second period. However Migliaccio had built his wall by then, and it wasn’t about to come down, Raiders or not.
“The play of Matt Migliaccio was tremendous,” Comley said. “They guys have confidence in him, and in Tobe. Goaltending is the least of our concerns right now.”
Brian Maloney tied the game at 6:00 of the second period as he jammed a shot in near post.
Then 2:36 later defenseman Corey Potter slapped in the game winner. Lee Falardeau had charged the Colgate net, but when he ran into a traffic jam, he dished it out to the blue line, where Potter was waiting.
Migliaccion added 12 saved in the third period to seal the win. He had a total of 30 saves on the night.
Comley is still getting use to his new role, and still working on the team transition, but he recognizes the team’s potential.
“We’re a better team than we have shown this weekend. We were a better team tonight than we were last night.”
Not rest for the winner, Michigan State travels to Northern Michigan next week. Comley comes home, but this time he will park his team in the visitor’s locker room.
