Late Corner Goal Propels U-M Past No. 3 Louisville to Remain Unbeaten

Sunday, October 10

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

(11-0)

Louisville

(11-2)

Louisville

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Late Corner Goal Propels U-M Past No. 3 Louisville to Remain Unbeaten

10/10/2021 3:48:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 2 Michigan used a late penalty-corner goal to edge No. 3 Louisville, 2-1, at Ocker Field.
» Halle O'Neill scored the game-winning goal at 57:02; Sofia Southam also scored a first-quarter corner goal and assisted on the game-winner.
» Goalkeeper Anna Spieker earned three saves en route to U-M's second top-10 win on the weekend.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #2 Michigan 2, #3 Louisville 1
Records: U-M (11-0), UL (11-2)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 15 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 2 p.m. CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team used a late penalty-corner execution, scoring with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, to defeat No. 3 Louisville 2-1 on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 10) in front of 811 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field. The win was U-M's second over a top-10 opponent this weekend; Michigan improved to 11-0 on the season.

Fifth-year senior Halle O'Neill buried the direct shot on the penalty corner to net the game-winner at 57:02. She took the insert from senior Sofia Southam on the left side of the scoring arc and send a pinpoint sweep to the far side of the cage. It was her second goal of the season.

For the second time in as many games, all three off the game's goals came off the penalty corner attack. Michigan (11-0) broke through early, at 6:23, when Southam banged in corner rebound for her team-best 15th goal of the season. O'Neill's initial shot was saved and bounced left, where senior inserter Kathryn Peterson corralled it and fed it to Southam, who lifted it high to the right side of the cage. Southam remains the national leader in goals per game.

Louisville (11-2) evened the score early in the third quarter, at 36:40, on a corner of its own. Katie Schneider laid out from the right post to tip in the direct shot.

Michigan outshot the Cardinals 10-7, while corners were even at 4-4. Senior goalkeeper Anna Spieker earned three saves, including a point-blank attempt from the right post early in the fourth quarter, while Louisville's Mila de Kuijer also posted three stops.

The Wolverines return to the road for a pair of Big Ten games next weekend. U-M will face No. 1 Iowa at 2 p.m. CDT on Friday (Oct. 15) in Iowa City, a game that will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Michigan wraps the road swing with a noon slate at Indiana on Sunday (Oct. 17) in Bloomington.