Michigan
Connecticut
U-M Beats Huskies to Advance to National Title Game
11/19/1999 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
The game was a tale of two halves. With defenses controlling the first half, UConn took a 1-0 lead into halftime before the second-half offensive eruption, which included six goals.
Michigan (20-6) controlled the offensive tempo for much of the first half but committed a turnover while attempting to counterattack, which led to UConn's first goal. Laura Klein got a pass from Amy Herz and found the back of the goal with 8:41 remaining in the first half. That was the only shot the Huskies managed in the entire first half.
"We told the team at halftime that if we kept playing the way we were, we would win the game," commented Michigan head coach Marcia Pankratz, whose team is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
Following the halftime speech, the Maize and Blue remained extraordinarily calm and confident. Sophomore Jocelyn LaFace (Rossland, B.C./Rossland Secondary) scored the first Michigan goal with 27:12 remaining in the contest, on a rebound off of UConn All-American goaltender Danielle Vile. From that point, the Wolverines seized control of a game that featured outstanding second-half drama.
Ali Balmer (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata HS) gave the Wolverines a 2-1 advantage with 14:35 remaining. The slow-developing play started as a penalty corner in which Stephanie Johnson (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) shot once, got a rebound and swept the ball to Jessica Rose (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS), who passed to Balmer for the score.
Connecticut tied the game with 8:41 remaining on Laura Klein's goal, but Michigan would answer 2:30 later when Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) blasted a shot on a corner play, thumping the back of the goal. On Gannon's goal, Courtney Reid (South Deerfield, Mass./Northfield-Mount Hermon HS) and Catherine Foreman (Happy Valley, South Australia/Westminster School) each recorded their 22nd assists of the season, matching a school record for assists in a single season.
UConn answered just 1:30 later to tie the game 3-3 as Kelly Cochrane broke across the Michigan cage through two defenders to score an unassisted goal. It looked as if the Wolverines were going to overtime for the third time in five games, but Molly Powers (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest HS) scored an unassisted goal with 1:56 on the clock to send the Maize and Blue to the championship game.
Michigan and top-ranked Maryland will meet Sunday (Nov. 21) at 1:30 p.m. for the national championship. Maryland holds a 1-0 series advantage, having defeated Michigan 2-1 in double overtime Sept. 5, 1998, in St. Louis, Mo. A championship for Michigan would be the first women's team title in school history and the school's 51st national championship overall.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- UConn, Laura Klein, 8:41 (Amy Herz)
2nd -- U-M, Jocelyn LaFace, 27:12 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Ali Balmer, 27:12 (Jessica Rose)
2nd -- UConn, Nicole Castonguay, 8:18 (Allison Sharpe, Klein)
2nd -- U-M, Kelli Gannon, 6:13 (Courtney Reid, Catherine Foreman)
2nd -- UConn, Kelly Cochrane, 4:33 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Molly Powers, 1:56 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 12, UConn 5
Saves: U-M 2 (Kati Oakes), UC 6 (Danielle Vile)
Penalty Corners: U-M 5, UConn 3
Defensive Saves: None
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On the 1-0 deficit at halftime ... "We just told the team to keep playing the way we did in the first half. We really controlled the tempo and didn't give up many chances. UConn is a great team, but we knew that if we kept playing our style of hockey, we would have a good chance to win."
On the change in momentum in the second half ... "When we scored, we knew they may have some question marks on their defense. As soon as we scored, I think they realized we were for real."
On playing Maryland for the national title ... "Maryland is an extraordinary team. They have players on the national team, some of the best in the country. They have two players from Germany and a great goaltender. We are playing great hockey right now and we are going to give them a great game. I think we have a great chance to win."
On the flow of the game in the second half ... "Both teams really played well in the second half. UConn is a very good team and they are not used to losing. It was one of those heavyweight fights where you have to keep going in the second half. Fortunately, we played the best half I think we have all year and it paid off."
Senior Defender Ashley Reichenbach
On the attitude of the team ... "We have a never-say-die attitude. We don't give up until the final buzzer, no matter what the score is. We won't stop and that is what has carried us to this point."
On the Michigan defense ... "Our defense was so intense. We just didn't want to give them any opportunities, and in the end, we were able to hang on."
Contact: Brent Richards (734) 763-4423
