Michigan
(8-12)
Ohio State
(13-6)
Ohio State Knocks Off U-M in Big Ten Tournament Opener
11/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (IU Field Hockey Field)
Score: #17 Ohio State 3, Michigan 2
Records: U-M (8-12, 3-3 Big Ten), OSU (13-6, 3-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Season Completed
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team saw its 2008 season come to an end on Thursday (Nov. 6), falling to No. 17-ranked Ohio State 3-2 in the opening round of the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Indiana's IU Field Hockey Field.
Stephanie Hoyer
The Buckeyes recorded significant advantages in the statistical categories, outshooting Michigan 19-10 and outcornering the Wolverines 17-3, including a 12-2 differential in the first half. The teams matched each other goal-for-goal until early in the second half when OSU's Aisling MeKeon put her team ahead for good with an unassisted marker at the 41:59 mark.
McKeon's goal -- a low blazer from the middle of the circle -- came just a little more than two minutes after junior Kelly Fitzpatrick (Hummelstown, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) evened the score at two goals apiece with her sixth marker of the season. Fitzpatrick carried the ball into the circle and directly onto the cage where she rapped a point-blank shot off the pads of OSU goalkeeper Ally Tunitis. The ball bounced back to her, and the Wolverine junior slammed in her own rebound at 39:36.
Ohio State held a one-goal cushion at halftime after a pair of Melissa Palm tallies early and late in the in the opening frame. Both goals came off long balls hit outside the right side of the U-M circle. The first, which came at the 9:07 mark, bounced off of senior/junior goalkeeper Paige Pickett (Dallas, Texas/Episcopal School of Dallas) and directly to Palm camped in front of the cage, who slammed it in. The second marker came on a redirection off a long hit. Palm got her stick on the low ball and tipped it into the opposite lower corner at 30:00.
Senior captain Stephanie Hoyer (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) netted the Wolverines' first tally to even the score at the 10:54 mark -- less than two minutes after OSU's first marker. Sophomore/freshman Katie Adams (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson HS) initiated the attack with a reverse shot from the middle of the circle. The rebound kicked out to the left, where Hoyer, standing on the goal line, corralled it and knocked it behind Tunitis for her sixth goal of the season.
Pickett earned 10 saves in the Wolverine cage -- her second double-digit save performance of the season -- while Tunitis stopped three of Michigan's five shots on goal to claim the victory.
The Wolverines wrap up the 2008 season with an 8-12 record, including a 3-3 mark in Big Ten Conference regular-season games.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Ohio State | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- OSU, Melissa Palm, 9:07 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Stephanie Hoyer, 10:54 (unassisted)
1st -- OSU, Palm, 30:00 (Linda Haussener)
2nd -- U-M, Kelly Fitzpatrick, 39:46 (unassisted)
2nd -- OSU, Aisling McKeon, 41:59 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 10, OSU 19
Saves: U-M 10 (Paige Pickett), OSU 3 (Ally Tunitis)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, OSU 1
Penalty Corners: U-M 3, OSU 17
Team Stats
Palm, Melissa
entry kicked by keeper, rebound put into
9:07
Hoyer, Stephanie
off a rebound
10:54
Palm, Melissa
Assisted By: Haussener, Linda
Hard shot from out of circle, deflected
30:00
Fitzpatrick, Kelly
rebound of own shot
39:46
McKeon, Aisling
hard shot on loose ball
41:59
