Michigan
Indiana
Fronzoni Sets Points Record as Wolverines Shut Out IU
10/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ocker Field)
Score: #5 Michigan 4, Indiana 0
Records: U-M (9-3, 3-0 Big Ten), Indiana (6-4, 0-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Monday, Oct. 13 -- at Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), 3 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team extended its winning streak to six games today (Saturday, Oct. 11) by blanking Indiana 4-0 at Ocker Field. April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS) scored the decisive goal just over three minutes into the contest to break the first-place tie with Mary Callam (136 points, 1976-79) and become Michigan's career points leader with 138. With the tally, Fronzoni (61) now trails Callam (64) by three for the career goals mark. Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) and Molly Maloney (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest HS) split time to earn U-M's sixth shutout of the season.
The Wolverines jumped all over the Hoosiers in the first half, scoring all four of their goals before 20 minutes had elapsed. Fronzoni's goal at 3:18 came as a result of a rebound that was left free in the middle of the circle for her to swat into the cage. Six minutes later at 9:00 Anneke Huntzicker (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) capitalized on an opportunity from the left of the cage after an initial shot by Fronzoni was blocked in front and caromed to Huntzicker for U-M's second goal.
Jessica Blake (Perth, Western Australia/St. Mary's Angelican) continued the scoring with a wild goal at 11:02. The play began with a shot from a penalty corner that was saved by Indiana's goalie. After another shot and save the ball bounced high into the air to the left of the cage. With the Hoosier defense scrambling, Blake swung softball-style to send the ball hard into the upper part of the goal.
At 14:48 Indiana goalkeeper Molly Pulkrabek was given a yellow card and was forced to leave the game. Michigan quickly capitalized at 18:02 when Kristi Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) recovered her own blocked shot and moved around to the left edge of the circle and slapped the ball past the new keeper, Katie Kanara, to make it 4-0.
Kanara stepped up during the rest of the half by making five saves. At the end of the first half Michigan had outshot Indiana by a count of 21-3, including 13 shots on goal.
The second half was played at a much slower pace. No goals were scored, although Kanara made four more saves to give her a game total of nine. The Wolverines outshot the Hoosiers 8-1 in the second half for a game total of 29-4.
The Wolverines will travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich., on Monday (Oct. 13) to face Central Michigan. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, April Fronzoni, 3:18 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Anneke Huntzicker, 9:00 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Jessica Blake, 11:02 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Kristi Gannon, 18:02 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 29, UI 4
Saves: U-M 4 (Beth Riley 3, Molly Maloney 1), IU 13 (Molly Pullkrabek 4, Katie Kanara 9)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, IU 2
Penalty Corners: U-M 11, IU 5
Penalty Strokes: None
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On the offense in the first half and the rest of the game ... "It's nice to get on the board early. We were able to execute some things we wanted to practice today and I was glad we were able to accomplish that early. It was actually a defensive game because we did not let them have anything, which allows the attack to be able to play. It is nice to be at home in front of the home crowd and play well and score some goals. I though we executed some things well and we will continue to work on the corner to get that better."
On the upcoming matches with CMU and MSU ... "We are focusing on Central Michigan for Monday because they are dangerous at home. Being able to work on some tactics that we want to use and to get people into positions that they can be versatile always helps."
On the play of the team ... "I think our whole team is playing well right now. I think our backfield has really solidified since the beginning of the season. Our zone is very solid and that is from Stephanie Johnson and Katy Moyneur and Kate Dillon and Kristi Gannon. If we keep that solid I think we will really be in good shape."
U-M Senior Forward April Fronzoni
On becoming Michigan's career points leader ... "I am not focusing on individual statistics. So, to be honest with you, I had no idea. It is like one of those things that one person gets it but it is a whole team that is contributing to it. I am ecstatic and really happy with the way I am playing right now and really happy with the support of my team and the way we are playing. So I credit all of that to all of my teammates!"
On the way the team is meshing coming into the end of the season ... "Right now our team is jelling and we are playing great together and playing great team defense. We are all stepping up on offense. So right now it is looking good and we can only get better from here."
NOTES
• Michigan has won 10 of its last 11 games, including a season-high six straight.
• April Fronzoni scored her 138th career point with a goal in the first half to give her the all-time career points record at Michigan. Fronzoni had been tied with Mary Callam (136, 1976-79). With 61 career goals, Fronzoni is three behind Callam (64) for the career goals mark.
• Beth Riley made her seventh start of the season and improved her record to 7-0.
• Jessica Blake has scored six goals in her last six games and has notched a point in nine of her last 11 games, totaling 7-5-19 during that time.
