Weekly Release #9

Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 22 -- at California (Berkeley, Calif.), Noon PDT
Sunday, Oct. 23 -- vs. Pacific (Berkeley, Calif.), 3 p.m. PDT
Friday, Oct. 28 -- vs. Iowa (Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 30 -- vs. Lousiville (Ocker Field), 1 p.m.

This Week's Lineup -- at California, vs. Pacific
The No. 10 University of Michigan field hockey team will conduct their final regular-season road trip of the 2005 season this weekend when they travel to the west coast for a pair of non-conference slates. U-M will face host California on Saturday (Oct. 22) at noon in Berkeley, Calif., before returning for a 3 p.m. game against Pacific on Sunday (Oct. 23). Both contests will be held at the Bears' Maxwell Family Field.
 
Wolverines to Collect Donations for Maria Whitehead
In support of Saint Louis Univerisity head coach Maria Whitehead, who is currently receiving therapy for malignant melanoma, the Michigan field hockey program will have donation buckets at its final two contests of the season, scheduled for Friday and Sunday (Oct. 28-30). The donation drive, organized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, took effect on Saturday, Oct. 15 at numerous participating schools. To kickstart the drive, the NFHCA also donated $1 for every goal scored on Oct. 15. All funds collected will go to aiding coach Whitehead and her family.

Scouting the Golden Bears
Michigan holds a perfect 4-0 record against California in the all-time series between the two programs. In last season's meeting, at Phyllis Ocker Field, Michigan fought back from an early deficit to roll past the Golden Bears 3-1. Senior Adrienne Hortillosa capitalized on a penalty stroke late in the first half to give Michigan the lead for good. Junior/sophomore Katie Morris (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) and sophomore Mary Fox (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) also scored markers for U-M. The Golden Bears own a 9-6 record this season with wins in their last five games, including an 8-0 shutout against Longwood in their most recent outing. For more information on California, visit www.calbears.com.

Scouting the Tigers
Michigan owns a perfect 5-0 mark in the all-time series with Pacific, dating back to the 1989 campaign. The Wolverines tallied a pair of wins against Pacific last season, earning a 3-0 regular-season shutout before defeating the Tigers 2-1 in overtime in the NCAA first round. Down one goal at halftime in the postseason meeting, junior/sophomore Katie Morris knotted up the score midway through the second frame, setting up senior Adrienne Hortillosa's overtime tally off a penalty corner at the 77:37 mark. Pacific owns a 6-9 mark this season but is a perfect 4-0 in NorPac Conference play. For more information on Pacific, visit www.pacifictigers.com.

STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll
Behind their streak of three wins, the Wolverines broke back into the national top 10 in the most recent STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, released on Tuesday (Oct. 18). Demonstrating the strength of the Big Ten Conference this season, six Big Ten schools are listed among the top 15 in this week's national rankings, including four in the top 10. The STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll can be found by visiting the NFHCA's site.

STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (10/11/05)

Rank, Team (record) Points Previous 1. Wake Forest (14-0) 560 1 2. Duke (12-3) 502 3 3. Maryland (15-2) 496 2 4. North Carolina (12-3) 471 4 5. American (13-0) 432 5 6. Penn State (14-1) 429 6 7. Old Dominion (11-5) 413 8 8. Indiana (13-1) 387 7 9. Ohio State (14-3) 324 9 10. MICHIGAN (9-6) 291 11 11. Iowa (9-5) 242 12 12. Connecticut (11-4) 225 14 13. Northeastern (13-3) 212 10 14. Boston College (10-4) 201 16 15. Michigan State (9-7) 153 15 16. Louisville (10-6) 143 13 17. Villanova (12-4) 140 18 18. Boston University (11-3) 92 19 19. James Madison (8-7) 82 16 20. Virginia (8-6) 34 20

Statistically Speaking ...
National statistics, compiled by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), are released every Tuesday during the season. Junior goalkeeper Beth Riley holds down the 20th spot on the nation's saves list with 89 stops. Statistics can be accessed at Virginia's site.

Among the Big Ten Conference, senior/junior Katie Morris shares the ninth spot in goals (9) and 10th in goals per game (0.60). She also shares the second position with three game-winning goals. Junior Beth Riley sits second in three categories -- saves (89), saves per game (5.93) and shutouts (3). She owns the third-best save percentage in the conference with .742. Throughout the 2005 season, the latest standings and statistics from the Big Ten can be found by visiting the Big Ten's website.

The Life of Riley
With Michigan's 4-3 win at Kent State (Sept. 25), junior Beth Riley earned her 36th career win to take sole possession of Michigan's all-time wins record. With three straight U-M wins, she improved her own mark to 39 career victories. Riley also climbed to sixth on Michigan's career shutouts list with the Wolverines' 1-0 victory at Michigan State (Oct. 6). Riley boasts 12 perfect games during her U-M tenure and needs just one more to reach the fifth position, currently held by Maureen Tasch (13, 1998-2001). If those weren't enough, Riley also claimed sole possession of the third spot on Michigan's career games played rankings with her 53rd slate. She needs just four more second spot, currently held by Jonnie Terry (56, 1981-84).

Free Hits
The Wolverines are 27-2-1 all-time meetings against NorPac teams (7-1 vs. Southwest Missouri State, 6-1 vs. St. Louis, 5-0 vs. Pacific, 4-0 vs. Stanford, 4-0 vs. California, 1-0 vs. Radford).
With the Wolverines' 6-1 victory at Northwestern last weekend, they improved to 16-28 in the all-time series between the two programs. Michigan has won 14 straight matches, dating back to the 1997 season.
Senior Lori Hillman and junior Mary Fox were added assists on Michigan's first goal against Northwestern.
Freshman Erin Dallas has scored five goals in the last six contests.

Hillman, Fuchs Earn Seventh-Place USA Finish at Junior Worlds
Behind the play of senior captain Lori Hillman and guidance of assistant coach Tracey Fuchs, the USA Under-21 team posted a 4-2-2 mark en route seventh place -- its best finish in four appearances -- at the Junior World Cup, held Sept. 14-25, in Santiago, Chile. Hillman started every game in the U.S. backfield and contributed to just 14 goals allowed against the toughest junior teams in the world. Team USA wrapped up the competition with a 4-2 victory over South Africa in the seventh/eighth-place contest.

On the Horizon
Michigan will wrap up the regular-season portion of its schedule at Phyllis Ocker Field next weekend, hosting Iowa and Louisville. U-M will square off against the Hawkeyes at 3 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 28) before facing Louisville at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 30).