Michigan
Michigan State
Clarke's Double-OT Goal Propels U-M Past MSU, into B1G Tourney
10/27/2023 9:17:00 PM | Field Hockey
» No. 16 Michigan earned a 1-0 double-overtime win over in-state rival Michigan State in its regular-season finale at Ocker Field.
» Lora Clarke scored the game-winner on a reverse chip at 78:35; U-M had a goal overturned in the second quarter.
» With the win, Michigan qualified for the Big Ten Tournament, slated for next weekend at Ocker Field.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Lora Clarke netted the double-overtime golden goal at the 78:35 mark to propel the No. 16-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team to a 1-0 win over in-state rival Michigan in its regular-season finale on Friday evening (Oct. 27) in front of 747 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field
With the victory, the Wolverines locked up their bid for the Big Ten Tournament, slated for next Thursday through Sunday (Nov. 2-5) at Ocker Field. Michigan (9-7, 3-5 Big Ten) is the No. 7 seed and will open play against No. 2 seed Rutgers at 2 p.m. Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office. Michigan is the defending conference tournament champion
Michigan largely controlled play in the two overtime frames, registering seven shots in the second before Clarke broke through with the game-winner. The Wolverines set up the play with a free hit just outside the attacking circle. Senior Anouk Veen fed the ball back to freshman Juliette Manzur on the MSU 25, and Manzur pushed the ball up to Clarke on the left side of the circle. Clarke maneuvered to create space away from a Spartan defender and fired a reverse chip up and into the netting in the back of the cage. It was her third goal of the season.
The Wolverines thought they had a breakthrough goal late in the second quarter when Clarke dished the ball to the right side of the MSU circle to senior Kate McLaughlin, who one-timed a shot to the board. But the umpires deemed a Michigan back stick on referral and overturned the goal.
In all, Michigan outshot the Spartans 25-7 and outcornered them 9-3. Junior/sophomore goalkeeper Caylie McMahon earned two saves en route to her fourth complete-game shutout of the season, while MSU goalie Cecily Charles stopped 11 of 12 Michigan shots on goal.
The Spartans' greatest threat came late in the third quarter when Michigan turned away three corners over the final three minutes of the frame. All three MSU corner shots missed wide. McMahon picked up her saves on a reverse chip in the first quarter and a redirection in front late in the first overtime.
