Belassi Nets Second Straight Big Ten Weekly Award
9/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Senior Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) of the University of Michigan field hockey team earned her second consecutive Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Week Monday (Sept. 17) for her part in the Wolverines' weekend sweep of Louisville and Vermont.
Belassi
Belassi played a hand in every U-M goal against the Cardinals on Friday (Sept. 14), registering two goals and a helper as Michigan claimed the 3-2 regional victory. Belassi scored twice in the opening frame to give the Wolverines the lead for good, converting on a pair of blasts from the top of the Louisville circle before she assisted on the eventual game-winning tally early in the second frame. The performance marked the fifth multi-goal effort of her career.
Belassi also recorded assists on the Michigan final two goals in U-M's 5-0 triumph over the Catamounts on Saturday (Sept. 15) to extend her point streak to four consecutive games. With the two helpers, Belassi upped her season total to five assists, matching her previous career high in the category. The Wolverine captain ranks fourth among the Big Ten's scoring leaders with 15 points (5-5-15).
The weekly honor is the second for the Wolverines this season and the third of Belassi's career. She earned co-honors last week after she boasted a pair of goals and two assists in Michigan's homestand against Old Dominion and Connecticut. She is the fifth U-M field hockey player to earn the distinction in back-to-back weeks, joining Kati Oakes (1997-99), Kelli Gannon (1997-2000), Kristin Gannon (2000-03) and Jessica Blake (2001-04).
The Wolverines open their Big Ten schedule this weekend with a pair of conference meetings on Phyllis Ocker Field. U-M will face Iowa Friday (Sept. 21) at 3 p.m., before wrapping up the homestand Sunday (Sept. 23) against Penn State at noon.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
