Overtime Heroics Propel Wolverines Past Orange in NCAA Opener

Saturday, November 11

Ann Arbor, Mich.

11:30 AM

Michigan

(20-2)

Syracuse

(12-7)

Team	1	2	OT 1	Final F
Syracuse	0	0	0	0
Michigan	0	0	1	1

Meg Dowthwaite

Overtime Heroics Propel Wolverines Past Orange in NCAA Opener

11/11/2017 2:26:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Meg Dowthwaite scored the game-winning goal just 1:24 into overtime to help Michigan defeat Syracuse, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
» Syracuse was shown a red card with just under 20 minutes remaining in regulation, leaving the Orange shorthanded for the remainder of the game, including a 7-on-6 situation in overtime.
» The Wolverines advanced to the NCAA second round tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 12) at 2 p.m. and will face Northwestern, which defeated Louisville, 3-2, in overtime today.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Event: NCAA Tournament (First Round)
Score: #3 Michigan 1, #13 Syracuse 0 (OT)
Records: U-M (20-2), SU (12-7)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 12 -- vs. Northwestern - NCAA Tournament Second Round (Phyllis Ocker Field.), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore Meg Dowthwaite scored the game's only goal just 1:24 into overtime, sending the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team past No. 13 Syracuse, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday (Nov. 11) at Phyllis Ocker Field. It marked the Wolverines' 17th straight win and 15th shutout of the season, including the fifth consecutive.

With the win, Michigan advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals for the 10th time. The Wolverines, who are seeking their fourth appearance in the NCAA semifinals in program history, will face Northwestern, which defeated Louisville, 3-2, in today's second first-round matchup, at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 12) at Ocker Field. The victory also gave Michigan its 20th win of the season, marking just the second 20-win season (1999) in program history.

It took Michigan just 1:24 into the overtime period to settle the score, as graduate student Esther de Leijer fired a pass from outside the circle on the left wing and Dowthwaite tipped the ball into the lower left side of the goal past SU goalie Borg van der Velde, giving the Wolverines the immediate victory.

Syracuse owned a 4-2 advantage in shots in the opening half, while Michigan held the upper hand in the second half by a count of 5-3.

With 19:53 remaining in the second half, Syracuse's Elaine Carey was issued a red card, leaving the Orange shorthanded for the remainder of the game.

The Maize and Blue earned two of its four penalty corners in the final seven minutes of regulation, but the game remained scoreless and the two teams headed to overtime, with the Wolverines still holding their man-up advantage in a 7-on-6 battle.

Senior goalkeeper Sam Swenson made three saves in the cage for Michigan en route to her 15th shutout of the season, while van der Velde finished with stops on four of U-M's five shots on goal.