Late Goals Doom Wolverines in Loss at No. 1 UConn

Sunday, September 2

Storrs, Conn.

Noon

Michigan

(1-3)

Connecticut

(4-0)

Michigan

UCONN

9/2/2018 2:32:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 5 Michigan sacrificed a second-half lead at No. 1 Connecticut, falling to the defending NCAA champion, 2-1, on the road.
» UConn scored the game-winning goal off a penalty corner at 64:38.
» Wolverine goalkeeper Anna Spieker earned 11 saves, including seven in the second half.
» Emma Way netted U-M's lone goal off of a steal and a reverse chip at 4:14 -- her team-best fourth marker this season.

Site: Storrs, Conn. (George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex)
Score: #1 Connecticut 2, #5 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (1-3), UConn (4-0)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 7 -- vs. Pacific (Phyllis Ocker Field), 7 p.m.

STORRS, Conn. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team could not hang onto a second-half lead against No. 1 Connecticut, falling to the defending NCAA champion, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 2) at the Huskies' George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex.

UConn netted the game-winning goal with less than six minutes remaining in regulation, at 64:38, off a penalty-corner deflection to the right side of the cage. The Huskies largely controlled the second half, outshooting the Wolverines, 13-1, and outcornering them, 6-1, and evened the score at 46:50 mark off a rebound that kicked had out to the right side of the Michigan circle.

The Wolverines struck first, netting the initial goal for the fourth time this season, on a stellar individual effort from senior Emma Way inside the UConn 25 at the 4:14 mark. Way intercepted an errant pass through the middle, carried the ball into the circle, pulled it left to avoid a defender and fired a reverse chip to the lower right corner of the cage. It was her team-best fourth goal of the season.

In all, UConn outshot the Wolverines, 20-3, and outcornered them, 9-1, in the contest. Freshman goalkeeper Anna Spieker registered her best collegiate performance to date despite the loss, earning 11 saves, including seven in the second half. The Huskies' Cheynne Sprecher stopped one of two U-M shots on goal.

The Wolverines (1-3) will open the home portion of their 2018 slate next weekend, kicking off a four-game homestand with a pair of non-conference games. Michigan will face Pacific on Friday (Sept. 7) at 7 p.m. before welcoming Monmouth at noon on Sunday (Sept. 9) at Phyllis Ocker Field. Admission is free to all regular-season home games.