Weekly Release #7
10/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Oct. 5 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 -- at Kent State (Kent, Ohio), 3 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 12 -- vs. Indiana (Phyllis Ocker Field), 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 -- at Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), 3 p.m.
This Week's Lineup
The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (8-4, 3-0 Big Ten) will continue the west-regional portion of its schedule with a pair of road contests during the next week. The Wolverines travel to East Lansing, Mich., to face intrastate rival Michigan State at the MSU Field Hockey Complex Friday (Oct. 5) at 4 p.m., before U-M heads to Murphy Mellis Field in Kent, Ohio, Tuesday (Oct. 9) for a 3 p.m. meeting against Kent State.
Scouting the Opponents
Michigan State -- Michigan leads the all-time series with Michigan State 32-21-6, and U-M has won 12 of the last 14 meetings against the Spartans. The Wolverines claimed a close 2-1 victory over MSU last season behind second-half tallies from Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) and Paige Laytos (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS). The Spartans scored late to pull within one, but U-M held on to claim its fourth straight home victory. The Spartans own a 10-3 record this season and are 1-0 in Big Ten competition. MSU suffered its first shutout loss of the season -- a 2-0 defeat against Wake Forest -- in the Spartans' last appearance (Sunday, Sept. 30). For more information on Michigan State, visit www.msuspartans.com.
Kent State -- The Wolverines hold an 8-2-3 advantage in the all-time series with Kent State, and U-M currently has a six-game winning streak over the Golden Flashes. In the last meeting between the programs (Sept. 25, 2005), Michigan rallied from an early two-goal deficit to claim a 4-3 road victory. The Wolverines received goals from four different players, including the game winner from Jill Civic at the 59:00 mark in the second half. Goalkeeper Beth Riley earned four saves in the Michigan cage to set U-M's career wins standard with 36 (Riley finished her career with 57 career wins). The Golden Flashes are 8-3 this season and claimed a 3-2 overtime win against St. Louis in their most recent appearance (Sunday, Sept. 30). For more information on Kent State, visit www.kentstatesports.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
Michigan pushed its win streak to six games with back-to-back regional wins over Ohio State (3-2, Sept. 28) and Miami of Ohio (4-2, Sept. 30). The Wolverines climbed two spots to the No. 6 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. 2). The poll is available on the NFHCA's site.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (10/2/07)
Rank, Team (first-place votes) Points 1. North Carolina (42) 935 2. Maryland (5) 897 3. Connecticut 835 4. Wake Forest 777 5. Iowa 715 6. MICHIGAN 672 7. Michigan State 636 8. James Madison 600 9. Penn State 569 10. Boston College 446 11. Ohio 398 12. Duke 395 13. Old Dominion 394 14. Boston University 328 15. American 256 16. Albany 222 17. Louisville 195 18. Delaware 135 19. Virginia 85 20. Syracuse 76
Statistically Speaking ...
National statistics, compiled by the NCAA, will be released every Monday during the season. Statistics can be accessed at NCAA Field Hockey.
Knowing When it Counts
Senior captain Lucia Belassi tallied a pair of game-winning goals over the weekend, scoring in overtime at Ohio State (Sept. 28) and notching a second-half marker against Miami of Ohio (Sept. 30). Belassi leads the Wolverine squad with eight goals this season and, with two deciding goals, shares the lead in game winners. Senior Ashley Lennington (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle HS) and freshman Vanessa Sekhon (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Collingwood School) also boast a pair of game-winning tallies on the season.
Ironwomen
Senior captain Lucia Belassi has appeared in every game during her U-M career, as she currently boasts 79 total games played with 44 consecutive starts. Belassi is on track to crack Michigan's top-10 leaders in career games played. She needs six 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 56th career appearance in the Wolverines' Sunday contest against Penn State (Sept. 23), while sophomore Paige Laytos has started all 32 games of her collegiate career.
On the Horizon
The Wolverines will wrap up the home portion of their 2007 slate Friday (Oct. 12), with a conference match against Indiana. The game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start at Phyllis Ocker Field.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
