U-M Drops One-Goal Decision to No. 6 Ohio State

Friday, October 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

(10-6, 4-1Big Ten)

Ohio State

(12-3, 4-1Big Ten)

Ohio State

Michigan

10/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Kent Reichert

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ocker Field)
Score: #6 Ohio State 2, #12 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (10-6, 4-1 Big Ten), OSU (12-3, 4-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Oct. 24 -- vs. UC Davis - Senior Day (Ocker Field), 11 a.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team fell to conference rival Ohio State, 2-1, on Friday afternoon (Oct. 22) at Ocker Field. The loss marks U-M's first Big Ten defeat this season and the Wolverines are now tied with the Buckeyes for first place in the Big Ten.

Meredith Way

The first 35 minutes of play went scoreless for both teams; however, Michigan dominated much of the half in Ohio State's defensive third. Freshman forward Rachael Mack (Bromsgrove, England/Bromsgrove School) had two near goals and senior forward Alicia Mayer (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) created an impressive offensive surge, shutting down an Ohio State penalty corner and carrying the ball with speed down the field to the Buckeye 25-yard line. Unfortunately, the Maize and Blue was unable to produce on any of its goal opportunities.

The two teams remained scoreless for the first 16:22 in the second half until Ohio State capitalized on a penalty corner as the Buckeyes' Aisling Coyle scored from inside the circle. Ohio State was awarded another penalty corner 11 minutes later and once again produced a goal as Paula Pastor-Pitarque converted at the far right post.

With eight seconds to play, Michigan was awarded a penalty stroke after Ohio State committed a foul during a Wolverine penalty corner. Senior back Meredith Way (Litiz, Pa./Warwick) took advantage, hurling the ball into the lower-left corner of the goal. With the score 2-1, the Wolverines charged after the restart, but time expired before U-M could get a shot.

The Wolverines return to Ocker Field to take on UC Davis Sunday morning (Oct. 24) at 11 a.m. It will be Senior Day as the Wolverine seniors will be honored before the match.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Ohio State	0	2	2
Michigan	0	1	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- OSU, Aisling Coyle, 51:38 (Paula Pastor-Pitarque)
2nd -- OSU, Pastor-Pitarque, 62:46 (Coyle)
2nd -- U-M, Meredith Way, 69:52 (penalty stroke)

Shots: U-M 8, OSU 6
Saves: U-M 1 (Haley Jones), OSU 2 (Ally Tunitis)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, OSU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 3, OSU 6

NOTES

• Meredith Way converted on U-M's first penalty stroke of the season. It is her fifth career penalty-stroke goal.

• It was the fourth time that Michigan has been in a scoreless deadlock at halftime. Michigan defeated Iowa but fell to Ohio State, North Carolina and Maine when the game was scoreless at the break.

• Way now has 38 career goals, which move her alone into eighth place on U-M's career goals scored list.

• Michigan is now in a tie for first with Ohio State at 4-1 and will earn at least a share of the Big Ten title next Saturday (Oct. 30) with a win at Indiana. Michigan can claim the title outright with a victory, an Ohio State loss at Iowa and a Northwestern loss to either Iowa, Michigan State or Penn State.