Michigan
Michigan State
Back to the Final Four: Michigan Topples Michigan State
11/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Behind two goals in the first 15 minutes of play, the University of Michigan field hockey team downed fifth-ranked Michigan State 2-1 Sunday (Nov. 16) to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship. The Wolverines received scores from juniors Adrienne Hortillosa (Chula Vista, Calif./Bonita Vista HS) and Jessica Blake (Perth, Western Australia/St. Mary's Anglican School) to advance to the national semifinals for the third time in the last five years.
| | Hortillosa's marker was her first in postseason play since scoring the game-winner in the 2001 national title game. |
Michigan jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, scoring twice in the first 15 minutes of the stanza. The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead at 11:40 on their first penalty corner of the game when Hortillosa lifted a shot from the top of the circle that deflected off a State defender in front of MSU keeper Christina Kirkaldy and into the cage. Junior Laura Woitkewitsch (Colgne, Germany/Friedrich Wilhelm) and Blake were credited with the assists.
Blake made it 2-0 just over three minutes later at 14:39 when she tipped a pass from senior April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS) into an empty net on the right side of the cage. The Spartans threatened on a couple of occasions, but the majority of the first 35 minutes was played between the 25-yard lines.
The Spartans cut U-M's lead in half when Veerle Goudswaard walked in to the circle on the left side and pushed the ball past freshman goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) with 31:22 on the second-half clock. Michigan almost regained a two-goal advantage 33 seconds later on an apparent tip-in by freshman Jill Civic (Wescosville, Pa./Emmaus HS), but the shot from outside the circle, taken by senior Kristi Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS), was ruled untouched before it entered the cage.
State applied some fierce pressure with about 19 minutes remaining when Michelle Huynh-Ba hit the post, then Jennifer Beeuwkes fired the rebound into Riley. MSU was awarded its first corner of the game, then after a shot that was stopped by Riley, the Spartans got another corner chance, but the U-M defense kept State out of the cage, with Riley making a save and sophomore Lori Hillman (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional HS) helping out with a defensive save on the rebound shot. MSU earned a third straight corner opportunity, but U-M snuffed it out and cleared the ball from its zone.
Michigan State outshot the Wolverines 12-3 and managed four shots on goal, three of which were stopped by Riley. U-M scored on two of its three shots on goal, with Kirkaldy making one save. MSU also held the advantage in penalty corners, 3-1.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Michigan State | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
U-M -- Adrienne Hortillosa, 11:40 (Laura Woitkewitsch, Jessica Blake)
U-M -- Blake, 14:39 (April Fronzoni)
MSU -- Veerle Goudswaard, 38:38 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 3, MSU 12
Saves: U-M 3 (Beth Riley), MSU 1 (Christina Kirkaldy)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1 (Lori Hillman)
Penalty Corners: U-M 1, MSU 3
Penalty Strokes: None
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On the game ... "It was a very exciting game and I want to congratulate Michigan State on a fabulous season. They represent the Big Ten so well in competition outside the conference, and to play them before the semifinals is a shame. And I'm sorry we had to knock out one of the Michigan teams to be able to go. I think it was an excellent game, well-fought, well-played on both sides and we're thrilled to be representing the Big Ten in the semifinals."
N O T E S
Michigan advances to the semifinals of the NCAA Field Hockey Championship for the third time in the last five years. U-M is 2-0 in the semifinals and has advanced to the championship game in each of its previous semifinal appearances.
The Wolverines have won the last six matches at MSU's home turf and own a 3-0 record at the MSU Field Hockey Complex.
Ten of Michigan's 13 NCAA Tournament games have been decided by one goal. U-M is 8-2 in those contests.
U-M is 7-2 during the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, including a 3-1 mark in the second round.
The Wolverines defeated Michigan State for the second time this season in East Lansing and are the only team to down the Spartans on their new home facility.
During Michigan's 2001 NCAA title run, it defeated North Carolina and Michigan State in the first and second rounds en route to the championship.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
