Michigan
Wake Forest
Wake Forest Downs Michigan to Complete ACC Sweep
9/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team succumbed to a sweep by the ACC in the 2003 ACC/Big Ten Challenge as defending NCAA champion Wake Forest scored four times in the final 30 minutes to post a 4-2 victory over the Wolverines on a rainy Monday afternoon (Sept. 1). Freshman Jill Civic (Wescosville, Pa./Emmaus HS) and senior April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS) scored for Michigan, which opened the season 0-2 for the first time since 1989.
With the win by the Demon Deacons, the ACC completed a sweep of the 2003 ACC/Big Ten Challenge, winning all four matches. Earlier in the day, North Carolina downed Iowa 3-1.
The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead with 2:37 left in the first half during one of its three penalty corners in the stanza when Civic tipped in a shot from senior Kristi Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS). Civic's redirection from the left side of the goal crossed behind WFU keeper Katie Ridd and into the right corner of the cage.
Wake Forest responded after the intermission, scoring four straight times, including twice in the opening 12 minutes of the half. Kelly Dostal tied the game at 40:35 with the first of three markers, scoring on a penalty corner with a blast from the left side of the circle that beat junior Molly Maloney (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest HS) on her right side. Kristi Harshman gave the Demon Deacons the lead for good at 46:18, swatting a shot in traffic past Maloney from five yards in front of the net, then Dostal struck again, scoring at 53:44 on a rebound from in front of the net. Dostal completed her hat trick at 59:40, tipping in a pass from Harshman on the right side of the cage.
The Wolverines showed signs of life after Dostal's third marker, cutting the lead to two goals just 1:09 later. Fronzoni found the back of the net, sweeping the ball in after receiving it from sophomore Lori Hillman (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional HS). After that, Wake Forest clamped down on defense, limiting the Wolverines' chances and securing the victory.
Maloney made five saves in the losing effort as Wake Forest outshot Michigan 13-10.
The Wolverines will hit the road for the first time in 2003, traveling to the Boston, Mass., area on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6-7, to face Northeastern and Boston College. U-M will face Northeastern in an 11 a.m. match on Saturday before completing the trip with a 1 p.m. matchup against Boston College on Sunday.
Other ACC/Big Ten Challenge Action
North Carolina 3, Iowa 1 -- A pair of first-half goals by North Carolina's Kerry Falgowski were enough to down the Hawkeyes, who received their only marker from Erica Houck. Iowa's Barb Weinberg made six saves as the Tar Heels outshot the Hawkeyes by a 15-12 margin.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On playing better but still taking a loss ... "We played much better. I was very pleased with the first half. We did exactly what we wanted to do. I was really happy with the effort and how we were playing, tactically. That was excellent. We had a 15-minute lapse in mentality where we did not follow the game plan of the second half and you can't do that against a great team like Wake Forest or else they'll score four times like they did. We have to stay patient with the tactics for 70 minutes and we'll be fine."
On how Wake Forest shut down the U-M offense for a long span ... "We have to get better at finishing. It's hard to get the attack up and running on all cylinders early in the year because it's a tougher thing to do. We had some great chances, their goalie made some nice saves and we just have to stay with it. They finished their chances and we didn't."
On changes in defense that may be made after the first two games ... "We'll be making some changes for sure."
On moving on to next week's road trip ... "Every game is going to be about trying to get better. Certainly, these are the two best teams in the country and we're playing them back to back. We're not worried about our play, but we just need to improve and get better. It does show us where we are and where we need to get better. We'll be patient and we'll be there at the end. We'll see them again and, hopefully, we'll have a better result next time in the tournament."
N O T E S
April Fronzoni moved into a tie for second place on U-M's career goal scorers list, netting her 49th marker. Fronzoni is tied with former sticker Kelli Gannon (49 from 1997-2000) and sits 15 behind Michigan's all-time leader, Mary Callam (64 from 1976-79).
Kristi Gannon's assist, the 23rd of her career, moved her into a tie for sixth place on U-M's career assists list, equalling the mark set by Shelley Johnson (1996-97). Johnson was in attendance this weekend as the administrative assistant for North Carolina's team.
Gannon also moved into sole possession of ninth place on U-M's career points list, notching her 81st. She is six behind Marty Maugh (87 from 1979-82), who sits in eighth place.
U-M's 0-2 start is the worst start since the 1989 campaign.
Michigan has lost four straight, dating back to last season, for its worst losing streak since dropping four consecutive games from Sept. 17-30, 1995.
After two seasons of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the Big Ten, represented by Michigan and Iowa, owns a 2-6 record.
The Wolverines have lost five straight to Wake Forest and trail in the all-time series by a 2-5 margin.
The last time U-M dropped two straight home matches was Nov. 3, 1995-Sept. 9, 1996, when the Wolverines suffered defeats in their final home match of 1995 and their home opener in 1996.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
