Weekly Release #11
10/30/2001 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Upcoming Schedule
Fri-Sun., Nov. 2-4 -- at Big Ten Tournament (Evanston, Ill.)
Nov. 2 -- at Northwestern, 2 p.m. CST
Nov. 3 -- Semifinals, 2 p.m. CST
Nov. 4 -- Championship Game, 1 p.m. CST
Sat-Sun., Nov. 10-11 -- NCAA First and Second Rounds (TBA)
This Week
The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (13-4 overall, 4-2 Big Ten Conference) will begin postseason play by participating in the 2001 Big Ten Tournament Friday through Sunday (Nov. 2-4). The Wolverines, seeded third in the event, will face the host school and No. 6 seed Northwestern (2-12, 1-5 Big Ten) at 2 p.m. CST in Friday's quarterfinal round, concluding the day's three games. No. 2 Ohio State will face No. 7 Indiana in Friday's first match at 10 a.m., while No. 4 Iowa will battle No. 5 Penn State at noon.
On Saturday, No. 1 Michigan State will face the winner of the Iowa-Penn State game at 11:30 a.m., while the winners of the Ohio State-Indiana and Michigan-Northwestern matchups will square off at 2 p.m. Sunday's championship game, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament up for grabs, is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. All games are slated to take place at Lakeside Field on the campus of Northwestern University.
Big Ten Tournament Schedule
Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
Marcia Pankratz (Iowa, 1987) is in her sixth season on the Michigan sideline and owns an 90-38 (.703) 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 40th time on Friday (Nov. 2) in a series that began during the 1980 campaign. The Wolverines trail 11-28 in the all-time series, but have won each of the last nine outings, including a 2-0 victory last weekend at Lakeside Field. Michigan sports a 6-10 record against the Wildcats in Evanston and has posted a victory in each of its last four trips to the NU campus.
Michigan Against the Rest of the Tournament Field
Michigan and Ohio State could possibly meet each other for the 44th time in a series that began in 1977. The Wolverines lead the series by a 23-18-2 margin and have won nine of the last 10 meetings. In the only meeting between the two schools this season, Ohio State posted a 2-1 victory on Oct. 12 in Columbus.
Michigan and Indiana may meet for the third time in a series that began last season. The Wolverines hold a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series, and downed the Hoosiers by a 10-1 margin on Sept. 21 in Ann Arbor.
Michigan and Iowa could face each other for the 41st time in a series that began in 1979. Iowa, which triumphed in the first 31 meetings between the two schools, holds a commanding 33-7 lead in the all-time series, but the Wolverines have captured seven of the last nine meetings, including each of the last three contests. In the only meeting between the two teams this season, Michigan posted a 4-1 win in Ann Arbor (Sept. 28).
Michigan and Penn State could meet for the 24th time in a series that began during the 1992 campaign. The Wolverines trail in the all-time series by a 5-18 margin, but have won in three of the last four games. In its only meeting in 2001 with the Nittany Lions, Michigan dropped a 2-1 decision in Ann Arbor (Oct. 20).
Michigan and Michigan State may do battle for the 52nd time in a series that began during the 1973 campaign. The Wolverines hold a slim 25-20-6 edge in the all-time series and have won seven straight, including a 2-1 (ot) victory in the two schools' only meeting this season in East Lansing (Oct. 4). The Spartans' last win over U-M came in 1997 with a 3-2 (ot) win in East Lansing.
Big Ten Standings (through 10/28/01)
Big Ten | Overall Place, Team W-L Pct. GF GA | W-L Pct. GF GA 1. Michigan State 5-1 .833 16 8 | 15-4 .789 56 25 Ohio State 5-1 .833 15 6 | 12-4 .750 43 23 3. MICHIGAN 4-2 .667 20 7 | 13-4 .765 47 15 4. Iowa 3-3 .500 15 13 | 11-4 .733 39 21 Penn State 3-3 .500 14 9 | 12-6 .667 44 20 6. Northwestern 1-5 .167 7 18 | 2-12 .143 15 39 7. Indiana 0-6 .000 5 31 | 1-15 .062 14 54
2001 STX/NFHCA National Coaches Poll (10/30/01)
Team (1st-place votes) Record Points Prev 1. Maryland (15) 15-3 565 1 Old Dominion (14) 15-4 565 2 3. Wake Forest 13-3 520 3 4. North Carolina 14-5 490 4 5. MICHIGAN 13-4 452 5 6. Michigan State 15-4 431 6 7. Princeton 13-2 385 7 8. Virginia 12-6 364 8 9. Ohio State 12-4 359 9 10. Ohio 14-4 296 10 11. William & Mary 14-4 272 11 12. Kent State 12-6 263 12 13. Penn State 12-6 258 13 14. Louisville 15-4 217 14 15. Duke 9-8 159 15 16. Iowa 11-4 151 16 17. James Madison 11-8 117 17 18. Syracuse 13-3 80 18 19. Northeastern 13-6 64 19 20. California 10-4 45 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 Oct. 30 5th
Player of the Week
Senior defender Catherine Foreman (Happy Valley, South Australia/Westminster School) earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors last week after setting the school record for career assists with two helpers in the 2-0 win at Northwestern last Saturday (Oct. 27). Foreman is the third Wolverine to earn a Player of the Week honor this season, joining sophomore defender Stephanie Johnson (Defensive, Sept. 3 and Sept. 24) and freshman forward/midfielder Adrienne Hortillosa (Offensive, Oct. 8).
All-Big Ten
The 2001 Big Ten awards will be announced Thursday night (Nov. 1) at the annual Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament banquet.
Trifecta
Michigan enters the Big Ten Tournament looking for its third straight crown after winning the events in 1999 in Columbus, Ohio, and last season in Ann Arbor. Penn State holds the record for most consecutive Big Ten Tournament titles, capturing four from 1995-98.
Streaking
The Wolverines have a five-game winning streak in the Big Ten Tournament, dating back to the 1999 event at Ohio State. Overall, Michigan has a 7-5 mark in the Big Ten Tournament, which began in 1994.
History Channel
Michigan is facing Northwestern to open the Big Ten Tournament for the second time in school history. The two schools squared off in the quarterfinals of the 1999 event in Columbus, Ohio, when the Wolverines posted a 4-2 victory en route to their first-ever Big Ten Tournament crown.
A.Q.
In addition to going for its third straight Big Ten Tournament title, Michigan is seeking its third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. U-M can guarantee a trip with three victories this weekend, as the winner of the tournament is an automatic qualifier for the 16-team NCAA Tournament.
Sweet Home Chicago
Michigan is making the second of two straight trips to the Chicagoland area this weekend for the Big Ten Conference Tournament. The Wolverines defeated Northwestern by a 2-0 margin to end the regular season last Saturday (Oct. 27).
One-Goal Wonders
Ten of Michigan's 17 games have been decided by one goal this season, including five of the last seven 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, outscoring opponents by a 26-4 margin.
Out of the Gates
Michigan has netted the first goal in 15 of its 17 contests this season, including 11 of the last 12. The Wolverines are 13-2 in games when they score first.
Tough D
U-M is holding opponents to 4.8 shots per game and has kept foes to 10 shots or less in the last 16 games. In addition, the Wolverines are allowing just 0.9 goals per game and have posted seven shutouts this season. The Wolverine defense ranks second in the Big Ten for goals allowed per game and is fourth nationally. In each of the last 16 games, Michigan has held opponents to two goals or less, including seven shutouts.
Second-Half Surge
U-M is outscoring opponents by a 22-4 margin after intermission.
Double Digits
Michigan is looking for its first double-digit goal scorer this season, and has three players -- freshman forward Adrienne Hortillosa (Chula Vista, Calif./Bonita Vista HS) and sophomore defenders Stephanie Johnson (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) and Kristi Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) -- within striking distance. Johnson leads the way with nine goals, while Hortillosa and Gannon have eight. The Wolverines have had a player register 10 or more goals in each of the last seven years.
George of the Jungle
Catherine Foreman picked up her 57th and 58th career assists with two helpers last Saturday (Oct. 27) in the 2-0 win at Northwestern, establishing Michigan's career mark for assists. Foreman, who has three multi-assist efforts this season, surpassed Courtney Reid's (1997-2000) previous mark of 56. In her four years at Michigan, Foreman has posted 13 or more assists on three occassions, and currently leads the NCAA with 14 helpers. Foreman enters this weekend's tournament with a point in five of her last six games, recording 1-7-9.
The Offensive Defender
Kristi Gannon has 4-1-9 in her last five appearances and has netted a goal in each of her last three games, including both of U-M's markers in the 2-0 win at Northwestern last Saturday (Oct. 27). Gannon, who has 8-4-20 totals this season, is currently third on the team in scoring and leads the squad for scoring in conference games with five goals and two assists for 12 points.
Saving the Best for Last
Senior midfielder Ali Balmer (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata HS) tallied her fourth multi-assist game of the season in the 2-0 win at Northwestern last Saturday (Oct. 27) and established a career high for assists in a campaign with her seventh and eighth of the season. Balmer has posted career numbers in 2001 and enters the Big Ten Tournament with a career-high 2-8-12, the exact number of goals, assists and points she had in her career prior to the start of the season.
Don't Mess with Texas
Stephanie Johnson has nearly doubled her point output from her freshman campaign in 1999, and enters the Big Ten Tournament as Michigan's leader in goals and points with 9-2-20 totals. Johnson, who missed the 2000 season with a back injury, posted six goals for 12 points as a rookie.
Saved by Zero
Senior goaltender Maureen Tasch (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) posted her seventh shutout of the season at Northwestern last Saturday (Oct. 27) and improved her career total to 10.5 blankings. Tasch is currently tied for third for most shutouts in a single season, and is 0.5 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 ties her for sixth on the U-M all-time shutout list.
Next Up
If the Wolverines do not win the Big Ten Tournament, they will await selection to the 2001 NCAA Tournament, whose field will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Sixteen teams will be selected to compete for the national championship, with the tournament slated to start on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10-11, with the first and second rounds at four campus sites to be determined by the NCAA. The 2001 Final Four is scheduled for Friday and Sunday, Nov. 16-18, at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. The 2001 NCAA Field Hockey Tournament Selection Show can be viewed online at www.ncaachampionships.com.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
