10 Moments that Made Tech Athletics Absolutely Awesome in 2013

There have been plenty of reasons to cheer the Huskies on this year. From last-second scores to national titles to amazingly academic athletes, Michigan Tech’s athletics have had a stellar year. Take a look back on the top 10 moments of 2013.

1. Soccer Playoff Win Makes ESPN Top Plays; Earns First NCAA Tournament Berth

Lindsey Van Rooy’s goal in the final second of double overtime lifted the Huskies to a 1-0 GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinal victory over Saginaw Valley State. The play made ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10. The win helped propel Tech to its first NCAA Tournament berth in the program’s fourth year of existence.

2. MacInnes Student Ice Arena Gets Video Board

A new four-sided high definition video board was installed in the MacInnes Student Ice Arena, allowing fans to see game replays and other content during hockey games.

3. Pietila Wins Gold with Team USA

Michigan Tech hockey player Blake Pietila joined USA Hockey’s World Junior Championship Team in Ufa, Russia. The Brighton, Mich., native brought home gold, as USA defeated Sweden 3-1 in the gold-medal game.

4. Women’s and Men’s Basketball Teams Make NCAA Regional Semifinals

Both Michigan Tech basketball teams made the NCAA Tournament and both won their first round games. The women fell to eventual national champion Ashland in the regional semifinal. The men likewise lost to the eventual champs Drury in the next round.

5. Men’s Basketball Beats Lake Superior State on Last-Second Layup

Speaking of ESPN Top 10, T.J. Brown scored as time expired in a wild finish vs. Lake Superior State. The visiting Lakers had made a 3-pointer to take the lead with 1.6 seconds left, but Ben Stelzer threw a long pass to Brown, who scored for the 79-78 victory.

6. Outdoor GLI

Michigan Tech, the host of the annual Great Lakes Invitational played between Christmas and New Year’s, is pairing with Olympia Entertainment to take the event outdoors in 2013. All four games of the tournament will be played at Comerica Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers.

7. McConnell Hauls in Victory

Jordan McConnell grabbed a deflected pass at the goal line as time expired to give Michigan Tech football a 33-31 win at Northwood Oct. 19. Tyler Scarlett’s pass was intended for Brandon Cowie in the back of the endzone, but bounced high into the air and into the hands of McConnell for the win.

8. Hockey Sweeps Michigan State

Alex Petan scored with 1:08 left in overtime for a 3-2 victory over Michigan State and a series sweep over the Spartans Nov. 8-9. Tech had last hosted MSU in Houghton in 1984.

9. Tech Awarded 2015 and 2016 US Cross Country Skiing National Championships

The Michigan Tech Nordic Training Center will once again be the center of the cross country skiing nation when it hosts the US Nationals in 2015 and 2016. The bid was awarded to Houghton this fall.

10. Cross Country Teams Host GLIAC Championship

For the first time since 2000, the Tech Trails were host to the GLIAC Cross Country Championships. The Oct. 26 event drew a field of 344 student-athletes from 16 league institutions.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.