De Willigen's OT Game-Winner Pushes U-M Past No. 19 Indiana in B1G Quarterfinals

Thursday, November 7

College Park, Md.

5:00 PM

Michigan

(13-4)

Indiana

(9-9)

Indiana

Michigan

Greg Fiume / Big Ten Conference

De Willigen's OT Game-Winner Pushes U-M Past No. 19 Indiana in B1G Quarterfinals

11/7/2024 8:29:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 9 Michigan avenged an earlier-season loss with a 2-1 overtime decision against No. 19 Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
» Esmée de Willigen scored the game-winning goal on a tip goal at 68:45; Kate McLaughlin also scored for Michigan in the first quarter.
» Goalkeeper Hala Silverstein posted three saves; IU forced overtime on a late corner goal.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore Esmée de Willigen netted the game-winning goal at 68:45 late in the first overtime to propel the No. 9-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team to a 2-1 win over No. 19 Indiana in the Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday evening (Nov. 7) at Maryland's Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. Michigan avenged a regular-season loss to the Hoosiers -- also 2-1 -- two weeks ago in its home finale.

The Wolverines (13-4) advanced to the Big Ten semifinals tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 8) and will face No. 5-ranked host Maryland (13-5) at 3:30 p.m. at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Maryland defeated Iowa, 1-0, in a shootout in its quarterfinal game.

Michigan largely dominated the overtime frame with lopsided advantages in both shots (5-0) and corners (4-0) and benefited from a five-minute player advantage when IU was carded for having too many players on the field.

With time winding down, graduate student Erin Reilly carried the ball up the middle inside the Hoosier 25 and fired the ball into the circle. It squeezed between a few defenders and just past an Indiana stick before de Willigen got her stick on it in front and redirected it over the Indiana goalkeeper's head. It was her third goal of the season and first game-winner.

The Hoosiers capitalized on a two-player advantage -- with their goalie pulled and Michigan down a player with a yellow card -- to even the score off a penalty-corner conversion with just 1:14 remaining in regulation. Michigan was forced to play shorthanded several times throughout the game, including two five-minute yellow cards in the second half.

Michigan held a narrow 1-0 advantage for most of the game after graduate student Kate McLaughlin opened scoring at 11:04 in the first quarter. The Wolverines intercepted a pass at midfield, and graduate student Lora Clarke carried the ball up the middle and threaded a pass through two IU defenders to McLaughlin, who turned and, one-on-one with the Hoosier goalkeeper, buried a shot to the left side. It was her 12th goal of the season, tying senior/junior Abby Tamer for the team lead.

Michigan outshot the Hoosiers 12-7, while Indiana posted a 7-6 edge in penalty corners. Sophomore/freshman goalkeeper Hala Silverstein posted three saves, including a spectacular one-on-one stop on an IU fast break in the fourth quarter, while Hoosier goalie Sadie Canelli stopped five of seven Michigan shots on goal.