Weekly Release #4
9/22/1998 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 24 -- vs. Michigan State (Phyllis Ocker Field), 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 -- vs. Louisville (Phyllis Ocker Field), noon Friday, Oct. 2 -- at No. 16 Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), noon
BIG TEN TITLE DEFENSE BEGINS THURSDAY
The Wolverines begin defense of their 1997 Big Ten co-championship Thursday (Sept. 24) at 4 p.m. vs. Michigan State (2-4) at Ocker Field. In 1997, the Wolverines and Spartans split the season series, with each team winning on its home turf. Former Wolverine star and current graduate assistant coach Julie Flachs netted three of the four U-M goals in the Nov. 2 meeting at Ocker Field. The young Spartans are led by Ann Arbor native and CFHCA All-Midwest Region selection Melissa Pryor, the only returning MSU player to start every game in 1996 and 1997.
LOUISVILLE PROVIDES SEASON'S FINAL NON-CONFERENCE CHALLENGE
Following the Big Ten opener, the Louisville Cardinals (0-5) will come to town Sunday (Sept. 27) looking for their first win of the season. Last year, Michigan shut out the Cardinals 6-0 as Loveita Wilkinson (New Castle, Del./William Penn HS) and Lindsay Babbitt (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson HS) each scored goals while goalie Kati Oakes (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) recorded her first career shutout. Michigan leads the series 2-0, shutting out the Cardinals both times.
WOLVERINES RANKED EIGHTH
The Michigan field hockey team began the season ranked 11th in the nation by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, but moved up to No. 8 after an impressive beginning to the season, which included victories over No. 10 Ball State and Wake Forest. Michigan has won six of its first eight games heading into conference play. The Wolverines' losses came to No. 6 Maryland (2-1 in double overtime) and No. 7 Boston College (2-1). Three other Big Ten teams teams are ranked: Penn State (No. 3), Ohio State (No. 17) and Iowa (No. 16).
WOLVERINES STOP NORTHEASTERN
Michigan traveled east Sept. 19 to play the Northeastern Huskies. NU, ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll, struggled early with the Wolverines as they trailed 3-1 at the half. In the contest, Loveita Wilkinson netted her third goal of the season, Lindsay Babbitt scored her third career game winning goal, and Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) scored her fifth of the season. Freshman sensation Jessie Veith (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest HS) capped the scoring for the Wolverines with her fifth goal of the season midway through the second half.
WOLVERINES UPENDED BY NO. 7 BOSTON COLLEGE 2-1
Boston College (Sept. 20) was the second and final opponent of the weekend. Michigan led 1-0 at the half behind solid defense and the stick of Loveita Wilkinson, but BC's two timely second-half goals proved to be the difference. The Maize and Blue dominated most phases of the contest but was unable to get the ball by BC goalie Jill Dedman.
"We did dominate the match," said head coach Marcia Pankratz. "But sometimes that happens in field hockey where you dominate the match -- outshoot them -- and you don't win. We are a good team, but they were a little better than us today."
OAKES, WOLVERINE SHUTOUT STREAKS END
The Northeastern Huskies scored the first goal on Michigan's Kati Oakes in over three games. The streak began with 30:55 remaining in the game against Wake Forest and ended 6:01 into the contest vs. Northeastern, a total of 221:06 minutes. Oakes' scoreless streak lasted 186:06 minutes as she and Michelle Tasch (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) split time in the 11-0 win over Central Michigan. For her outstanding efforts, Oakes was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week two consecutive weeks, the first Wolverine player in history to do so in successive weeks.
Contact: Brent Richards (734) 763-4423
BIG TEN TITLE DEFENSE BEGINS THURSDAY
The Wolverines begin defense of their 1997 Big Ten co-championship Thursday (Sept. 24) at 4 p.m. vs. Michigan State (2-4) at Ocker Field. In 1997, the Wolverines and Spartans split the season series, with each team winning on its home turf. Former Wolverine star and current graduate assistant coach Julie Flachs netted three of the four U-M goals in the Nov. 2 meeting at Ocker Field. The young Spartans are led by Ann Arbor native and CFHCA All-Midwest Region selection Melissa Pryor, the only returning MSU player to start every game in 1996 and 1997.
LOUISVILLE PROVIDES SEASON'S FINAL NON-CONFERENCE CHALLENGE
Following the Big Ten opener, the Louisville Cardinals (0-5) will come to town Sunday (Sept. 27) looking for their first win of the season. Last year, Michigan shut out the Cardinals 6-0 as Loveita Wilkinson (New Castle, Del./William Penn HS) and Lindsay Babbitt (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson HS) each scored goals while goalie Kati Oakes (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) recorded her first career shutout. Michigan leads the series 2-0, shutting out the Cardinals both times.
WOLVERINES RANKED EIGHTH
The Michigan field hockey team began the season ranked 11th in the nation by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, but moved up to No. 8 after an impressive beginning to the season, which included victories over No. 10 Ball State and Wake Forest. Michigan has won six of its first eight games heading into conference play. The Wolverines' losses came to No. 6 Maryland (2-1 in double overtime) and No. 7 Boston College (2-1). Three other Big Ten teams teams are ranked: Penn State (No. 3), Ohio State (No. 17) and Iowa (No. 16).
WOLVERINES STOP NORTHEASTERN
Michigan traveled east Sept. 19 to play the Northeastern Huskies. NU, ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll, struggled early with the Wolverines as they trailed 3-1 at the half. In the contest, Loveita Wilkinson netted her third goal of the season, Lindsay Babbitt scored her third career game winning goal, and Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) scored her fifth of the season. Freshman sensation Jessie Veith (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest HS) capped the scoring for the Wolverines with her fifth goal of the season midway through the second half.
WOLVERINES UPENDED BY NO. 7 BOSTON COLLEGE 2-1
Boston College (Sept. 20) was the second and final opponent of the weekend. Michigan led 1-0 at the half behind solid defense and the stick of Loveita Wilkinson, but BC's two timely second-half goals proved to be the difference. The Maize and Blue dominated most phases of the contest but was unable to get the ball by BC goalie Jill Dedman.
"We did dominate the match," said head coach Marcia Pankratz. "But sometimes that happens in field hockey where you dominate the match -- outshoot them -- and you don't win. We are a good team, but they were a little better than us today."
OAKES, WOLVERINE SHUTOUT STREAKS END
The Northeastern Huskies scored the first goal on Michigan's Kati Oakes in over three games. The streak began with 30:55 remaining in the game against Wake Forest and ended 6:01 into the contest vs. Northeastern, a total of 221:06 minutes. Oakes' scoreless streak lasted 186:06 minutes as she and Michelle Tasch (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) split time in the 11-0 win over Central Michigan. For her outstanding efforts, Oakes was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week two consecutive weeks, the first Wolverine player in history to do so in successive weeks.
Contact: Brent Richards (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
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