Weekly Release #10
10/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 27 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 1 p.m. CDT
Fri-Sun., Nov. 2-4 -- at Big Ten Tournament (Evanston, Ill.), TBA
This Week
The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten) wraps up the regular season, and Big Ten Conference play, this weekend, traveling to Evanston, Ill., for a Saturday (Oct. 27) matchup with the Northwestern Wildcats (2-10 overall, 1-4 Big Ten). Game time is slated for 1 p.m. CDT at Lakeside Field on the campus of Northwestern University.
Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
Marcia Pankratz (Iowa, 1987) is in her sixth season on the Michigan sideline and owns an 89-38 (.701) mark entering this weekend's action. The winningest field hockey coach in U-M history, Pankratz has averaged over 15 wins a season in her coaching career and has guided the Wolverines to 15 or more wins in each of the last four campaigns. In 1999 the team set a school record with 20 wins while reaching the NCAA title game. A two-time winner of the NFHCA's West Region Coach of the Year Award, Pankratz has also been named Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year on two occasions (1997, 2000). Under Pankratz's guidance, Michigan has claimed two Big Ten regular-season titles (1997, 2000) as well as a pair of Big Ten Tournament crowns (1999, 2000) and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons.
A Look at the Northwestern Series
Michigan and Northwestern will meet for the 39th time on Saturday (Oct. 27) in a series that began during the 1980 campaign. The Wolverines trail 10-28 in the all-time series but have won each of the last eight outings, including a 2-1 (ot) victory at Ocker Field last season. Michigan sports a 5-10 record against the Wildcats in Evanston and has posted a victory in each of its last three trips to the NU campus.
Scouting The Wildcats
Northwestern enters its final game of the regular season with a 2-10 overall mark, including a 1-4 record in Big Ten play. The Wildcats, who have dropped their last three games, are currently in sixth place in the Big Ten standings, and can tie for fifth place and earn the Big Ten Tournament's fifth seed with a win and a Penn State loss at Indiana on Sunday (Oct. 28). If the Wildcats lose, they will enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed ... Marisa Didio (New Hampshire, 1978), is in her seventh season on the Northwestern sidelines, where she owns a mark of 68-54-4. Didio, who is in her second stint as head coach of the Wildcats, has recorded a 212-119-21 record in 20-plus seasons as a head coach.
Offensively, Northwestern in led by a trio of seven-point scorers, including junior back Diane Provencher (3-1C7), sophomore forward/midfielder Suzie Sutton (1-5C7) and junior back Lindsey Millard (1-5C7). Provencher, along with senior back Nicole Smith, lead the team with three goals each, while Sutton and Millard pace the squad with five assists. In net, sophomore Katie Hall and junior Kendra Mesa have split time, with Hall logging the majority of minutes. Hall, who has made seven starts, owns a 2-5 record to go along with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .685 saves percentage, while Mesa is 0-5 with a 3.34 GAA and a .638 SV% in five starts.
Big Ten Standings (through 10/21/01)
Big Ten | Overall Place, Team W-L Pct. GF GA | W-L Pct. GF GA 1. Michigan State 4-1 .800 14 7 | 14-4 .778 54 24 Ohio State 4-1 .800 12 6 | 11-4 .733 40 23 3. MICHIGAN 3-2 .600 14 11 | 10-3 .769 35 18 Iowa 3-2 .600 18 7 | 12-4 .750 45 15 5. Penn State 2-3 .400 11 9 | 9-6 .600 34 19 6. Northwestern 1-4 .200 7 16 | 2-10 .167 14 34 7. Indiana 0-4 .000 5 25 | 1-13 .071 14 48
2001 STX/NFHCA National Coaches Poll (10/23/01)
Team (1st-place votes) Record Points Prev 1. Maryland (15) 12-3 541 2 2. Old Dominion (9) 13-4 527 1 3. Wake Forest (4) 10-3 518 3 4. North Carolina 12-4 481 5 5. MICHIGAN 12-4 438 4 6. Michigan State 14-4 424 6 7. Princeton 12-2 371 7 8. Virginia 10-5 355 8 9. Ohio State 11-4 333 10 10. Ohio 12-4 274 13 11. William & Mary 13-3 272 11 12. Kent State 10-6 263 12 13. Penn State 9-6 226 15 14. Louisville 13-4 222 9 15. Duke 10-6 177 14 16. Iowa 10-3 131 16 17. James Madison 10-7 114 17 18. Syracuse 12-2 76 19 19. Northeastern 13-4 64 18 20. California 9-4 34 20
U-M Week-By-Week in the Rankings
Date Rank Sept. 11 4th Sept. 25 4th Oct. 2 3rd Oct. 9 2nd Oct. 16 4th Oct. 23 5th
So Many Possibilities
With one game remaining in the Big Ten season, there are seven scenarios that can play out which will determine where the Wolverines will finish in the final regular-season standings and what seed U-M will receive for the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan's only shot at a share of the regular-season title is if it wins and Ohio State and Michigan State both lose, causing a four-way tie for first with U-M, OSU, MSU and Iowa. Depending on the situation, the Wolverines can finish anywhere from first to fourth, and can be seeded anywhere from second to fifth in the Big Ten Tournament. Pairings for the 2001 Big Ten Tournament will be announced on Sunday evening (Oct. 28).
The Big Ten Race
With one game remaining for every school (except Indiana) in the Big Ten season, the regular-season title, as well as the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament, is up for grabs. Following is a look at the scenarios that can play out for the championship during the final weekend of conference play.
If Ohio State and Michigan State both win: If one team wins and the other loses: If Ohio State and Michigan State both lose: Since all the records are the same, you go to the second tie-breaker, the three teams' record against the next-highest finisher. That could be either Michigan or Penn State (or both) at 3-3. Iowa, MSU and OSU have all defeated PSU, so even if Penn State was the fourth-place team, the tie-breaker would come down to the three teams' results against Michigan. In that case, Ohio State was the only one to beat Michigan, so Ohio State would be the No. 1 seed. As for Iowa and Michigan State, the winner in the head-to-head competition would be the No. 2 seed, making the Hawkeyes the No. 2 seed based on their (possible) win this weekend. Option B -- If Michigan wins, then it would cause a four-way tie for the Big Ten title with Iowa, MSU and OSU. With a four-way tie, you also compare the games played between the tied teams.
The Buckeyes and Spartans will be named co-champions and Michigan State will be awarded the No. 1 seed, and a first-round bye, at the 2001 Big Ten Tournament based on their win over Ohio State on Oct. 20.
The winning team, whether OSU or MSU, will be the Big Ten champion and earn the No. 1 seed.
Option A -- That means Iowa would have defeated MSU to clinch at least a three-way tie for the Big Ten title at 4-2. With a three-way tie, you compare the games played between the tied teams.
OSU vs. Iowa, MSU: 1-1
MSU vs. Iowa, OSU: 1-1 (with loss to Iowa)
Iowa vs. MSU, OSU: 1-1 (with win over MSU)
OSU vs. Iowa, U-M, MSU: 2-1
U-M vs. Iowa, MSU, OSU: 2-1
MSU vs. Iowa, U-M, OSU: 1-2 (with loss to Iowa)
Iowa vs. U-M, MSU, OSU: 1-2 (with win over MSU)
So Iowa and MSU are eliminated, leaving just Ohio State and Michigan for the top seed. The winner in head-to-head competition was Ohio State, making the Buckeyes the No. 1 seed.
Where They Can Finish
In addition to the battle for the regular-season championship, the Wolverines have the possibility to finish anywhere from first to fourth in the final standings and can be seeded anywhere from second to fifth in the Big Ten Tournament. Following is where and how Michigan can finish in the final Big Ten standings:
To tie for first: To finish second, or tied for second: Option B -- Michigan needs to win at Northwestern, Indiana needs to win at Ohio State and Michigan State needs to win at Iowa. U-M would tie Ohio State for second place in the conference, but would be seeded third in the Big Ten Tournament due to a loss to the Buckeyes in the regular season. To finish third, or tied for third: Option B -- Northwestern needs to defeat Michigan, Ohio State needs to defeat Indiana, Michigan State needs to win at Iowa and Penn State needs to win at Indiana. U-M would tie for third with Iowa and PSU, but would be seeded fifth after all the tiebreakers are applied. To finish tied for fourth: Option B -- Northwestern needs to defeat Michigan, Ohio State needs to defeat Indiana, Iowa needs to defeat Michigan State and Penn State needs to win at Indiana. U-M and PSU would tie for fourth, but the Wolverines would be seeded fifth due to a regular-season loss to the Nittany Lions.
Michigan needs to win at Northwestern, Indiana needs to win at Ohio State, and Iowa needs to defeat Michigan State. U-M, MSU, OSU and Iowa would all tie for the regular-season title, but the Wolverines would receive the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Option A -- Michigan needs to win at Northwestern, Ohio State needs to defeat Indiana, and Iowa needs to defeat Michigan State. Michigan would tie MSU and Iowa for second in the final standings, and receive the No. 2 seed after applying the tiebreakers.
Option A -- Michigan needs to win at Northwestern, Ohio State needs to defeat Indiana, and Michigan State needs to win at Iowa. U-M would finish third and would be the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Option A -- Northwestern needs to defeat Michigan, Indiana needs to win at Ohio State, Iowa needs to defeat Michigan State, and Penn State needs to win at Indiana. U-M and PSU would tie for fourth, but the Wolverines would be seeded fifth due to a regular-season loss to the Nittany Lions.
Chicagoland
Michigan is making the first of two straight trips to the Chicagoland area this weekend, and will return to the Northwestern campus on Friday-Sunday, Nov. 2-4, for the 2001 Big Ten Conference Tournament.
Stopper
The Wolverines have dropped their last two Big Ten games and are looking to end their skid at Northwestern. The last time Michigan dropped back-to-back Big Ten games was during the 1999 campaign, with a 1-0 loss at Iowa on Oct. 24 and a 4-2 defeat against Penn State on Oct. 29.
56*
Senior defender Catherine Foreman (Happy Valley, South Australia/Westminster School) picked up her 56th career assist with two helpers last Sunday (Oct. 21) in the 4-0 win at Central Michigan, tying her with Courtney Reid (1997-2000) for the all-time career assists mark. Foreman, who is tied for the NCAA lead with 12 assists this season, has at least two games remaining on the 2001 schedule to break the tie.
One-Goal Wonders
Ten of Michigan's 16 games have been decided by one goal this season, including five of the last six outings. The Wolverines are 6-4 this season in games decided by a single marker.
Sunday School
Michigan is a perfect 8-0 on Sundays this season and is outscoring opponents by a 26-4 margin.
Out of the Gates
Michigan has netted the first goal in 14 of its 16 contests this season, including 10 of the last 11. The Wolverines are 12-2 in games when they score first.
Tough D
U-M is holding opponents to 5.0 shots per game and has kept foes to 10 shots or less in the last 15 games. In addition, the Wolverines are allowing just 0.9 goals per game and have posted six shutouts this season. The Wolverine defense is tied for second in the Big Ten for goals allowed per game and is fourth nationally. In each of the last 15 games, Michigan has held opponents to two goals or less.
Second-Half Surge
U-M is outscoring opponents by a 20-4 margin after intermission.
Double Digits
Michigan is looking for its first double-digit goal scorer this season, and has two players -- freshman forward Adrienne Hortillosa (Chula Vista, Calif./Bonita Vista HS) and sophomore defender Stephanie Johnson (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) -- within striking distance with one game remaining in the regular season. Johnson leads the way with nine goals, while Hortillosa has eight, tops among freshmen on the squad. The Wolverines have had a player register 10 or more goals in each of the last seven years.
Don't Mess with Texas
Stephanie Johnson has nearly doubled her point output from her freshman campaign in 1999, and enters the Northwestern game as Michigan's leader in goals and points with 9-2C20 totals. Johnson, who missed the 2000 season with a back injury, posted six goals for 12 points as a rookie.
The Offensive Defender
Sophomore defender Kristi Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) has 2-1C5 in her last four appearances and has netted a goal in each of her last two games, including U-M's lone marker in the 2-1 loss to No. 15 Penn State last Saturday (Oct. 20). Gannon, who has 6-4C16 totals this season, is currently tied for third in scoring with sophomore April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS).
Saved by Zero
Senior goaltender Maureen Tasch (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) posted her sixth shutout of the season at Central Michigan last Sunday (Oct. 21) and improved her career total to 9.5 blankings. Tasch is currently tied for fourth for most shutouts in a single season, and is 1.5 away from tying the U-M single-season mark of 7.5, shared by Rachael Geishardt (1995) and Katie Oakes (1998). In addition, Tasch's career total is seventh on the U-M all-time shutout list.
Next Up
The Wolverines will return to Evanston, Ill., on Friday-Sunday, Nov. 2-4, to participate in the 2001 Big Ten Conference Tournament, hosted by Northwestern University. Michigan, the winner of the last two Big Ten Tournaments, will face an undetermined opponent in the first round on Friday. Pairings and schedules will be announced by the Big Ten office on Sunday (Oct. 28).
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
