Michigan
(8-9, 3-2Big Ten)
Penn State
(13-4, 5-0Big Ten)
Wolverines Blanked in Road Defeat at No. 9 Penn State
10/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: State College, Pa. (AstroTurf Field)
Score: #9 Penn State 3, Michigan 0
Records: U-M (8-9, 3-2 Big Ten), PSU (13-4, 5-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Oct. 31 -- vs. Miami of Ohio (Phyllis Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
Boxscore
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team sacrificed three first-half goals, including two in the opening six minutes, and fell 3-0 against No. 9 Penn State on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 26) at PSU's AstroTurf Field. With their victory, the Nittany Lions clinched the regular-season Big Ten Conference title.
Penn State converted on its first two shots of the contest, scoring twice within a 36-second window to establish early control around the game's five-minute mark. Daneen Zug netted the only goal her team would need at 4:30, scoring on the direct shot off PSU's second penalty-corner opportunity with a blast from the top of the circle. Jen Long and Allison Scola earned assists on the play for the stop and the push, respectively.
On the restart, the Nittany Lions immediately carried the ball from midfield into U-M territory, and Bethany Marvel created a scoring opportunity deep in the Wolverine circle, pulling senior/junior goalkeeper Paige Pickett(Dallas, Texas/Episcopal School of Dallas) out of the cage before dishing the ball to Jessica Longstreth, who one-timed it into the cage at the 5:06 mark.
Penn State rounded out the game's scoring late in the half as Scola and Zug again connected on a PSU penalty-corner opportunity. Scola, who initiated the play with the insertion, corralled the rebound from the direct shot, banging it past Pickett at the 23:24 mark.
Sophomore Meredith Way(Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) paced the Wolverine offense with four shots, including two on goal, while junior Kelly Fitzpatrick(Hummelstown, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) fired a pair of shots on goal. Way and senior Michaela McDermott(Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights HS) both missed on second-half penalty strokes; Way's shot sailed wide of the PSU cage, while McDermott's shot was blocked by Nittany Lion goalkeeper Jen Beaumont.
Though Penn State outshot the Wolverines 18-13, U-M held a 10-9 edge in shots on goal and corners were even at 6-6 with each team taking three per half. Pickett earned six saves in the Wolverine cage. The Nittany Lions' Beaumont stopped nine of Michigan's 10 shots on goal, while PSU defender Brooke Hoffsmith picked up a defensive save amidst a scramble following a U-M penalty-corner opportunity in the first half.
The Wolverines (8-9, 3-2 Big Ten) will wrap up the regular-season portion of their schedule next weekend with a pair of contests. U-M will host Miami (Ohio) at 3 p.m. Friday (Oct. 31) at Phyllis Ocker Field, before hitting the road on Sunday (Nov. 2) to close out Big Ten play against Iowa with a 2 p.m. CST meeting in Iowa City, Iowa.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Penn State | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- PSU, Daneen Zug, 4:30 (Jen Long, Allison Scola)
1st -- PSU, Jessica Longstreth, 5:06 (Bethany Marvel)
1st -- PSU, Scola, 23:24 (Zug)
Shots: U-M 13, PSU 18
Saves: U-M 6 (Paige Pickett), PSU 9 (Jen Beaumont)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, PSU 1 (Brooke Hoffsmith)
Penalty Corners: U-M 6, PSU 6
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Zug, Daneen
Assisted By: Long, Jen , Scola, Allison
Penalty corner goal
4:30
Longstreth, Jessica
Assisted By: Marvel, Bethany
GOAL by PSU Longstreth, Jessica, Assist by Marvel, Bethany.
5:06
Scola, Allison
Assisted By: Zug, Daneen
penalty corner goal
23:24
