Wake Forest Blanks Michigan in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Sunday, September 1

Chapel Hill, N.C.

2:30 PM

Michigan

Wake Forest

9/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team suffered its first loss of the season on Sunday (Sept. 1), falling 2-0 to Wake Forest as a part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. U-M (1-1) was outshot and out-cornered by the Demon Deacons 18-10 and 8-5, respectively. Michigan goalkeeper Molly Maloney (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest HS) set a career best for saves in a game with four.

The Wolverines gave up their first goal of the season to WFU's Maria Whitehead with 12:33 left in the first half. Whitehead took a long pass from outside the circle from Kelly Doton and slipped the ball into the Michigan cage. The Wolverines had their share of chances to even the score throughout the opening stanza as they matched the Demon Deacons in shots taken with seven and had four penalty corners to WFU's two. Kristi Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) took two of her team-high three shots in the first half, however, Wake Forest goalkeeper Katie Ridd turned aside both of Michigan's shots on goal.

In the second half, Wake Forest took advantage of its six penalty corners compared to Michigan's one and fired 11 shots to U-M's three. Maloney stood tall as she made three of her four saves in the second period and gave the Wolverines a chance to get back into the game. The score was still 1-0 until late in the game when Wake Forest scored on a tip-in goal off a penalty corner with 1:07 left on the clock.

Michigan will return home to Ocker Field next weekend and begin a nine-game homestand with contests against Central Michigan on Saturday (Sept. 7, 10 a.m.) and Ball State on Sunday (Sept. 8, 1 p.m.).

MATCH SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	0	0	0
Wake Forest	1	1	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- WFU, Maria Whitehead, 12:33 (Kelly Doton)
2nd -- WFU, Heather Aughinbaugh, 1:07 (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 10, WFU 18
Saves: U-M 4 (Molly Maloney), WFU 3 (Katie Ridd)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1 (Kate Dillon), WFU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 5, WFU 8
Penalty Strokes: None

N O T E S

Molly Maloney set a personal best in saves as she made four stops against Wake Forest. Her previous high for saves came in the 2000 season when she made three saves against Northeastern (Aug. 27) and Rutgers (Sept. 16).

In 2001, Michigan was shut out on only one occasion, against Ohio State (3-0) on Nov. 10 during the Big Ten Tournament.

All teams that participated in the Big Ten Challenge left with a 1-1 record. On Saturday, Michigan defeated North Carolina 2-0 and Iowa beat Wake Forest 1-0. In Sunday's first game, North Carolina upended Iowa 2-1 in overtime.

Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423