U-M Handed First Home Defeat by No. 9 Northwestern

Friday, October 5

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

(7-5, 0-2Big Ten)

Northwestern

(11-2, 2-1Big Ten)

Northwestern

Michigan

10/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #9 Northwestern 4, #16 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (7-5, 0-2 Big Ten), Northwestern (11-2, 2-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Oct. 12 -- vs. Michigan State (Phyllis Ocker Field), 3 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team was unable to hold its initial lead against No. 9 Northwestern, falling, 4-1, on Friday afternoon (Oct. 5) at Phyllis Ocker Field. The Wildcats scored three unanswered three goals in the second half to hand U-M its first home loss of the season.

Rachael Mack

Junior Rachael Mack (Bromsgrove, England/Bromsgrove School) notched the Wolverines' lone goal just five minutes into the contest, extending her scoring streak to eight games with a redirection in front of the Northwestern cage. Freshman Aisling Naughton (Goatstown, Ireland/Mount Anville Secondary) controlled the ball on the 25 near the right sideline and fired it hard into the circle, where Mack got her stick on it to tip to the lower left corner at the 5:05 mark.

After Northwestern had a goal called back, it made good on its next opportunity to the tie game at 25:04. Camped out next to the left goal post, Wildcat Kelley Stump redirected a pass from outside the circle to the lower corner past senior/junior goalkeeper Haley Jones (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS).

Northwestern nearly added another goal moments later, but freshman back Lauren Thomas (Aylesbury, England/Aylesbury HS) laid out for her first collegiate defensive save to keep the score deadlocked at halftime.

The Wildcats surged in the second half, however, scoring three goals in a 12-minute span to put the game out of reach. Charlotte Martin collected the game-winner at the 39:56, taking advantage of the flurry after a penalty corner to score on her own rebound. Northwestern's Lena Phillips and Lisa McCarthy added goals at 43:49 and 51:33, respectively; both were redirected shots from the Wildcats' leading scorer, Chelsea Armstrong.

Northwestern outshot the Wolverines, 19-11, and outcornered them, 7-6. Jones posted 12 saves in the U-M cage -- her fourth double-digit save total this season -- while Wildcat goalkeeper Maddy Carpenter stopped five of six Michigan shots on goal.

Michigan hosts a pair of Big Ten rivals at Phyllis Ocker Field next weekend, facing Michigan State at 3 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 12) before squaring off against Ohio State at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 14). Friday's slate against MSU will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Pacific	1	3	4
Michigan	1	0	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Rachael Mack, 5:05 (Aisling Naughton)
1st -- NU, Kelley Stump, 25:04 (Tara Puffenberger)
2nd -- NU, Charlotte Martin, 39:56 (unassisted)
2nd -- NU, Lena Phillips, 43:49 (Chelsea Armstrong)
2nd -- NU, Lisa McCarthy, 51:33 (Armstrong)

Shots: U-M 11, NU 19
Saves: U-M 12 (Haley Jones), NU 5 (Maddy Carpenter)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1, NU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 6, NU 7

NOTES

• Michigan fell to 29-22 in the all-time series against Northwestern. Today's loss snapped U-M's 20-game winning streak in the series, which dated back to 1997.

• U-M also fell to 5-1 at home this season.

• Junior Rachael Mack upped her career goals to 45 to claim sole possession of fifth among U-M's all-time leaders in the category.

• Senior/junior Haley Jones' 12 saves rank as the second-highest single-game save total of her career. She tallied 14 in the Big Ten opener at Penn State on Sept. 23.

QUOTES

U-M Junior Rachael Mack
On the physicality of today's game ... "They're big rivals, so that was bound to come out. It's always going to be a big battle; it's the Big Ten. It was definitely a physical game. But we need those to toughen up and get stronger."

On momentum shifts during the game ... "We definitely started the game well; probably one of our best starts this season. They didn't start particularly well, but they picked it up and it became a lot more even. So, that's just the way it goes. One team can be up and the other team can be down. I think it was a game like that."

On starting the Big Ten season with tough opposition ... "Hockey is a game of inches. You can be just as good on paper or better in real life; it just depends how the game goes that day. Northwestern is a great team -- Penn State is a great team -- but we think we're a great team too. It's going to fall. It's taking some time, but it's going to fall. I'm really looking forward to the Big Ten Tournament."

U-M Freshman Lauren Thomas
On the difference in today's game ... "I think they were stronger than us in their tackling, and at the end of the day, they played like they wanted it a little more than us. But that's something that we have to learn from and take into the next game. It's all a good learning curve for us."

On playing tough Big Ten teams ... "Starting with these hard games is really good for us. It shows us what we need to be like. I don't actually think we're that far off from these teams. If we play our game, we play what's in front of us, then we'll be good. These games are pushing us in practice and showing us what we have to do. It keeps that hunger in us to get that much better."

On her defensive save ... "To be honest, I didn't even know it was coming at me, so I just sort of threw myself on the line for the team. It was a buzz, but you just have to take it. I think any of my teammates would have done it. I've had the ball machine throwing at me in practice in preparation for things like that. It's paid off. I can thank Ryan [Langford], I guess."