Michigan
(1-2)
Temple
(1-1)
Lennington's Two Goals Propel Wolverines Over Temple
8/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Senior Ashley Lennington (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle HS) registered the first multi-goal effort of her career to lead the No. 12-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team to a thrilling 2-1 victory against Temple Thursday evening (Aug. 30)at Maryland's Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. After sacrificing the initial lead, the Wolverines rallied with two unanswered goals, including the gamewinner with 13 seconds remaining in regulation, to claim their first win of the season.
With the score knotted at 1-1, Michigan (1-2, 0-0 Big Ten) swarmed the Owls' scoring circle late in the contest, drawing back-to-back penalty corners and a pair of shots in the final two minutes of play. Lennington's game-winning goal -- the second game winner of her career -- came on a rebound at the 69:47 mark after Temple goalkeeper Eric Hanshue turned away a direct shot from senior captainLucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1). Lennington, who was camped out on the right side of the Owl cage when the rebound popped up high, swatted the ball out of the airto sent it to the back of the cage.
Scoring was limited to the second half, as Michigan and Temple each failed to convert on opportunites in the opening frame. The Wolverines established early control, firing several quick shots deep in Temple territory while holding the Owls without an attempt through the opening 12 minutes of play.
The Owls struck first, however, taking the match's first advantage early in the second half after a successful penalty corner conversion at the 40:07 mark. The Owls controlled play for the opening minutes of the frame, flurrying around the U-M circle with back-to-back penalty corners and three shots. Temple converted on the third, as Ashley Bird used the chaos in front of the U-M cage after a corner to slam a hard shot past junior/sophomore goalkeeper Paige Pickett (Dallas, Texas/Episcopal School of Dallas) to claim her first goal of the season.
Michigan wasted little time -- exactly two minutes -- before using its own penalty corner opportunity to even the score. With the ball sitting just inches away from the goal line after the initial shot from Belassi was stopped by Hanshue, Lennington, who was left alone beside the cage,pounced on it and used a reverse sweep to flip it over the sprawled Owl goalkeeper.
The Wolverines outshot the Owls 13-10, including a 6-3 differential in the first half,and outcornered them 7-4 in the contest. Pickett recorded five saves in the U-M cage -- upping her season total to 17 --to claim her first collegiate victory, while Hanshue made five stops on Michigan's seven shots on goal.
The Wolverines will wrap up their east-coast road trip on Sunday (Sept. 2) with a noon meeting against No. 1-ranked Maryland at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Station, Md.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Temple | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- Temple, Ashley Bird, 40:07 (Leanne Vogelsong)
2nd -- U-M, Ashley Lennington, 42:07(unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Lennington, 69:47 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 13, Temple 10
Saves: U-M 5 (Paige Pickett), Temple 5 (Erin Hanshue)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, Temple 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 7, Temple 4
Penalty Strokes: None
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Ashley Bird
Assisted By: Leanne Vogelsong
off corner
40:07
Lennington, Ashley
off corner, bounced over GK
42:07
Lennington, Ashley
off rebound
69:47
