Wolverines Cruise Past Vermont after Early Deficit

Friday, September 11

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

(3-2)

Vermont

(1-3)

Vermont

Michigan

Mackenzie Ellis

9/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

» Vermont scored first on a loose ball in the circle at 4:49 but did not take another shot for nearly 60 minutes.
» Graduate student Mackenzie Ellis evened the score with her first collegiate goal -- a penalty-corner rebound at 10:13.
» Junior Courtney Enge netted her third game-winning goal in as many games as U-M scored twice in the opening 13 minutes of the second half.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #16 Michigan 3, Vermont 1
Records: U-M (3-2), Vermont (1-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 13 -- vs. Davidson (Phyllis Ocker Field), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team poured on the attack to rally from an initial deficit against Vermont, pulling away in the second half to earn a 3-1 win on Friday evening (Sept. 11) in front of 508 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field.

"Vermont came out sharp and really competitive," said Michigan head coach Marcia Pankratz. "We were on our heels a little bit. That woke up the team, and we made some adjustments at halftime. We came out with a little more intensity, and some of the tactical adjustments made them a little more confident in their play. We stepped up hard. I was pleased to see that and proud of the way we played in the second half. It was a good win."

Michigan outshot the Catamounts, 26-3, and outcornered them, 8-2, but trailed early in the game when Vermont took advantage of confusion in the U-M end to score on its first shot of the game. Greer Wilson fed a pass into the circle from the left side, and as Wolverine goalkeeper Sam Swenson stepped toward the ball, it got past the defense. Anne-Marie Farmer knocked it into the open cage near the right post to give the Catamounts the lead at the 4:49 mark.

The Wolverines did not allow another Vermont shot until the final six minutes of the game.

Michigan also picked up its offensive attack as graduate student Mackenzie Ellis evened the score with her first collegiate goal less than six minutes later, at 10:13, on a Wolverine corner opportunity. Catamount goalkeeper Lena Benwood stopped the direct shot and the first rebound, but a second kicked up high in the air near the left post, and Ellis, who inserted the corner, got her stick on it -- well over her head -- to knock it down into the cage.

The score remained deadlocked at halftime, but the Wolverines pulled away with two goals in the opening 13 minutes of the second half. Junior Courtney Enge netted the game-winner at 39:58 -- her third in as many games -- on another tip in front of the cage, getting her stick on a hard, forward pass outside the circle from Maggie Bettez. With the assist, it marks Bettez's first collegiate point.

Senior Shannon Scavelli padded the Wolverine lead with a similar goal at 48:02. Freshman Emma Way crossed the ball into the circle from the right side, and Scavelli one-touched a beauty past Benwood from the left post.

After being held without a shot for nearly 60 minutes, Vermont made a couple strong attempts in the waning minutes of the contest. Swenson came out of the net to break up a 2-on-0 rush and, in the final minute of play, turned away a pair of Catamount corner chances.

Swenson posted two saves -- both in the final minutes -- while Vermont's Benwood stopped 14 of 17 Wolverine shots on goal.

The Wolverines will wrap up the weekend on Sunday (Sept. 13), taking on Davidson at 2 p.m. at Ocker Field. Admission is free to all regular-season home games.

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