Sheaffer's Late Tally Lifts Wolverines Past No. 11 Wake Forest

Sunday, August 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

(1-1)

Wake Forest

(0-2)

Wake Forest

Michigan

Sheaffer's Late Tally Lifts Wolverines Past No. 11 Wake Forest

8/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Kent Reichert

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ocker Field)
Event: ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Score: #9 Michigan 2, #11 Wake Forest 1
Records: U-M (1-1), WFU (0-2)
Next U-M Match: Saturday, Sept. 3 -- at Temple (Philadelphia, Pa), Noon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Second-half goals by sophomores Michelle Roberts (Pocomoke, Md./Pocomoke) and Kim Sheaffer (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) lifted the No. 9 University of Michigan field hockey team over Wake Forest, 2-1, Sunday afternoon (Aug. 28) on day two of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Ocker Field. Michigan earns an ACC/Big Ten Challenge win for the first time since 2002.

The two teams played 35 minutes of scoreless field hockey in the first half, with U-M outshooting Wake Forest, 6-2, including four shots on frame. The Maize and Blue struck first just 2:54 into the second half. Sophomore Ainsley McCallister (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) sent a cross from the right side into a collection of players. Roberts came away with the ball and poked it in for Michigan's first goal of the season.

The score remained 1-0 until the Demon Deacons capitalized on a corner in the 56th minute, but Michigan put away the game-winner at 62:40, when sophomore Rachael Mack (Bromsgrove, England/Bromsgrove School) recovered a loose ball and fed Sheaffer on the left post, where she cashed in on the left side for her first career goal and game-winning tally in a Michigan uniform.

Wake Forest had two penalty corners and a late flurry in the circle but could not come up with the equalizer, giving Michigan its first win of the year.

Redshirt senior Christi Barwick (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines) picked up the win in goal for U-M, making three saves on the day. Both teams fired 10 shots, with Wake Forest having a 9-6 edge on penalty corners.

Michigan will return to the field this Saturday (Sept. 3) as the Maize and Blue travels to Philadelphia, Pa., to take on Temple at noon at Geasey Field.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Wake Forest	0	1	1
Michigan	0	2	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Michelle Roberts, 37:54 (Ainsley McCallister)
2nd -- WFU, Anna Koznuik, 55:09 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Kim Sheaffer, 62:40 (Rachael Mack)

Shots: U-M 10, WFU 10
Saves: U-M 3 (Christi Barwick), WFU 4 (Kaitlyn Ruhf)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, WFU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 6, WFU 9

NOTES

• Kim Sheaffer made her first career start at Michigan in today's game.

• Michigan's last win in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge occurred on Aug. 31, 2002, when the Maize and Blue defeated North Carolina, 2-0, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

• Michigan picked up its third win over Wake Forest in school history. Michigan's last win over the Demon Deacons happened on Nov. 14, 1999, in a 3-2 overtime win at the NCAA Quarterfinals in Winston-Salem, N.C. Ashley Reichenbach (1996-99) scored the game-winner in overtime on a penalty stroke.

• Michelle Roberts scored her second career goal at U-M. She also scored against Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 8, 2010.

• Rachael Mack dished out her fifth career assist. The 2010 All-America third teamer has 37 career points in a Michigan uniform.

• Ainsley McCallister had her first career assist at Michigan. She scored a goal during her freshman year.

• Sophomores accounted for all of the goals and assists for Michigan in today's game.

• North Carolina defeated Iowa, 2-0, to wrap up the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Kelsey Kolojejchick and Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany scored goals for the Tar Heels.

• After each game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the coaching staff picks a Player of the Game. Kim Sheaffer (Michigan), Lizzie Rae (Wake Forest), Katelyn Falgowski (UNC) and Kathleen McGraw (Iowa) were selected on the second day.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On bouncing back from yesterday's game ... "I give them a lot of credit. It's not easy to come off a 5-0 loss, play another amazing team and come back super strong, but we did. I was really proud of our team. I thought we stayed focused; we followed the game plan, hustled and played as a team. I was proud of them for that."

On the freshmen's play the first week of the year ... "Yeah, they are working really hard. Aline Fobe in the backfield is a really important player for us right now. She's doing a great job. With the help of the senior leadership, she's really fitting in."

U-M Sophomore Kim Sheaffer
On coming out in the second half with a sense of urgency ... "We knew Wake was a second-half team. They come out very strong like they did against Iowa yesterday. We knew we had to be ready and keep our play at 100 percent."