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.
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
NOTES
• Michigan improved to 34-21-6 in the all-time series against Michigan State. U-M has won 14 of the last 16 meetings against the Spartans.
• Today's win over Michigan State marked the second time in four games that U-M won despite being outshot and outcornered, adding to its 3-2 decision over Ohio State (Oct. 5).
• Sophomore Zara Saydjari's goal at the game's 28:36 mark was the first game-winning tally of her collegiate career.
• Senior/junior Paige Pickett earned six saves to pick up the seventh shutout win of her U-M career.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Nancy Cox
On the U-M win ... "It is a tremendous victory for Michigan today. I really appreciate what Rolf [van de Kerkhof] has done with his team at Michigan State; he has done a fabulous job with the group of young women. You have to give kudos to Michigan State because they have a formidable attacking unit. So if you're giving kudos to Michigan State and saying well done for them for continuing to press our defensive unit, you have to say what a tremendous job our defensive-third players did today -- to sustain that and overcome the attacking momentum. Our defense held us in to get us to halftime, and they did a heck of a job today."
On Michigan's defense ... "As a unit defensively, that's as well as we've played all fall. That was really led by Sarah Wilhite -- senior tri-captain -- and Michaela McDermott -- senior tri-captain. Unfortunately, Stephanie Hoyer had to come out of the match, but she was standing on the sideline wanting to be in the match in the worst way, but she's supporting her teammates just like she needed to do as a tri-captain. So tremendous leadership from our seniors today. Paige Pickett really kept us in the match in the second half with her ground skills. Michigan State has a formidable attacking unit and a formidable penalty-corner unit, and Paige was very, very good on the ground in the second half to keep us in it."
On Michigan's ability to play with the nation's top teams ... "This is a brilliant example of exactly what the coaching staff continues to impress upon these young women. It's about 35 minutes and 70 minutes of hockey. It's about bringing your best person and best group to the field each and every day, and today, we got to see a glimpse of the 20 women that comprise the Michigan field hockey team and how well they can play and executed this game."
U-M Senior Back Michaela McDermott
On Michigan's play ... "It was a team effort; we play 11 people for a reason. Collectively, we kept them to less than 10 shots on goal, and that's huge. That builds confidence, and everyone can feed off of that confidence, attitude and excitement. Michigan State is fourth in the nation, but we knew coming in that it wouldn't matter. This was a Big Ten match against one of our biggest rivals, and it was a must-win for us."
On the Wolverine defense ... "One of Michigan State's strengths is their corners and their execution off corners. We really made an effort today to be smart in our circle -- not tackling or swinging but being composed and maintaining confidence. As the years have gone on, I've realized that there are times to just take a quick ball and take a free hit, and there are times to settle it. It was back and forth, and we needed the upperclassmen to tell everyone to take a deep breath, be smart, play position, and we'll work from there."
On the physicality of the game ... "It's always going to be a battle between us and Michigan State. We're a physical team; they're a physical team. Put that together, and you're going to get a few elbows and scratches. Any Big Ten match is going to be a physical match."
U-M Senior/junior Goalkeeper Paige Pickett
On Michigan State's pressure in U-M's circle ... "I just had to focus. The way I stay in the game is through communication. I'm constantly talking to my defenders, and I just had to trust that they were going to do their job and I was going to do mine. My defense really had a great game, so I wasn't really worried about anything. I couldn't have asked for anything more from them. They did everything they needed to. We made some adjustments at halftime, and we definitely followed the plan. Everybody had a great game, and that's what it takes to win."
On Michigan's defensive corner unit and her role in it ... "On corners, I have to go down in a drop dive. We practice those every day. I'm actually very comfortable with those. It's the unexpected shots that are somewhat stressful. But those diving saves on corners are my favorite; they're the most fun to do. I was a little nervous about all the corners at the end because time was running out. That keeps the game exciting. But we practice corners all the time, and we know what to do. So I knew we could handle it."
On the Michigan/Michigan State rivalry ... "No matter what the rankings are -- we're not ranked where we want to be, and Michigan State is way up there -- it doesn't matter, because the rivalry is so big. Everybody brings everything they can to this game. It's tradition, and you never want to lose to your rivals."
Team Stats
Saydjari, Zara
flurry in circle
28:36
