Michigan
Iowa
Wolverines Ousted from Big Ten Tournament in Overtime
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Event: Big Ten Tournament
Score: Iowa 2, #16 Michigan 1 (OT)
Records: U-M (11-9), Iowa (10-8)
Next U-M Match: Season Completed
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 4-seeded University of Michigan field hockey team was eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament by the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday (Nov. 3) at Ocker Field. The Wolverines tied the opening-round contest with just over 10 minutes left in regulation before getting knocked off by a 2-1 final score in overtime. Freshman Kelly Fitzpatrick (Hummelstown, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) tallied Michigan's lone goal.
Following a penalty corner, Iowa was able to break onto the scoreboard at 17:23 of the first half when Heather Schnepf scooped up the loose ball and slid it through traffic to Lauren Pfeiffer on the left side of the scoring line. Pfeiffer's shot found the corner of the cage for the 1-0 Hawkeye lead.
Despite having the early shot advantage, Michigan was outshot by the Hawkeyes 10-6 in the first 35 minutes of play. However, the Maize and Blue was awarded five corners to Iowa's four.
The Wolverines stormed out after halftime, tallying five consecutive shots before Iowa could register one.
The Hawkeyes tried to extend their lead over U-M, but senior Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa.,/Palmyra Area HS) made a pair of key saves to keep the game within reach for the Wolverines. Caitlin McCurdy carried the ball into the scoring area and ripped a shot that Riley kicked away. McCurdy grabbed the rebound and lifted another shot toward the cage, but Riley was able to get a hand on the ball and deflect it away.
Michigan's constant pressure finally paid off when U-M cashed it on a rebound chance to knot the game at a goal apiece. Fitzpatrick directed a shot at the Iowa keeper and tracked down the rebound herself, scoring at 58:16. The game-tying score was Fitzpatrick's eighth goal of the season.
With time running out in regulation and the score still tied 1-1, Iowa was awarded a penalty corner. In the ensuing scrum, Schnepf's shot found the back of the cage, but the goal was waved off and the tie carried into a sudden-death overtime frame.
Iowa's next penalty corner opportunity proved to be the difference in the game, as Pfeiffer knocked in her second goal of the match at 72:26. Kadi Sickel pushed the ball to Schnepf, who stopped it and fed it to Pfeiffer. The Hawkeye striker rocketed a shot through traffic and past Riley to seal the victory for Iowa.
The Hawkeyes will face No. 1 seed Ohio State at 11 a.m. in Saturday's first semifinal.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | F |
| Iowa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- Iowa, Lauren Pfeiffer, 17:23 (Heather Schnepf)
2nd -- U-M, Kelly Fitzpatrick, 58:17 (unassisted)
OT -- Iowa, Pfeiffer, 72:28 (Schnepf, Kadi Sickel)
Shots: U-M 15, Iowa 18
Saves: U-M 8 (Beth Riley 7), Iowa 7 (Lissa Munley)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1, Iowa 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 7, Iowa 9
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Nancy Cox
On today's game ... "Our team really left it on the field today, and that's all you can expect them to do. In the heat of battle, in what could potentially be their last match in Maize and Blue, I think the pressure weighs heavily on those senior players. Our seniors did the best of their ability today. Iowa, to their credit, played a great game. They were markedly improved from the first time we saw them. She has a bunch of freshmen and sophomores on that team, so the future looks bright for Iowa as well."
On freshman Kelly Fitzpatrick ... "Every time she steps on the field, she is able to finish. I think the future for Kelly Fitzpatrick at Michigan in the Maize and Blue uniform is bright. She has had to overcome health issues all year long, but she stepped up, playing two minutes here, four minutes here, six minutes here. Every time she steps on the field, she makes a significant contribution to the success of Michigan field hockey. That goal obviously put us into overtime."
On Michigan's potential selection to the NCAA Tournament ... "We'll have to wait until Tuesday to find out, but I hope that the selection committee takes a strong look at Michigan. We have had a consistent presence among the top-16 teams this season. We finished the regular season quite strong with six wins in our final seven games, and, according to the NCAA RPI, no team in the country, with the exception of Maryland, plays a tougher schedule than Michigan."
NOTES
• Senior goalkeeper Beth Riley earned eight saves in today's first-round contest against Iowa and brought her career total to 358 over her four-year tenure. She takes over the fifth position among the Wolverines' all-time leaders in the category.
• With her game-tying goal in the final minutes of regulation play, freshman Kelly Fitzpatrick has notched a goal in three consecutive games.
• Iowa tallied its first victory over the Wolverines in Big Ten Tournament play. Michigan was previously a perfect 3-0, including two wins over the Hawkeyes in the championship match -- in 1999 and again in 2004.
