Michigan Comeback Falls Just Shy Against Penn State

Sunday, October 2

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

(12-1, 2-0Big Ten)

Penn State

(6-6, 0-3Big Ten)

Penn State

Michigan

10/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Scoring a pair of goals in the second half, the No. 13-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team battled back against No. 7 Penn State on Sunday (Oct. 2) but fell just short, losing the Big Ten Conference match 3-2. The loss evened the Wolverines' season record at 6-6.

Down three goals at halftime, the Maize and Blue emerged from the intermission a rejuvenated team and proceeded to control the final 35 minutes of play. U-M held ball possession in Penn State's end through the opening 13 minutes but could not muscle into the Nittany Lions striking circle for a quality scoring opportunity.

After Penn State carried the ball down the field to register the first shot of the half and draw a corner, the Wolverines responded in a big way as freshmen Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H./Keene HS) and Stephanie Hoyer (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) connected to put U-M on the scoreboard at 50:42. Nittany Lion goalkeeper Megan Akstin came out of the cage to play the ball which Dallas fed into the circle. Akstin misplayed it, however, and the ball bounced to Hoyer, who flipped it over the sprawled goalie for her third goal of the season.

The U-M freshman duo connected again less than six minutes later, at the 56:20 mark, to pull the Wolverines within one goal of the visiting Nittany Lions. Standing high in the PSU circle, Hoyer played the ball hard on goal, and Akstin again midhandled it. Laying in wait, Dallas corralled it and roofed a shot into the upper right corner.

Michigan continued to pressure through the remainder of the game, tallying five shots in the final 15 minutes of play while holding Penn State to just one. Dallas was left all alone in the PSU circle with just two minutes to go, but the Wolverine could not handle a bouncing pass from senior/junior captain Katie Morris (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS).

Penn State spread its three goals evenly over the first half, gaining an early advantage off a penalty corner just two minutes into the game. Annelise Legel scored a pair of markers, including the eventual game-winner at 33:35, beating U-M junior goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) high on each occasion.

Penn State outshot U-M by a narrow 15-14 margin, but the Wolverines held a 8-6 advantage in penalty corners. Riley earned nine saves in the U-M cage and senior captain Lori Hillman (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional HS) picked up a second-half defensive save, while Akstin made four stops for the PSU win.

The Wolverines will play a Thursday-Sunday series next week, facing Michigan State and Connecticut. U-M will head to East Lansing, Mich., to square off against the Spartans in Big Ten action on Thursday (Oct. 6) at 5 p.m. before returning home to Ocker Field for a 12:30 p.m. meeting on Sunday (Oct. 9) against Connecticut.

MATCH SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Penn State	3	0	3
Michigan	0	2	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- PSU, Shaun Banta, 2:01 (Kiersten Wood)
1st -- PSU, Annelise Legel, 23:13 (Banta)
1st -- PSU, Legel, 33:35 (Britney Long)
2nd -- U-M, Stephanie Hoyer, 50:42 (Erin Dallas)
2nd -- U-M, Dallas, 56:20 (Hoyer)

Shots: U-M 14, PSU 15
Saves: U-M 9 (Beth Riley), PSU 4 (Megan Akstin)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1, PSU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 8, PSU 6
Penalty Strokes: None

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423