Wolverines Beat No. 17 Rutgers in Big Ten Opener

Friday, September 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

(4-3, 1-0B1G)

Rutgers

(5-1, 0-1B1G)

Rutgers

Michigan

9/14/2018 11:09:00 PM | Field Hockey

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By: Leah Howard

» No. 10 Michigan defeated No. 17 Rutgers, 3-1, in its Big Ten opener at Ocker Field; it was U-M's third straight win and Rutgers' first loss of the season.
» Freshmen Kathryn Peterson and Sofia Southam scored their first collegiate goals.
» Emma Way contributed to all three goals, scoring her team-best eighth goal of the season while assisting on the other two.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #10 Michigan 3, #17 Rutgers 1
Records: U-M (4-3, 1-0 Big Ten), RU (5-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 16 -- vs. Central Michigan (Phyllis Ocker Field), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team claimed its Big Ten Conference opener in decisive fashion, downing No. 17 Rutgers, 3-1, on Friday night (Sept. 14) in front of of a crowd of 456 at Phyllis Ocker Field. The win was the third consecutive for the Wolverines and handed Rutgers its first loss of the season.

Michigan commanded play throughout the contest, using an aggressive press to hold Rutgers to its half for the majority of the first half before breaking through with its first goal at the 24:57 mark late in the frame.

Freshman Kathryn Peterson finished an incredible two-pass fast break on a free hit at midfield to get the Wolverines on the board and claim her first collegiate goal. After the ball kicked to her off a Rutgers player's shin guard, junior Guadalupe Fernandez Lacort one-timed a hard sweep pass from midfield to senior Emma Way on the Scarlet Knights' defensive 25. Way fed the ball into the circle to Peterson, who while still on the run, pulled it left and buried a reverse chip to the center of the board.

Freshman Sofia Southam also tallied her first collegiate goal early in the second half, at 47:24, on a redirection in front after a Wolverine penalty corner. Way earned an assist for the initial shot toward the right post, as Southam got her stick on it to tip it into the nearside corner.

Rutgers scored on an unassisted effort from Daphne Groothuis just minutes later, at 51:30, but the Wolverines converted on another penalty-corner opportunity at 59:25 to re-establish their two-goal cushion. Way, who assisted on both of Michigan's other goals, netted one of her own -- her team-best eighth of the season -- with a reverse chip to the lower-left corner of the cage. Fernandez Lacort and senior Maggie Bettez earned assists on the stop and the insert, respectively.

Michigan outshot the Scarlet Knights, 16-5, while corners were even at 5. Freshman goalkeeper Anna Spieker earned one save, while sophomore/freshman Abbey Hutton added a defensive save on the right post at the end of regulation. Rutgers also posted a pair of defensive saves, while goalkeeper Gianna Glatz earned four stops.

The Wolverines (4-3) will close out the weekend with a 2 p.m. home slate against Central Michigan on Sunday (Sept. 16). U-M will also host a neutral-site contest between Rutgers and Longwood at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Ocker Field. Admission is free to both games.