Michigan
(8-7, 3-1Big Ten)
Michigan State
(12-3, 3-1Big Ten)
Saydjari, Strong Defense Help U-M Blank No. 4 Spartans
10/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: Michigan 1, #4 Michigan State 0
Records: U-M (8-7, 3-1 Big Ten), MSU (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Oct. 19 -- vs. Kent State (Phyllis Ocker Field), 1 p.m.
• Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team withstood a second-half surge to knock off No. 4 Michigan State 1-0 on Friday afternoon (Oct. 17) in front of 533 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field. The Wolverines netted the lone goal of the contest late in the first half and held on to deal MSU its first Big Ten Conference loss of the season.
Senior/junior goalkeeper Paige Pickett (Dallas, Texas/Episcopal School of Dallas) stopped six Spartan shots on goal to claim her first complete-game shutout win of the season. All but one of Pickett's saves came on MSU penalty-corner opportunities, including one with time expired in regulation play.
Sophomore Zara Saydjari (Skowhegan, Maine/Skowhegan HS) scored the game-winning goal at the 28:36 mark, taking advantage of a flurry in the middle of the MSU circle to come up with the ball and direct it along the turf into the near leftside corner of the Spartan cage. The goal was the third of the season for Saydjari and the first game-winner of her collegiate career.
Michigan nearly added an insurance goal late in the second frame when sophomore/freshman Katie Adams (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson HS) rung a hard shot off the goalpost. With approximately eight minutes remaining in regulation, Adams received the ball at midfield and carried it unattested into the circle. Driving to the left side, she sailed a backhanded shot to the far side of the cage, beating MSU goalkeeper Elissa Unger but just missing the open net as it caromed off the right post.
Michigan State registered advantages in both offensive categories, outshooting the Wolverines 9-6 and outcornering them 8-4, including a 5-2 edge in the second frame. In addition to Pickett's five saves in the Wolverine cage, senior captain Michaela McDermott (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights HS) picked up a defensive save off an MSU penalty corner late in the second half. On the other end of the field, Unger stopped three of four Michigan shots on goal.
The Wolverines (8-7, 3-1 Big Ten) will wrap up their three-game homestand on Sunday (Oct. 19) with a non-conference meeting against Kent State. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start at Phyllis Ocker Field.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan State | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Zara Saydjari, 28:36 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 6, MSU 9
Saves: U-M 6 (Paige Pickett), MSU 3 (Elissa Unger)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1 (Michaela McDermott), MSU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 4, MSU 8
Team Stats
Saydjari, Zara
flurry in circle
28:36
