Belassi Named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week
10/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Junior Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1), a member of the University of Michigan field hockey team, was named the Big Ten Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week on Monday (Oct. 16) after boasting a career-high eight points in the Wolverines' explosive victory over Central Michigan. She shares the honor this week with Ohio State's Saskia Mueller.
Belassi
Belassi contributed to all but one of the U-M tallies in its 7-2 victory over CMU last Tuesday (Oct. 10), registering two goals and four assists. Her back-to-back goals early in the second half put the game away for the Wolverines, earning the junior her third game-winning marker of the season. Belassi's eight points are the most in a single game by a U-M player since Jessica Blake scored four goals against Central Michigan on Sept. 17, 2004 -- a contest in which Belassi, as a freshman, recorded six points on two goals and two assists.
Belassi also contributed to the Wolverines' 1-0 upset victory at Indiana (Oct. 15) as Michigan pulled itself back into contention for the Big Ten regular-season trophy. The forward has recorded career highs in every scoring category this season, currently leading the Wolverines with 21 points (8-5-21).
Belassi is the third Wolverine to claim a Big Ten weekly honor this season, and the second offensive recipient in as many weeks. Freshman Paige Laytos (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) earned the nod last week after scoring back-to-back goals in Michigan's weekend sweep of Michigan State (Oct. 6) and Miami of Ohio (Oct. 8), while senior goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) received the defensive citation after blanking the opposition through 105 minutes of play against Ball State (Sept. 15) and Louisville (Sept. 17).
The Wolverines return home to host a non-conference contest against Virginia Commonwealth on Thursday (Oct. 19). The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Phyllis Ocker Field.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
