Michigan
Boston College
Powers, Johnson Lead U-M Past No. 14 Boston College
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 3 University of Michigan field hockey team extended its winning streak to three games and remained perfect at home this season, defeating No. 14 Boston College 6-2 on the first day of the Big East/Big Ten Challenge Saturday (Sept. 14) at Ocker Field. Senior forward Molly Powers (Oak Park, Ill./Oak-Park River Forest HS) and senior defenseman Stephanie Johnson (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) scored two goals apiece in the contest while sophomore goalkeeper Molly Maloney (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest HS) made three saves in the victory.
| | Johnson |
Michigan struck back quickly, rattling off three straight goals, beginning with Powers' third goal of the season just over two minutes later at the 4:16 mark. Streaking in down the left side after a defensive turnover, Powers was able to fake the goaltender to her right and slide the ball back just inside the nearside post to draw the game even at 1-1.
Johnson helped Michigan grab the lead at 16:35 of the first half as junior forward April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS) was able to break in down the middle of the field but was dragged down inside the circle and was awarded a penalty stroke. Johnson ripped the ensuing penalty stroke past the BC goaltender high to her stick side. Senior forward Jessica Rose (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) finished out the scoring in the first half, bouncing in a rebound off of a deflected penalty corner shot with 14:27 left.
The second half saw much of the same Michigan offense as both Powers and Johnson were able to net their second goals of the game. Johnson struck first as she scored at 47:56 off of one of U-M's nine penalty corners. The direct shot beat Eagle goaltender Lauren Hill a foot off the ground on the far side. Powers added her second goal at 50:18, circling around the right side and shooting the ball back to the far side past the outstretched goaltender. Fronzoni scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season on a redirection off of a penalty corner with 5:09 left in the contest.
The Wolverines will conclude play in the Big East/Big Ten Challenge on Sunday (Sept. 15), hosting Connecticut at 1 p.m. at Ocker Field.
Other Big East/Big Ten Challenge Games
Northwestern 4, Providence 3 (2OT) -- Holly Papin had two goals for the Wildcats (3-2), who opened up a 3-0 lead in the first half, only to see the Friars (4-3) net three unanswered goals in the final stanza to force overtime. After two scoreless overtimes, Northwestern edged Providence in a stroke-off, 4-1.
Iowa 2, Connecticut 0 -- Sarah Dawson and Lindsay Miller scored for the Hawkeyes (3-2), who defeated the Huskies (1-4) for the first time in school history. Barbara Weinberg stopped three shots in the shutout win.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Boston College | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- BC, Kim French, 1:49 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Molly Powers, 4:16 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Stephanie Johnson, 16:35 (Penalty Shot)
1st -- U-M, Jessica Rose, 20:33 (Katy Moyneur)
2nd -- U-M, Johnson, 47:56 (Adrienne Hortillosa, Moyneur)
2nd -- U-M, Powers, 50:18 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, April Fronzoni, 64:51 (Erika Banuelos)
2nd -- BC, Danielle Incropera, 66:59 (Virginia Drozd)
Shots: U-M 20, BC 7
Saves: U-M 3 (Molly Maloney), BC 6 (Lauren Hill)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, BC 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 9, BC 3
Penalty Strokes: U-M 1, BC 0
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On the contest ... "It was a solid team effort, everyone played and we had some chances to move some people around and stretch our versatility, which is going to be nice going into the Big Ten. BC is a good team and they are very aggressive and very tough and we have to be happy with being able to hold off. We played 11 on nine for 10 minutes and that is not easy against anyone.
On falling behind 1-0 for the second consecutive week ... "It's a little disconcerting. I'm not sure if its in the warmup, our focus or just bad luck. I feel good about our attack. We are very potent and dangerous so the fact that we can let up a soft goal and bounce back is something we can look at as positive."
Senior Forward Molly Powers
On her goals ... "On the first goal I could read the defender and I knew she wasn't going inside so I went outside and intercepted her ball and broke in. On their goalie I just faked right and she stepped so I just put it inside. The second goal was another defensive take-away, which is something we've been working on, especially low defense on the attack. I just happened to snag the ball and I had no one on me so I just ripped a shot."
On coming back once again ... "It was nice to come back and score quickly. It's going to happen, especially against better teams. It's good practice to get down and then have to stay with it and know that we won't lose our confidence."
N O T E S
Michigan has scored at least five goals in each of its last three games, outscoring the opposition 16-3.
The Wolverines have allowed their opponent to score first in each of the last two games, but U-M has responded with at least five unanswered goals in each contest en route to victory.
The Big Ten Conference won each game on Saturday and is currently 5-1 in the Big East-Big Ten Challenge. No. 8 Michigan State and No. 16 Ohio State posted wins on Friday (Sept. 13) in Syracuse, N.Y., while Rutgers was the only Big East team to get a win, downing Indiana by a 2-1 margin in overtime.
April Fronzoni netted her 38th career goal, moving her within one of fifth place on the U-M career goal-scoring chart, held by Kay McCarthy (39, 1980-83). Fronzoni leads the team with eight goals, including six in her last three games.
Molly Powers posted her second straight two-goal game and moved into a tie with Michelle Smulders (1993-96) for eighth place on the career goal-scoring chart with 33 markers. Powers also moved into a tie for ninth place on the career points chart with Lisa Schofield (1981-84) and Judy Burinskas (1986-89), notching her 73rd career point.
Stephanie Johnson posted her first multi-goal game of the season and has four goals in her last three games. Johnson converted Michigan's first penalty stroke of the season, her sixth career goal on a penalty stroke.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
