Weekly Release #6
9/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 29 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 6 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 1 -- vs. Maryland (State College, Pa.), Noon
Friday, Oct. 6 -- vs. Michigan State (Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8 -- at Miami (Ohio) (Oxford, Ohio), 1 p.m.
This Week's Lineup
The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (5-5, 1-0 Big Ten) continues its three-match road series this weekend, traveling to State College, Pa., to face a pair of nationally ranked opponents. The Wolverines will square off against No. 9 Penn State on Friday (Sept. 29) at 6 p.m., before facing No. 1 Maryland -- the defending NCAA champion -- on Sunday (Oct. 1) at noon. Both games will be held at the Nittany Lions' Bigler Field.
Scouting the Opponents
Penn State -- Michigan owns an all-time record of 9-20 against Penn State but has won seven of the last nine meetings. Last season, the conference rivals split a pair of matches, with PSU claiming the regular-season affair and U-M pulling out victory in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. The Nittany Lions posted a perfect 6-0 Big Ten record last season to capture the regular-season conference crown. Michigan nearly upset that bid but could not overcome an early three-goal deficit in a 3-2 loss in Ann Arbor. It was a reversal of fortune a month later at the Big Ten Tournament as the Wolverines gained the early lead and held on for a 2-1 victory en route to their second straight Big Ten Tournament title. The Nittany Lions are 8-2-1 this season and enter the weekend riding an eight-game winnning streak, including a 3-1 road victory in their Big Ten opener against Michigan State last weekend. Penn State will play Syracuse on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 27) before facing the Wolverines. For more information on Penn State, visit www.gopsusports.com.
Maryland -- Michigan trails 5-1 in the all-time series with Maryland, with its only victory coming in the 2001 NCAA championship game. The Wolverines fell behind early in last season's match against the Terps, giving up three first-half goals en route to a 4-0 defeat in U-M's third game of the season. Maryland went on to boast a 23-2 record in 2005 and capture the NCAA title. The Terps enter this weekend with a perfect 10-0 record on the season. They defeated Wake Forest 3-2 in their most recent outing on Saturday (Sept. 23). For more information on Maryland, visit www.umterps.com.
Big Ten Standings and Statistics
The Wolverines boast a handful of players among the conference statistical leaders after 10 games this season. On the offensive end, senior Mary Fox (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) shares the sixth listing with five assists, while junior Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) ranked third with two game-winning tallies. On the other end, junior Jillianne Whitfield (Costa Mesta, Calif./New Harbor HS) lists as one of only nine Big Ten players with a defensive save, and senior Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) owns the fifth spot in both saves (27) and shutouts (1) and ranks fourth in goal against average (1.55). 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 claiming victories in five of their last six outings and opening the Big Ten season with a 2-1 win at Iowa (Sept. 22), the Wolverines climbed back into the rankings -- to 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 (Sept. 26). The STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll can be found by visiting the NFHCA's site.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (9/26/06)
Rank, Team (first-place votes) Points 1. Maryland (36) 739 2. Wake Forest (1) 689 3. Old Dominion 678 4. Duke 622 5. Ohio State 563 6. North Carolina 540 7. Boston College 488 8. Virginia 446 9. Penn State 443 10. Connecticut 362 11. American 284 12. Indiana 270 13. Louisville 254 14. California 246 15. Providence 204 16. Villanova 203 17. James Madison 161 18. William & Mary 155 19. Richmond 132 20. MICHIGAN 97
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.
Bread Winner
Junior Lucia Belassi netted her second game-winning goal of the season to secure the Wolverines' 2-1 victory at Iowa last Friday (Sept. 22) in the Big Ten Conference opener. Belassi owns three career game-winners. Last season, she scored five minutes into the first overtime frame at California, pacing Michigan to a 3-2 victory.
Lending a Helping Hand
Senior captain Mary Fox continued to rack up the assists last weekend, picking up her 22nd career helper on the game-winning goal at Iowa (Sept. 22) to gain sole possession of the 10th position on the list of all-time Michigan assists leaders. Fox needs just one more assist to reach the ninth spot, currently held by Shelley Johnson (23, 1996-97). The Wolverines have had a new player break into the top 10 among U-M career assist leaders in each of the last four season.
Free Hits
The Wolverines improved to 13-32 in the all-time series against Iowa. U-M has won 12 of the last 15 contests ... Senior goalkeeper Beth Riley appeared in her 70th career game at Iowa; she holds the U-M school record in the category among goalkeepers.
On the Horizon
The Wolverines will square off against a pair of regional opponents next weekend. The Wolverines will welcome intrastate rival Michigan State to Phyllis Ocker Field on Friday (Oct. 6) at 3 p.m., before heading to Oxford, Ohio, to face Miami (Ohio) at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 8).
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
