Wolverines Capitalize on Penalty Corners in Rout over No. 20 Iowa

Friday, October 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

(10-3, 4-2Big Ten)

Iowa

(7-6, 1-3Big Ten)

Iowa

Michigan

Lauren Thomas

Wolverines Capitalize on Penalty Corners in Rout over No. 20 Iowa

10/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

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By: Leah Howard

» Lauren Thomas scored two on the penalty corner, Katie Trombetta added another, and Shannon Scavelli scored the game-winner -- her second in as many games -- at 7:18.
» Michigan went 3-for-5 on its penalty-corner opportunities.
» Goalkeepers Sam Swenson and Chris Lueb combined for four saves in Michigan's fifth shutout this season and third in four games.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #16 Michigan 4, #20 Iowa 0
Records: U-M (10-3, 4-1 Big Ten), Iowa (7-6, 1-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 11 -- vs. Stanford (Evanston, Ill.), Noon CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team took advantage of its penalty-corner attack, converting on 3-of-5 opportunities, to cruise to a 4-0 win against No. 20 Iowa on Friday evening (Oct. 9) in front of 639 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field. With the win, the Wolverines earned their third shutout in four games and fifth of the season.

The Wolverines jumped out to an early lead after continuous pressure in the Iowa defensive 25 in the opening minutes of the first half. Senior Shannon Scavelli scored the game-winner at the 7:18 mark, accepting a pass into the circle from junior/sophomore Carly Bennett from the right side, then turning and firing a shot to the lower left corner of the cage past Hawkeye goalkeeper Alexandra Pecora. It marks Scavelli's team-best seventh goal of the season, matching her career best in the category.

The Hawkeyes stole the momentum for a short stretch after the goal, drawing back-to-back corners, but neither shot reached sophomore goalkeeper Sam Swenson, who earned saves -- early and late -- in the first half.

Senior Lauren Thomas scored her first of two goals on a broken corner just past the midpoint of the frame, at 22:02, when sophomore Katie Trombetta fed her a ball to the right side of the circle, and Thomas sent a laser sweeping shot to the opposite lower corner of the cage.

Thomas added another early in the second half, at 41:03, taking the insert from graduate student Mackenzie Ellis and again sweeping directly into the Hawkeye cage. It is the second multi-goal game of Thomas' career. With five goals this season, she has also matches her career best.

Michigan added more insurance at 54:49 when Trombetta scored on a rocketed direct corner shot that deflected off and over substituted Hawkeye goalkeeper Katie Jones. Sophomore Veerle Lubbers and Ellis earned assists on the stop and the insert, respectively.

Michigan outshot the Hawkeyes, 16-8, but was outcornered, 6-5. Swenson earned three saves in the Wolverine cage, and senior/junior Chris Lueb added another -- a diving stick save -- off a late Iowa corner to preserve the shutout effort. Iowa's Pecora and Jones combined for six saves on U-M's 10 shots on goal.

Tweet of the Game

Dominating effort from @umichfldhockey tonight in front of a great crowd! Nice start to homecoming weekend #GoBlue

-- Zach M. (@ZHMGoBlue) October 10, 2015

The Wolverines will hit the road on Sunday (Oct. 11), heading to Evanston, Illinois, to face No. 9 Stanford at noon CDT at Northwestern's Lakeside Field.