Weekly Release #8
10/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 10 -- vs. Central Michigan (Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), 1 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19 -- vs. Virginia Commonwealth (Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22 -- vs. Ohio State (Ocker Field), Noon
Sunday, Oct. 29 -- vs. Northwestern (Ocker Field), 1 p.m.
This Week's Lineup
The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (7-7, 2-1 Big Ten) looks to extend its home winning streak to five games when it hosts Central Michigan this Tuesday (Oct. 10) at 3 p.m. The Wolverines wrap up the road portion of their schedule against conference rival Indiana on Sunday (Oct. 15, 1 p.m.) at the John Mellencamp Pavilion in Bloomington, Ind.
Michigan Field Hockey on the Web
Highlights of Tuesday's Michigan field hockey game against the Chippewas will be available on Michigan All-Access (subscription required). Past games against Kent State and Ball State are also available. 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."
Scouting the Opponents
Central Michigan -- The Wolverines hold a 24-14-2 advantage in the all-time series against Central Michigan and have won 15 straight, dating back to the 1990 campaign. In last season's between the two intrastate rivals, Jill Civic (Wescoville, Pa./Emmaus HS) and Katie Morris notched first-half goals, and goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) was perfect in the U-M cage en route to a 2-0 shutout victory in Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas enter the weekend with an even 6-6 record on the season after snapping a four-game losing streak last Saturday (Oct. 7) with a 2-1 overtime win against Kent State. For more information on Central Michigan, visit www.cmuchippwas.com.
Indiana -- Michigan owns a slight 6-5 advantage in the all-time series against Indiana, and the Wolverines have won six of seven meetings since the Hoosiers reinstituted their program in 2000. The two programs split a pair of matches last season with IU claiming the regular-season match and Michigan winning in the final of the Big Ten Tournament. Behind three first-half goals, the Wolverines cruised to a 3-0 victory to claim their second straight conference tournament trophy. Indiana boasts a 12-2 record this season and sits in the Big Ten driver's seat with a perfect 3-0 conference record. The Hoosiers dominated Lindenwood 9-0 in their most recent outing last Sunday (Oct. 8). For more information on Indiana, visit www.iuhoosiers.com.
Big Ten Standings and Statistics
The Wolverines boast a handful of players among the conference statistical leaders after 14 games this season. On the offensive end, senior Mary Fox (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) and junior Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) share the fifth spot in game-winning tallies with two. On the other end, junior Jillianne Whitfield (Costa Mesta, Calif./New Harbor HS), senior/junior Kristen Tiner (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) and Belassi list as three of only 13 Big Ten players with a defensive save, and senior Beth Riley owns the fourth spot in both saves (57) and goals against average (1.87) and ranks fifth in shutouts (1). 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
The Wolverines held onto the No. 20 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. 3). The STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll can be found by visiting the NFHCA's site.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (10/3/06)
Rank, Team (first-place votes) Points 1. Maryland (33) 679 2. Wake Forest 636 3. Old Dominion (1) 622 4. Boston College 529 5. Duke 522 6. North Carolina 502 7. Ohio State 473 8. Penn State 451 9. Virginia 385 10. Connecticut 384 11. Indiana 368 12. Providence 209 13. Louisville 203 14. California 198 15. American 197 16. Villanova 195 17. William & Mary 151 18. James Madison 129 19. Richmond 113 20. MICHIGAN 52
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.
Laytos Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
Freshman Paige Laytos (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) claimed the first Big Ten weekly honor of her career on Monday (Oct. 9) when she received the offensive nod for her standout performance in Michigan's weekend sweep against Michigan State and Miami (Ohio). Laytos scored her first collegiate goal -- the eventual gamewinner -- midway through the second half against the Spartans after earlier assisting on the first tally of the game. The U-M rookie wasted little time before securing her second marker of the season, capping the Wolverines' 5-3 comeback win at Miami with a goal in the final minute of regulation.
Free Hits
After the weekend contests, the Wolverines improved to 32-21-6 in the all-time series against Michigan State and improved to 10-1-1 in the series vs. Miami (Ohio) ... Freshman Paige Laytos tallied her first collegiate goal against MSU (Oct. 6) and added another marker two days later at Miami (Oct. 8) ... 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.
On the Horizon
Michigan will remain home at the Phyllis Ocker Field for the remainder of its 2006 regular-season slate. First up for the Wolverines is a non-conference match against Virginia Commonwealth next Thursday (Oct. 19) at 3 p.m. The Wolverines close the weekend competition against conference rival Ohio State on Sunday (Oct. 22) at noon.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
