Michigan
Ohio State
U-M Field Hockey Upsets No. 8 Ohio State
10/9/1998 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ocker Field)
Score: #11 Michigan 1, #8 Ohio State 0
Records:Â U-M (11-2, 4-0 Big Ten), OSU (8-2, 3-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 11 -- vs. Penn State (Ocker Field), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In an early showdown of the Big Ten Conference leaders, the 11th-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team played its best game of the year, beating No. 8 Ohio State 1-0 in front of 314 spectators at Ocker Field. With the win, the Wolverines (11-2, 4-0 Big Ten) moved a game ahead of the Buckeyes (8-2, 3-1 Big Ten) in the league standings.
U-M sophomore Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) was once again the offensive hero for the Wolverines, scoring an incredible goal with 29:30 remaining in the contest. Gannon gained control of the ball on the left side of the goal, wove between defenders and shot the ball past a sprawling Anna Schwartz, the OSU goaltender.
Defensively, the Wolverines were in control of the game from start to finish. Ashley Reichenbach (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra HS) and Jeanne Shin (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest HS) were outstanding, not allowing the Buckeyes to get control in the offensive zone. On the day, the Buckeyes managed just four shots on goal, forcing Michigan goalie Kati Oakes (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) to make only two saves as she raised her season shutout total to five and a half.
Offensively, the Maize and Blue was equally impressive, outshooting the Buckeyes 23-4. Schwartz single-handedly kept the Scarlet and Gray in the contest as she made 25 saves, including 17 in the first half alone, more than any opposing goalie had made in an entire game against Michigan.
"The way we played today, we could have beaten anybody," said Michigan head coach Marcia Pankratz. "In the first half, our defense was great. Everything was just clicking today."
Next up for the Wolverines is another important league match, against sixth-ranked Penn State on Sunday (Oct. 11) at 1 p.m. at Ocker Field. PSU took a 2-1 Big Ten record into its 7:30 p.m. match at Michigan State on Friday (Oct. 9).
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Ohio State | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Kelli Gannon, 29:30 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 23, Ohio State 4
Saves: U-M 2 (Kati Oakes), Ohio State 25 (Anna Schwartz)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1, Ohio State 1
Penalty Corners: U-M 9, Ohio State 3
NOTES
• Including her game-winning goal against Ohio State, Kelli Gannon has had a hand in each of Michigan's six goals in the last three games. At Iowa (Oct. 2), she scored both goals in a 2-0 U-M victory, and at Northwestern (Oct. 4), Gannon scored the first goal and assisted on two others in the 3-2 win.
• The Wolverines have won their last five matches and 10 of their last 11.
• Kati Oakes needs just two more shutouts to tie the single-season record of 7.5, set by Rachael Geisthardt in 1995.
