Southam Nets Five as Wolverines Crush Ball State in Home Opener

Friday, September 10

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

(4-0)

Ball State

(2-4)

Ball State

Michigan

Tina D'Anjolell (6), Sofia Southam (8) (Michigan Photography)

Southam Nets Five as Wolverines Crush Ball State in Home Opener

9/10/2021 10:35:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 1 Michigan cruised to a 12-0 win against Ball State in its home opener at Ocker Field.
» Sofia Southam posted a career-best five goals in the first half, while U-M registered its greatest scoring margin in 41 years.
» U-M held Ball State without a shot or a corner; it was the Wolverines' third straight shutout win.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #1 Michigan 12, Ball State 0
Records: U-M (4-0), BSU (2-4)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 18 -- vs. Albany (Ithaca, N.Y.), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The top-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team was dominant in its first game as the nation's new No. 1, posting its largest scoring margin in 41 years with a 12-0 win against Ball State in its home opener Friday evening (Sept. 10) in front 956 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field.

The Wolverines' 12 goals were the program's most since posting a 14-0 shutout against Olivet on Sept. 25, 1980, and the third largest single-game goal total in U-M field hockey history.

Michigan (4-0) scored four times in the opening 7:14 of the contest -- two apiece from seniors Sofia Southam and Tina D'Anjolell. Southam scored five times in the first half, while freshman Emmy Tran and sophomore Katelyn Clarke both tallied their first collegiate goals in the second.

Southam scored the first and game-winning goal at the 2:44 mark, carrying the ball into the circle from the left side before sending it to freshman Abby Tamer for a goalmouth give-and-go and knocking it in herself from the left post. D'Anjolell scored her goals less than a minute apart -- at 5:34 and 6:27 -- on a shot from the right post and a subsequent penalty-corner rebound. Southam's second marker also came less than a minute later -- at 7:14 -- off another corner rebound. Michigan scored four goals off its corner attack.

Southam, who previously owned one collegiate hat trick, added three more goals in the second quarter. She now leads the Wolverines with seven goals this season -- in just two game appearances.

In addition to Tran and Katelyn Clarke's first collegiate goals, sophomores Pilar Oliveros and Lora Clarke each netted their first markers of the season in the second half. Thirteen different Wolverines have already scored goals this season -- more than half of U-M's field players. Michigan has outscored its opposition 25-2 through four games.

On the defensive end, Michigan did not allow a shot or a corner for the first time this season. U-M outshot the Cardinals 39-0 and outcornered them 14-0. Senior Anna Spieker and sophomore Gillian Dumont combined for the shutout in goal -- U-M's third in a row -- while Ball State (2-4) goalkeeper Ally Butler posted 18 saves and three Cardinals earned defensive saves.

The Wolverines will return to the road for a pair of non-conference games next weekend in Ithaca, N.Y. U-M will play Albany at 1 p.m. in neutral-site action on Saturday (Sept. 18) before facing host Cornell at 11 a.m. on Sunday (Sept. 19) at Dodson Field.