Michigan
(12-6, 6-2)
Ohio State
(6-11, 1-7)
McCallister Scores Two as Wolverines Edge OSU in Regular-Season Finale
11/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Columbus, Ohio (Buckeye Varsity Field)
Score: #14 Michigan 2, Ohio State 1
Records: U-M (12-6, 6-2 Big Ten), OSU (6-11, 1-7 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Nov. 6 -- vs. Rutgers - Big Ten Tournament (Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Fifth-year senior Ainsley McCallister (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) scored two goals, including the game-winner at 68:27, to lead the No. 14-ranked University of Michigan field hockey to a 2-1 victory over rival Ohio State in its regular-season finale on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 2) at Buckeye Varsity Field.
The Wolverines scored both of their goals on second-half penalty corners, netting the game-winning goal with just 1:33 remaining in regulation. Fifth-year senior Leslie Smith (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey HS) drove a hard, bouncing shot wide left of the goal, and McCallister got her stick on it, tipping it into the nearside corner. It is McCallister's second multi-goal effort in as many games. She owns five goals, including two game-winners, this season.
After a slow first half, which featured just three combined shots, the Wolverines broke through early in the second after their second corner opportunity in the opening five minutes of the frame. Smith dragged the direct shot toward the left post; it was tipped in front get behind OSU goalkeeper Liz Tamburro, and McCallister knocked in the loose ball at the 40:31 mark.
The Buckeyes responded 10 minutes later, at 50:51, on an odd-man rush in U-M territory. Freshman goalkeeper Sam Swenson (Harrogate, England/Ashville College) stopped the first shot -- a point-blank attempt from Maddy Humphrey -- but could not control the rebound as Peanut Johnson corralled the ball on the right post and knocked it in.
Michigan outshot the Buckeyes, 10-5, and outcornered them, 5-3. Swenson earned four saves in the Wolverine, while OSU's Tamburro stopped two of U-M's four shots.
The Wolverines will host the 2014 Big Ten Tournament this weekend (Thu-Sun., Nov. 6-9) at Phyllis Ocker Field. Seeded second in the annual conference tournament, Michigan will open first-round competition against Rutgers, the No. 7 seed, at 3 p.m. All four tournament first-round games will be streamed live via BTN Plus, while both semifinals and the championship game will air live on the Big Ten Network.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ohio State | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Ainsley McCallister, 40:31 (Jaime Dean)
2nd -- OSU, Peanut Johnson, 50:51 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, McCallister, 68:27 (Leslie Smith)
Shots: U-M 10, OSU 5
Saves: U-M 3 (Sam Swenson), OSU 2 (Liz Tamburro)
Defensive Saves: none
Penalty Corners: U-M 5, OSU 3
Team Stats
McCallister, Ainsley (4)
Assisted By: Dean, Jaime
Off scramble in front of goal
40:31
Johnson, Peanut (8)
Off rebound
50:51
McCallister, Ainsley (5)
Assisted By: Smith, Leslie
Tip in
68:27
