Michigan
Penn State
Michigan Captures Big Ten Title with Rout of Penn State
11/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team captured its third Big Ten Conference regular-season title in the last four years Saturday (Nov. 1), defeating No. 7 Penn State 5-2 on Senior Day at Ocker Field. The sixth-ranked Wolverines, who will share the crown with Michigan State, also captured the top seed in next weekend's Big Ten Tournament in State College, Pa., guaranteeing them a bye into the semifinals.
| | Hillman scored the second and third goals as U-M built a 3-1 halftime lead. |
Michigan dominated Penn State from the start, outshooing the Lions 12-3 in the first half and scoring twice in the first 8:17 to take command of the game. Junior Jenny Zangara (Toledo, Ohio/Ottawa Hills HS) scored 1:25 into the contest, taking a pass from junior Katy Moyneur (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS) and sweeping a shot in front of the net past PSU keeper Annie Kinkavich. Hillman gave U-M a 2-0 lead at 8:17, poking a rebound past Zinkavich on a penalty corner opportunity.
Hillman put U-M up by three goals at 29:40, scoring the eventual game-winner on another penalty corner as she roofed a shot from senior Kristi Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS).
Penn State closed the gap with time expired in the first half when Heather Conroy converted a penalty corner, bouncing a shot off U-M freshman keeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) and into the cage.
The second half was more of a defensive effort by both teams as the two squads combined for six shots, including four by Michigan. Junior Adrienne Hortillosa (Chula Vista, Calif./Bonita Vista HS) put the Wolverines up 4-1 at 46:54, arching a shot over Zinkavich and into the cage, while Fronzoni capped Michigan's goals with a diving, sweeping shot past Zinkavich at 49:38.
Penn State closed out the scoring at 53:50 when Conroy converted a penalty corner, caroming a shot off Riley and into the cage. Riley improved her record to 13-1 with the win and made two saves, while Kinkavich stopped six shots for the Nittany Lions as U-M outshot PSU 16-5.
The Wolverines will open the postseason next weekend, traveling to State College, Pa., for the 2003 Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Penn State. Michigan will receive a bye into the semifinals, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8, at PSU's Bigler Field.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Penn State | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Jenny Zangara, 1:25 (Katy Moyneur)
1st -- U-M, Lori Hillman, 8:17 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Hillman, 29:40 (Kristi Gannon)
1st -- PSU, Heather Conroy, 35:00 (Neilye Stoner, Michele Rigby)
2nd -- U-M, Adrienne Hortillosa, 46:54 (April Fronzoni)
2nd -- U-M, Fronzoni, 49:38 (unassisted)
2nd -- PSU, Conroy, 53:50 (Stoner, Rigby)
Shots: U-M 16, PSU 5
Saves: U-M 2 (Beth Riley), PSU 6 (Annie Zinkavich)
Defensive Saves: None
Penalty Corners: U-M 5, PSU 4
Penalty Strokes: None
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On the significance of the win ... "We really stumbled last Sunday (at Ohio State) and I think it showed great character on our team's part to come back and play so strongly against a really nice Penn State team. I think it's going to help us gain some momentum going into the (Big Ten) tournament."
On winning the Big Ten title ... "It's quite an honor. We're really proud of the fact because it's a really competitive conference. Every team from top to bottom -- they're all very strong. Everybody's in the top 20, so to be able to consistently play against all those teams and come out victorious is a really tremendous feat that we're proud of."
On the senior class ... "I can't believe how fast it's gone by. They're a great group of young women. They're successful in every avenue of their lives and I'm going to miss them a lot. Hopefully we get to play another month."
N O T E S
U-M honored seven seniors -- Erika Banuelos (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS), April Fronzoni, Kristi Gannon, Anneke Huntzicker (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS), Stephanie Johnson (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School), Laura Woitkewitsch (Cologne, Germany/Friedrich-Wilhelm) and Jenny Zangara -- prior to the start of the game.
| | Michigan's seniors celebrate their third Big Ten championship in four seasons. |
The Wolverines capped the regular-season portion of its schedule with a 15-4 record, including a 5-1 mark in the Big Ten. U-M ties Michigan State for the regular-season title, but with a victory over the Spartans earlier in the season, Michigan will be the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Michigan's Big Ten regular-season title is its fourth in school history and third in the last four years. U-M won the crown last season with a perfect 6-0 mark.
Lori Hillman scored two goals for the second time in her career. Entering the contest, she had one marker this season.
Kristi Gannon became the fifth player in U-M history to record 100 career points with an assist on Hillman's second marker. Gannon owns career totals of 37 goals and 26 assists.
April Fronzoni netted her 66th career goal and tied a career high with her team-best 18th goal of the year. In addition, Fronzoni now has 41 points on the season, marking a career high.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
