Weekly Release #9(at Central Michigan, at Northwestern))
10/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
2007 Weekly Release #9
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday, Oct. 17 -- at Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 21 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 1 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27 -- at California (Berkeley, Calif.), Noon
Sunday, Oct. 28 -- at Stanford (Palo Alto, Calif.), Noon
This Week's Lineup
The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (11-4, 5-0 Big Ten) will kick off a four-game regular-season-ending road trip this week with a pair of regional opponents. The Wolverines will head to Mount Pleasant, Mich., Wednesday (Oct. 17) for a 3 p.m. meeting against Central Michigan in the CMU Field Hockey Complex. U-M will close its Big Ten Conference slate Sunday (Oct. 21), squaring off against Northwestern at 1 p.m. CDT on Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill.
We Are the Champions
The Wolverines clinched at least a share of the Big Ten Conference title last Friday (Oct. 12) after they defeated Indiana, 1-0, in overtime. Michigan has captured six Big Ten titles since it joined the conference in 1978 -- all of which have come in the last 10 years. The Wolverines captured the conference crown in 1997, 2000, '02, '03, '04 and '07. With a 5-0 conference mark, U-M remains the lone unbeaten team in league play. It is the Wolverines' best Big Ten start since the 2002 season when they swept the conference slate en route to the conference title. If Michigan defeats Northwestern on Sunday (Oct. 21), U-M will earn the outright championship.
Scouting the Opponent
Central Michigan -- The Wolverines hold a 25-14-2 advantage in the all-time series against Central Michigan and have won 16 straight, dating back to the 1990 campaign. In last season's meeting between the two intrastate rivals, Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) registered the most-productive effort of her collegiate career, tallying two goals and three assists to pace the Wolverine squad to a 7-2 home victory. Paige Laytos (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) also recorded a multi-goal performance with a marker in each half. The Chippewas enter the weekend with a 5-8 record on the season and have won five of their last seven contests, including a 4-1 victory over Missouri State in their most recent outing last Sunday (Oct. 14). For more information on Central Michigan, visit www.cmuchippwas.com.
Northwestern -- Michigan trails 17-28 in the all-time series with Northwestern but has won each of the last 15 meetings dating back to the 1997 campaign. The Wolverines rolled to a 3-1 decision in last season's meeting between the conference foes -- the final regular-season slate for both programs. Lucia Belassi netted a goal in each half, including the game-winner late in the second frame, while Kelly Fitzpatrick (Hummelstown, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) iced the U-M victory with an insurance goal less than two minutes later. The Wildcats are 4-9 this season and own an 0-3 mark in Big Ten competition. In its most recent outing, NU fell 2-1 to California last Sunday (Oct. 14). For more information on Northwestern, visit www.nusports.com.
Big Ten Standings and Statistics
Throughout the 2007 season, 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 adding another pair of regional wins and clinching at least a share of the Big Ten title, the Wolverines climbed one more spot to the No. 4 position in the latest edition of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll of the top 20 teams in NCAA Division I, released on Tuesday (Oct. 16). The poll is available on the NFHCA's site.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (10/16/07)
Rank, Team (1st-place votes) Record Points 1. North Carolina (31) 16-0 867 2. Maryland (13) 16-0 849 3. Wake Forest 9-4 755 4. MICHIGAN 11-4 709 5. Iowa 12-2 701 6. Connecticut 14-2 663 7. Michigan State 12-4 581 8. James Madison 13-2 578 9. Penn State 10-5 529 10. Duke 9-6 441 11. Old Dominion 8-7 415 12. Boston College 10-5 373 13. Louisville 11-5 330 14. Boston University 12-4 304 15. Ohio 12-4 221 16. Albany 12-3 215 17. American 11-4 210 18. Syracuse 12-4 118 19. Virginia 8-7 106 20. Princeton 8-4 86
Statistically Speaking ...
National statistics, compiled by the NCAA, will be released every Monday during the season. Statistics can be accessed at NCAA Field Hockey.
We're Going Streaking
The Wolverines have won nine consecutive games, dating back to their road win at Louisville (Sept. 14), and have outscored the opposition 25-10 over the stretch. Michigan's current winning streak is its longest since winning 10 in a row during the heart of the 2003 campaign. U-M has opened the Big Ten Conference schedule with a 5-0 record for the first time since 2002 when Michigan swept the conference regular season with a perfect 6-0 en route to its first of three straight Big Ten titles.
Keeping it Close
Ten of the Wolverines' 15 games this season have been decided by just one goal. Michigan owns a 8-2 record in one-goal games and boast a 4-1 mark in overtime games this season.
Turning Another Paige
Sophomore Paige Laytos netted her second Big Ten Defensive Player of Week citation on Monday (Oct. 15) for her part in the Wolverines' recent wins over Kent State (Oct. 9) and Indiana (Oct. 12). Laytos contributed to the Wolverines' 1-0 shutout victory against the Hoosiers and helped to allow Michigan's opposition to just five shots on goal last week. She also scored the game-winning overtime tally against the Hoosiers to lock up at least a share of the Big Ten title for U-M. Laytos is the second Wolverine player this season to claim multiple Big Ten weekly recognition, adding to back-to-back offensive accolade for senior captain Lucia Belassi.
Ironwomen
Senior captain Lucia Belassi has appeared in every game during her U-M career, as she currently boasts 82 total games played with 47 consecutive starts. Belassi is on track to crack Michigan's top 10 leaders in career games played. She needs three to reach the 10th spot, currently held by Jeanne Shinn (85, 1997, 2000). Junior Stephanie Hoyer (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) achieved similar status, making her 59th career appearance in the Wolverines' Tuesday contest against Kent State (Oct. 9), while sophomore Paige Laytos has started all 35 games of her collegiate career.
Free Hits
U-M wrapped up the home portion of its schedule with a 5-3 record, outscoring its opposition 17-16 in those contests.
On the Horizon
Michigan will complete the regular-season portion of its 2007 slate next weekend with a pair of non-conference matches on the west coast. U-M heads to Berkeley, Calif., to face California Saturday (Oct. 27), before facing Stanford in the season finale on Sunday (Oct. 28) in Palo Alto, Calif.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
