Weekly Release #10
10/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Upcoming Schedule
Sunday, Oct. 29 -- vs. Northwestern (Ocker Field), 1 p.m.
Fri-Sun., Nov. 3-5 -- host Big Ten Tournament (Ocker Field)
This Week's Lineup
The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (10-8, 3-2 Big Ten) wraps up the regular-season portion of its 2006 slate by hosting Northwestern on Sunday (Oct. 29) at Phyllis Ocker Field. The conference match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., and will follow a brief ceremony to honor the Wolverines' senior class.
A Senior Moment
Michigan will honor its four-member senior class on Sunday (Oct. 29) before squaring off against Northwestern in the regular-season finale. Seniors Jill Civic (Wescosville, Pa./Emmaus HS), Mary Fox (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy), Kara Lentz (Manchester, Mass./St. Paul's School) and Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) will have exhausted their eligibility after this season and will be graduating from the University in the spring.
Scouting the Opponents
Northwestern -- Michigan trails 16-28 in the all-time series with Northwestern but has won each of the last 14 meetings dating back to the 1997 campaign. In last season's match between the two programs, the Wolverines cruised to a 6-1 victory after building a dominant six-goal advantage with three goals in each frame. Kristen Tiner (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) netted a pair of markers to lead the U-M scoring efforts, while Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) secured a goal and an assist. The Wildcats are 7-10 this season and own an 1-4 mark in Big Ten competition. In its most recent outing, NU fell 2-1 to conference foe Iowa last Sunday (Oct. 22). For more information on Northwestern, visit www.nusports.com.
Big Ten Standings and Statistics
The Wolverines boast a handful of players among the conference statistical leaders after 18 games this season. On the offensive end, junior Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) shares the ninth spot in points (21) and 10th in goals (8), and ranks fourth in game-winning tallies (3). Senior Mary Fox, after posting five assists over the weekend, climbed to the second spot in the category with 11. On the defensive end, senior/junior Kristen Tiner (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) shares the top spot with two defensive saves, and senior Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) owns the fourth spot in both saves (79) and save percentage (.745) and lists fifth in goals against average (1.76). The latest standings and statistics from the Big Ten Conference can be found by visiting the Big Ten's website.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll
After splitting matches against Virginia Commonwealth (5-1, Oct. 19) and Ohio State (2-3 OT, Oct. 22), the Wolverines climbed two positions to the No. 16 spot in the most recent National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll of the top 20 teams in NCAA Division I, released on Tuesday (Oct. 24). The STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll can be found by visiting the NFHCA's site.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (10/24/06)
Rank, Team (first-place votes) Points 1. Maryland (38) 760 2. Wake Forest 713 3. Old Dominion 693 4. Duke 612 5. Ohio State 597 6. Boston College 555 7. Penn State 507 8. North Carolina 501 9. Connecticut 444 10. Virginia 420 11. Louisville 361 12. California 340 13. Providence 270 14. Indiana 254 15. James Madison 193 16. MICHIGAN 174 17. Richmond 165 18. Villanova 157 19. American 51 20. Hofstra 37
Statistically Speaking ...
National statistics, compiled for the first time by the NCAA, will be released every Monday during the season. Statistics can be accessed at NCAA Field Hockey.
You're A Super Star
Seniors Mary Fox and Kara Lentz were selected to participate in the 2006 NFHCA Senior All-Star Game, scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 18, in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Wolverines have posted a strong 60-28 record over the last four years with Fox and Lentz on the roster. Fox was a NFHCA All-West Region selection in 2005 and has twice earned All-Big Ten accolades. Lentz has been a four-year fixture among the U-M backfield, and, as a primary striker on the Wolverines' penalty corner over the last two seasons, has compiled career stats of nine goals and 13 assists.The U-M pair were among 38 players selected, including nine representatives from the Big Ten.
Milestone Games
Senior Jill Civic (Wescoville, Pa./Emmaus HS) will play her 86th career game against Northwestern on Sunday (Oct. 22) and, in doing so, will crack Michigan's all-time top 10 in career games played. Three-time All-American Kelli Gannon (1997-2000) and Erica Widder (1996-99) currently share the ninth spot.
Lending a Helping Hand
Senior Mary Fox assisted on both Michigan goals against Ohio State (Oct. 22) to bring her four-year total to 28 career helpers. She climbed to the fifth spot among U-M's all-time assists leaders, where she is tied with three-time All-American Kelli Gannon (1997-2000). Fox needs three more assists to reach the fourth position, held by Jennifer Lupinski (31, 1992-95).
Free Hits
With Michigan's win over VCU, U-M improved to 19-8 all-time against teams from the Colonial Athletic Association ... The Wolverines fell to 27-22-1 in the all-time series against Ohio State ... Senior Mary Fox owns a three-game point streak, scoring a goal and six assists over that time ... Senior Kara Lentz earned her first career multi-goal game in the Wolverines' 5-1 win over Virginia Commonwealth.
On the Horizon
The Wolverines will host the Big Ten Tournament next weekend at Phyllis Ocker Field in Ann Arbor. The first round is slated for Friday, Nov. 3, while the semifinals will take place on Saturday, Nov. 4. The Big Ten championship game and the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament will be contested on Sunday, Nov. 5.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
