Michigan
Wake Forest
Wolverines Earn Dramatic Double-Overtime Win, Trip to Boston
11/14/1999 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Jessie Veith (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest HS) got Michigan on the board first with a loft shot over the Wake Forest goalie with 28:15 remaining in the first half. Michigan held the Demon Deacons scoreless for the next 26 minutes, but Wake Forest tied the game with 1:46 remaining in the half on a rebound shot by Jenny Everett.
After a 1-1 halftime score, both teams came out in the second half and held each other scoreless for the first 14 minutes. Courtney Reid (South Deerfield, Mass./Northfield-Mount Hermon HS) scored a rebound goal off Veith's shot with 21:30 remaining in regulation.
Michigan nearly put the game away with 3:45 remaining as Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) found Veith open for a one-on-one with the goalie, but a sliding save was made to keep the game within reach for the Demon Deacons.
Late in the second half, Wake Forest established play in the Michigan zone and was able to pressure the Wolverine defense, earning three consecutive penalty corners. The Demon Deacons tied the game on the third corner play, with 1:38 remaining in regulation, as Amy Marchell beat U-M goaltender Kati Oakes (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) to send the game to overtime.
Just 30 seconds into the first overtime period, Wake Forest nearly ended the contest, but Catherine Foreman (Happy Valley, South Australia/Westminster School) made a crucial defensive save as the ball found its way behind Oakes after a breakaway shot.
In the second overtime, Michigan pressured from the start and earned a penalty corner 1:30 in. The Wolverines tried a lift shot on the corner, and the Demon Deacons were called for an illegal block, setting up Reichenbach's game-winning stroke with 13:21 on the clock.
Michigan (19-6) will face No. 2 Connecticut (23-0) on Friday (Nov. 19) at 3 p.m. in Boston, Mass., for the right to advance to the national championship game (Sunday, Nov. 21). Iowa (19-2) and top-ranked Maryland (22-1) will meet at 12:30 p.m. in the other semifinal.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | OT | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Wake Forest | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Jessie Veith, 28:15 (unassisted)
1st -- WFU, Jenny Everett, 1:46 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Courtney Reid, 21:30 (unassisted)
2nd -- WFU, Amy Marchell, 1:38 (Jenny Everett, Samantha Rush)
2OT -- U-M, Ashley Reichenbach, 13:21 (penalty stroke)
Shots: U-M 11, WFU 7
Saves: U-M 3 (Kati Oakes), WFU 10 (Meaghan Nitka)
Penalty Corners: U-M 13, WFU 7
Defensive Saves: U-M 1 (Catherine Foreman)
N O T E S
-- The win over Wake Forest marked the second time in four games that Ashley Reichenbach scored the game-winner in a double-overtime postseason win. On Nov. 6, Reichenbach's penalty stroke gave Michigan a 2-1 win over Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
-- Michigan had four would-be goals waved off, two in each half.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
"It was an awfully exciting match. This was a very challenging region; the final went into double overtime. We're happy to be representing Michigan and the Big Ten from this region in the Final Four."
Senior Ashley Reichenbach
"This was a great game. The whole team played so well together. Catherine Foreman had a great save there in overtime. It's great to stand there on the back row and watch my teammates come together."
On Wake Forest's two goals ... "They are a great team. Against great teams, no matter how well you play, they are going to score. You always have to expect that with a great team."
On taking game-winning penalty strokes ... "I just walk up there with butterflies in my stomach -- try to take a deep breath and make it happen."
Freshman Jessica Rose
"I'm so excited, so giddy. I can't stop smiling."
On playing in traffic ... "I think it's staying cool and staying confident. The coaches have been working with me on my stickhandling and staying low."
Contact: Brent Richards (734) 763-4423
