Wolverines Dominant in Shutout Win at Michigan State

Sunday, October 25

East Lansing, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

(14-3)

Michigan State

(5-12)

Michigan

Michigan State

Mackenzie Ellis

10/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

» Five different Wolverines scored a goal, including Mackenzie Ellis with a game-winner off a penalty stroke at 5:45.
» Michigan outshot the Spartans, 33-8, and outcornered them, 12-3.
» Goalkeeper Sam Swenson and Chris Lueb combined for three saves for U-M's eighth shutout this season and sixth in seven games.

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Ralph Young Field)
Score: #11 Michigan 5, Michigan State 0
Records: U-M (14-3, 6-1 Big Ten), MSU (5-12, 2-6)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 31 -- vs. Ohio State (Phyllis Ocker Field), 1 p.m.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team claimed its sixth shutout win in seven games, rolling to a 5-0 win over in-state rival Michigan State on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 25) at the Spartans' Ralph Young Field. The Wolverines have claimed each of their last seven games and 14 of the last 15.

Michigan dominated every facet of the game, outshooting the Spartans, 33-8, and outcornering them, 12-3. All of the Spartans' offensive stats came in the final 15 minutes. The Wolverines matched their highest goal output of the season, cruising to a 3-0 halftime advantage before adding two more early and late in the second half.

Graduate student Mackenzie Ellis put Michigan on the board early with a penalty-stroke tally at the 5:45 mark, burying the shot to the left side of the cage. It was Ellis' third goal of the season and second on the penalty stroke. Ellis added two assists off the corner attack, upping her season stats to three goals and 13 assists -- after entering the season with neither in her career.

The Wolverines scored twice late in the first half as junior/sophomore Carly Bennett buried a corner shot at 21:44 and assisted on a tip goal from freshman Emma Way just five minutes later, at 26:55. Bennett stick-stopped on her own goal, stepped the ball to the left and rifled a shot to the opposite lower right corner of the cage for her second goal in as many games. Way's goal was also her second of the season; Bennett fed the ball into the circle from the right corner, and Way tipped it high and in.

Senior Lauren Thomas opened scoring in the second half, converting a corner attack at 43:44. Sophomore Veerle Lubbers fed the ball to Thomas on the left side of the arc, and the Wolverine senior swept the ball straight to the lower right corner. It was her eighth marker of the season.

Michigan State earned its first shot in the 55th minute and carried some momentum in the final 15 minutes of play with shots and three corners. Sophomore goalkeeper Sam Swenson stopped the first attempt, while senior/junior Chris Lueb added two more saves to preserve the shutout.

The Wolverines added one more goal in the final minute of play, at 69:02. Junior/sophomore Morgan Dever took advantage of a flurry in the MSU circle to net her first, taking a pass from freshman Maggie Bettez and knocking it past Spartan goalkeeper Katie Miller.

Miller wrapped the game with nine saves on U-M's 14 shots on goal.

Tweet of the Game

And that's game! Wolverines take down Spartans, 5-0. 6th shutout in last 7 games. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/eJ0aw4NVeu

-- Michigan FieldHockey (@umichfldhockey) October 25, 2015

Michigan will wrap up the regular-season portion of its schedule next Saturday (Oct. 31), hosting rival Ohio State at 1 p.m. at Phyllis Ocker Field. Admission is free.