Michigan
Michigan State
Week #8: U-M Set for Regional Matchups against Michigan State, Ball State
10/10/2018 3:14:00 PM | Field Hockey
» No. 7 Michigan will face a pair of regional foes this weekend, traveling to East Lansing, Michigan, to face Michigan State at 6 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 12) before hosting Ball State at noon on Sunday (Oct. 14).
» Michigan owns a 6-0 record at Phyllis Ocker Field this season, outscoring its home opposition, 25-6.
» Emma Way, who ranks sixth nationally with 1.00 goals per game, boasts a career best with 14 goals this season; Meg Dowthwaite has also scored six goals over the last seven games.
THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 12 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 6Â p.m.
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Saturday, Oct. 14 -- vs. Ball State (Phyllis Ocker Field), 1 p.m.
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• Game Day Information: Phyllis Ocker Field Information | Free Admission
The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (9-5, 5-1 Big Ten) will play a pair of games against regional foes in the Mitten State this weekend. U-M travels to East Lansing, Michigan, on Friday (Oct. 12)Â for a 6 p.m. slate against in-state rival Michigan State before hosting Ball State at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 14) at Phyllis Ocker Field.
PROMOTIONS
Ball State: Team Poster Giveaway [ more promotions ]
Wolverine Bites
• Michigan holds a half-game advantage in the Big Ten standings with a 5-1 conference record. After Penn State defeated previously-unbeaten Maryland, 3-1, last Sunday (Oct. 7), both programs own matching 4-1 league records. Iowa and Northwestern share the fourth spot with 3-2 marks. The Wolverines' lone Big Ten loss came to Maryland (2-1, Sept. 23), while they own wins over Penn State, Iowa and Northwestern.
• Michigan is 6-0 at Ocker Field this season, outscoring its home opposition 25-6, and highlighted by wins over No. 17 Rutgers (3-1, Sept. 14) and No. 10 Northwestern (3-2, Sept. 28). The Wolverines boast an impressive 176-53 record at their home facility since its 1995 inauguration, including a 71-16 mark over the last seven seasons.
• After starting the season with a 1-3 record, the Wolverines have won eight of their last 10 games. Michigan has earned wins over ranked opponents in each of the last four weekends, including top-10 wins over No. 6 Penn State (1-0, Sept. 21), No. 10 Northwestern (3-2, Sept. 28) and No. 10 Iowa (2-1, Oct. 5). U-M has faced nine ranked opponents, while three of its five losses have come against No. 1 UConn, No. 2 North Carolina and No. 3 Maryland. U-M lists seventh nationally in strength of schedule.
• Senior Emma Way leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh nationally with a 1.00 goals-per-game average. She also ranks eighth nationally with 2.21 points per game. She has scored in 11 of the last 13 games and leads the Wolverines with a career-best 14 goals on the season. Her previous best was 13 goals, which she tallied last season.
• Junior Meg Dowthwaite has also been on a tear of late, scoring six goals over the last seven games, including the game's first goal in the first half against No. 10 Northwestern and the go-ahead and game-winning goals late in the first against both Indiana and Iowa. Dowthwaite also netted the game-winner on a late penalty stroke at No. 6 Penn State last month. She owns seven goals this season.
• Thirteen different Wolverines have scored at least one goal this season, including five -- Kathryn Peterson, Kate Burney, Sofia Southam, Tina D'Anjolell and Katie Anderson -- who have tallied the first of their careers. Of recent note, junior Fay Keijer netted her first goal of the season against Northwestern, scoring the go-ahead and game-winning tally late in the first half, while Anderson and senior Marleise Emrhein both tallied their first of the season against Indiana.
Scouting the Opposition
Michigan State -- The Spartans are 4-11 this season and 0-6 in Big Ten play after losses to Louisville (4-1, Oct. 7) and Indiana (1-0, Oct. 5) last weekend. Isa van der Weij and Aisha Osinga lead the team with four and two goals, respectively, while goalkeeper Jade Arundell owns a 2.75 goals-against average and a .661 save percentage. Michigan leads the all-time series against Michigan State, 41-25-6, and has won the last four meetings, including a 6-0 shutout last season.
Ball State -- The Cardinals hold a 2-10 record after a loss to Louisville (5-1, Oct. 3) and a 3-2 double-overtime win against Ohio (Oct. 5). Michelle Shampton, Rachel Pereira and Sierra Jefferson lead the team with three goals apiece. Goalkeeper Grace Chavez holds a 5.25 goals-against average and .628 save percentage. Michigan leads the all-time series against Ball State, 16-5, and earned a 5-0 shutout win last season.
Last Time Out
Michigan split a pair of games in Iowa City, Iowa, last weekend, earning a 2-1 win over No. 10 Iowa before falling, 4-2, to No. 21 Stanford. Freshman Kathryn Peterson scored the first goal early in the first half against Iowa, and junior Meg Dowthwaite scored the game-winner at 22:00, marking her sixth goal in six games. Goalkeeper Anna Spieker earned nine saves, including seven in the second half. Although U-M outshot and outcornered Stanford, it was not able to keep the pace in the second half. Freshman Sofia Southam and senior Emma Way scored for Michigan. [ Recaps: Iowa | Stanford ]
Up Next
Sunday, Oct. 21 -- vs. Ohio State (Phyllis Ocker Field), noon
