Laytos Assists, Scores in Triumph Over Michigan State

Friday, October 6

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

(6-7, 2-1Big Ten)

Michigan State

(5-9, 0-3Big Ten)

Michigan State

Michigan

Laytos Assists, Scores in Triumph Over Michigan State

10/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #20 Michigan 2, Michigan State 1
Records: U-M (6-7, 2-1 Big Ten), MSU (4-9, 0-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Oct. 8 -- at Miami (Ohio) (Oxford, Ohio), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team scored twice in the second half to earn a 2-1 victory over intrastate rival Michigan State on Friday afternoon (Oct. 6) in front of 427 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field. It was the Wolverines' fourth win at home this season in as many appearances.

After a scoreless opening half, the Wolverines wasted little time in the second before claiming the game's initial advantage as the forward line rushed into MSU territory and scored just 39 seconds into the frame. Junior Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1), stationed deep in the Spartan circle and just right of the cage, got her stick on a hard shot from freshman Paige Laytos (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) to redirect the ball past MSU goalkeeper Stephanie Yuhasz into the corner of the cage.

After several minutes of neutral play, the Wolverines extended their lead later in the frame as Laytos found herself on the other end of a receiving pass, tipping a high shot past Yuhasz for her first collegiate goal. Junior Ashley Lennington (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle HS) controlled the ball deep in Spartan territory and fired a hard pass across the goal mouth to the left post, where Laytos made contact to send the ball straight up into the MSU cage at the 49:05 mark.

Michigan State narrowed the gap late in the contest as Sarah Jones carried the ball along the arc of the Wolverine scoring circle and fired a low shot to the opposite corner of the cage. The goal spoiled senior goalkeeper Beth Riley's (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) shutout bid with just six minutes remaining in the game, but, after a U-M timeout, the Wolverines regrouped to keep the ball out of Michigan State possession and remain undefeated at home this season.

Michigan State outshot the Wolverines 15-12, but U-M held a 6-3 advantage in penalty corner opportunities, including a 5-1 differential in the first half. Riley collected eight saves in the Michigan cage, and Belassi picked up her first collegiate defensive save in the second half. Yuhasz earned five stops for the Spartans.

The Wolverines (6-7, 2-1 Big Ten) wrap up the weekend on the road with a match against Miami (Ohio) in Oxford, Ohio. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 8) at Miami Turf Field.

MATCH SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan State	0	1	1
Michigan	0	2	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Lucia Belassi, 35:39 (Paige Laytos)
2nd -- U-M, Laytos, 49:05 (Ashley Lennington)
2nd -- MSU, Sarah Jones, 63:56 (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 25, MSU 11
Saves: U-M 8 (Beth Riley), MSU 5 (Stephanie Yuhasz)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1, MSU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 6, MSU 3

NOTES

• Highlights of today's win over the Spartans will be available on Michigan All-Access (subscription required). Rates are set at $6.95/month and $49.95/year. For more information, visit Michigan All-Access and select "Field Hockey" from the "All Sports" menu, then go to "Highlights."

• With today's 2-1 victory, the Wolverines improved to 32-21-6 in the all-time series against Michigan State. U-M has won 12 of the last 14 meetings with the Spartans.

• Earning an assist in addition to her first collegiate goal, freshman Paige Laytos registered her second multi-point effort of the season.

• Junior Lucia Belassi claimed her first career defensive save in the second half against Michigan State. She is the third Wolverine to tally a defensive save this season, joining junior Jillianne Whitfield and senior/junior Kristen Tiner.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Nancy Cox
On Michigan's victory ... "The Maryland match, in my opinion, was the tipping point for Michigan field hockey. What we saw in that match was 20 players who finally believe that no matter who steps on the field against them in the opposing color jersey, they can play well and perform. They determine the outcome by the level of committment and conviction they bring. Today, they had to hold on and hold on, but they finished it."

On the half-to-half improvements ... "We weren't effectively moving the ball through our backfield, and our forwards weren't leading back to the ball effectively on our outletting. So, the focus was on how to improve our effectiveness with leads across the forward line, and how can we be more effective across the backfield and get the ball speed up."

On freshman Paige Laytos ... "The player who really stepped up for Michigan, and she scored an international goal on that second goal of the match, was Paige Laytos. Paige started at center forward. She went to center mid, she went to left mid, and then she scored the decisive game-winning goal. She, day in and day out, does exactly what we ask her to do. How we move our program forward is we move the program around Paige Laytos. The kids who want to compete at this level need to recognize that that's the direction Michigan field hockey is going. So, I applaude Paige for everything she has done to this point in her short collegiate career, because she is making a huge difference on the Michigan field hockey program."

U-M Freshman Forward Paige Laytos
On the importance of the game ... "I knew with it being such a big rivalry that it was a must win, especially to get back on the right foot again in the Big Ten. But we just wanted to take it as any other game."

On coming out stronger in the second half ... "They kind of had a hit-and-run style of game. At first, we were a little caught off guard, but we put it all together. We had so many opportunities that went past the far post, so we just needed to knuckle down. We got that down and were able to get one after another."

On her first collegiate goal ... "It was exciting. I was ready for it, but when I saw it go in, I just thought, 'Wow.' Ashley (Lennington) gave me an awesome pass; it was perfect. It was good to finally feel like a forward, because forwards score, and I hadn't scored yet. So, now I finally feel like a forward."

U-M Senior Back Kara Lentz
On the team's attitude entering the rivalry game ... "After that loss to Penn State, we just wanted to come out today and get another Big Ten win under our belt. It's good to be 2-1 in the Big Ten. It's always competitive, fiesty and really intense against Michigan State, so it's really good to come out on top."

On facing Michigan State's long ball ... "We just tried to keep our communication high among the lines of the forwards and upfield. I think we did a good job accomplishing that and came up with a bunch of interceptions."