Wolverines Ride Four-Goal First Half to Blowout Win at Miami

Saturday, September 24

Oxford, Ohio

11:00 AM

Michigan

(7-3)

Miami (Ohio)

(2-8)

Michigan

Miami

Wolverines Ride Four-Goal First Half to Blowout Win at Miami

9/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Kent Reichert

Site: Oxford, Ohio (Miami Turf Field)
Score: #11 Michigan 5, Miami (Ohio) 1
Records: U-M (7-3), Miami (2-8)
Next U-M Match: Saturday, Oct. 1 -- vs. Iowa (Ocker Field), 10 a.m.

OXFORD, Ohio -- The 11th-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team scored twice in the first 2:45 and four times in the first half to roll to a 5-1 win at Miami (Ohio) on Saturday morning (Sept. 24) at Miami Turf Field. The Wolverines have now scored five goals in a game four times this season, and in four of the past six games.

Leslie Smith

Senior Bryn Bain (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) had her second penalty-stroke goal of the weekend at 1:45. It was her third goal of the season. Bain then added a helper on freshman Axelle Wouters' (Antwerp, Belgium/Onze Lieve Vrouwe Antwerp) goal at 2:45. Wouters' shot went in the right side of the goal.

Miami cut the lead to 2-1 on a corner deflection by Sid Marcum with an assist to Emily Gruesser, but the Wolverines scored twice before the half to take a comfortable lead. Bain scored her second of the day on a direct corner from sophomore/freshman Leslie Smith (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey) and freshman Aline Fobe (Aartsellar, Belgium/Onze Lieve Vrouwe van Lourdes) at 17:40. Smith added an unassisted goal 3:33 before halftime.

Michigan had a 12-2 shot advantage in the first half and took all 13 shots in the second frame. Sophomore Rachael Mack (Bromsgrove, England/Bromsgrove School) made it 5-1 at 49:33 on a rebound from her own shot.

Junior/sophomore Haley Jones (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) had one save to pick up her third win in goal. Sarah Mueller had 10 saves for the RedHawks.

Michigan will take a week off and return to Big Ten play this Saturday (Oct. 1) against Iowa at Ocker Field. The game begins at 10 a.m. It is Alumni Weekend and the 2001 national championship team will be honored.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Michigan	4	1	5
Miami	1	0	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Bryn Bain, 1:45 (penalty stroke)
1st -- U-M, Axelle Wouters, 2:45 (Bain)
1st -- MU, Sid Marcum, 16:03 (Emily Gruesser)
1st -- U-M, Bain, 17:40 (Leslie Smith, Aline Fobe)
1st -- U-M, Smith, 31:27 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Rachael Mack, 49:33 (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 25, Miami 2
Saves: U-M 1 (Haley Jones), Miami 10 (Sarah Mueller)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, Miami 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 9, Miami 1

NOTES

• Michigan improves to 15-2 all-time against Miami. U-M also has won three straight contests against the RedHawks.

• Bryn Bain had her first career multi-goal game. She now has 14 career goals.

• Leslie Smith scored her second career goal in the win. She also had a goal in the Bucknell win.

• Axelle Wouters had her third goal of the season and career in the win.

• The 7-3 mark is the best since the Wolverines also were 7-3 after 10 games in the 2004 season.

• Bryn Bain and Rachael Mack had 17 of Michigan's 25 shots. Leslie Smith added five for Michigan.

• Michigan improves its record to 3-0 against schools from the Mid-American Conference.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On getting off to a fast start with two early goals ... "It was incredibly important. Scoring early set the tone. It put Miami on their heels and they always had to fight just to get even. If you get those goals early, you can relax while still putting pressure on."

On Bryn Bain ... "Bryn is a gamer. She commands the field. As long as she wants to be in play, she owns that area of the field."

On Leslie Smith ... "Leslie gives the team great depth. She gives quality minutes in a multitude of positions, and those minutes contribute greatly to the team's success. When she's in the game she makes smart, sound decisions, and can change the game with her skills and quality pressure."

On the game against Iowa next Saturday and Alumni Weekend ... "The entire weekend is massive for us. It's not only Michigan vs. Iowa, yet we also have 100 alums coming back to join us and cheer us on. Iowa is a quality team that's very fast. Getting a win against Iowa will be a challenge, but I think our team is ready for it."