Michigan
Michigan State
Blake, Riley Lead Wolverines Past No. 6 Michigan State
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked Michigan field hockey team took a large step toward a second straight Big Ten championship with a 1-0 shutout of No. 6 Michigan State on Friday (Oct. 17) at the MSU Field Hockey Complex. Junior Jessica Blake (Perth, Western Australia/St. Mary's Anglican School) tallied the only goal, scoring unassisted at 8:16 into the match, and freshman goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) made a career-high 10 saves in goal as the Spartans outshot the Wolverines 17-6, including 13-2 in the second half.
U-M, now the lone unbeaten in league play, handed the Spartans their first Big Ten loss and snapped MSU's 17-game home winning streak. In addition, the Wolverines have won 11 straight Big Ten contests and have downed the Spartans in 10 of the last 11 meetings, including four straight in East Lansing. Overall, Michigan has won 12 of its last 13, including eight straight.
Blake's goal, her third in the last four games, was her eighth marker of the season and third game-winner of the year. Blake entered the season with five career goals and has almost doubles that total after only 15 contests in 2003.
Riley, who is now 10-0 on the season, built a wall for the Wolverines in the second half, stopping eight shots as Michigan State was awarded nine penalty corners in the final 35 minutes. U-M did not get a corner chance in the second half and was out-cornered 14-2 in the contest. Riley's shutout was her fifth of the season and kept U-M perfect in Big Ten play, as the Wolverines have not allowed a goal in conference play and have blanked eight of their last nine Big Ten opponents, dating back to last season.
In addition to the on-field victory, the Wolverines also captured a point in the Pontiac Challenge Cup, a trophy awarded three times (fall, winter, spring) throughout the athletic year to the university with the most success against the other. U-M holds a 2.5-0 lead in the fall portion of the Cup with victories in volleyball (.5 points), men's soccer (1 point) and field hockey (1 point), and 3.5 points are still up for grabs in football (1), volleyball (.5), men's and women's cross country (1) and women's soccer (1).
Michigan will return home on Sunday (Oct. 19) to host Hofstra in a non-conference affair at Ocker Field. Game time is slated for 1 p.m.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Michigan State | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Jessica Blake, 8:16 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 6, MSU 17
Saves: U-M 10 (Beth Riley), MSU 2 (Christina Kirkaldy)
Defensive Saves: None
Penalty Corners: U-M 2, MSU 14
Penalty Strokes: None
N O T E S
The Wolverines are the lone undefeated team in the Big Ten with two games remaining in league play.
Michigan has won 12 of its last 13 games, including a season-high eight straight.
U-M picked up a point in the fall portion of the Pontiac Challenge Cup and now leads the competition 2.5-0.
Michigan has won 11 straight Big Ten games, dating back to the 2001 campaign.
U-M has defeated MSU in 10 of the last 11 meetings, including four straight in East Lansing.
Michigan has not allowed a goal in Big Ten play this season and has recorded a shutout in eight of the last nine outings against conference foes.
The Wolverines have allowed two goals in their last seven games, winning six by shutout.
Beth Riley made her ninth start of the season and improved her record to 10-0. Five of those decisions have been shutouts.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
