Michigan Denied Repeat Big Ten Tourney Crown by No. 6 Penn State

Sunday, November 6

State College, Pa.

2:00 PM

Michigan

(14-6)

Penn State

(15-5)

Michigan

Penn State

Michigan Denied Repeat Big Ten Tourney Crown by No. 6 Penn State

11/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Kent Reichert

Site: State College, Pa. (Penn State Field Hockey Complex)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Final)
Score: #9 Penn State 3, #7 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (14-6), PSU (16-5)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, Nov. 8 -- NCAA Selection Show (Webcast: NCAA.com), 8 p.m.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 7-ranked and top-seeded University of Michigan field hockey team was denied its second straight Big Ten Tournament title on Sunday (Nov. 6), as No. 9 Penn State, the third seed, scored with 9:09 remaining to pull out a 3-2 win in the championship game at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The Big Ten regular-season champion Wolverines led, 2-1, before PSU scored twice on penalty corners -- at 28:08 and 60:51 -- to earn the conference's berth to the NCAA Tournament, which starts on Nov. 12.

Kim Sheaffer

Penn State struck first on a corner at 5:11 as Kelsey Amy scored her 23rd goal of the year on an assist from Whitney Reddig.

Michigan came back in the 13th minute on a direct-corner goal from sophomore Rachael Mack (Bromsgrove, England/Bromsgrove School). Her goal was assisted by senior Jess Allen (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional) and fifth-year senior Eileen Brandes (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth).

The Maize and Blue then took the lead at 17:56 as sophomore Kim Sheaffer (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) scored her second goal of the year on the right post on an assist from classmate Ainsley McCallister (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron).

Just before halftime, the Nittany Lions tied the game at 2-2 when Amy scored unassisted on a semi-breakaway at 28:08.

It was not until the 61st minute of play when Penn State broke through on a direct corner, with the tally coming from Hannah Allison on assists from Reddig and Laura Gebhart. Michigan had a good look on a corner at 66:50, but freshman Aline Fobe's (Aartsellar, Belgium/Onze Lieve Vrouwe van Lourdes) shot went just wide.

The game was statistically as close as the score, as Penn State held a slight 12-11 shot advantage and both teams had three corners.

Junior/sophomore Haley Jones (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) had one save for Michigan, while Fobe had a defensive save in the first half. Penn State's Ayla Halus had two saves.

The NCAA Tournament selection show will be video streamed on NCAA.com this Tuesday (Nov. 8) at 8 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Penn State	2	1	3
Michigan	2	0	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- PSU, Kelsey Amy, 5:11 (Whitney Reddig)
1st -- U-M, Rachael Mack, 12:46 (Jess Allen, Eileen Brandes)
1st -- U-M, Kim Sheaffer, 17:56 (Ainsley McCallister)
1st -- PSU, Amy, 28:08 (unassisted)
2nd -- PSU, Hannah Allison, 60:51 (Reddig, Laura Gebhart)

Shots: U-M 12, PSU 11
Saves: U-M 2 (Haley Jones 1, Team 1), PSU 2 (Ayla Halus)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1 (Aline Fobe), PSU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 3, PSU 3

NOTES

• Michigan was playing in its 11th Big Ten Tournament championship game.

• Michigan is now 18-13 all-time in Big Ten Tournament play.

• The series between Michigan and Penn State in Big Ten Tournament play is tied at five games apiece after today's result.

• Mallory Albini and Aline Fobe were named to the All-Big Ten Tournament team. Albini had the game-winning goal in the 4-1 victory over Iowa, while Fobe had an assist against Iowa and a defensive save against Penn State.

• Rachael Mack scored her 14th goal of the season and 30th of her U-M career. Jess Allen and Eileen Brandes assisted on both of Mack's goals in the tournament.

• Kim Sheaffer scored her second goal of her career in the Penn State game. Sheaffer had the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Wake Forest on Aug. 28.

• The game was broadcast on the Big Ten Network, with U-M alumna Kara Lentz (2003-06) providing the color commentary.