Michigan
(14-5, 5-1)
Penn State
(10-9, 3-3)
U-M Downs Penn State, Captures Share of Big Ten Title
10/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: State College, Pa. (Bigler Field)
Score: #9 Michigan 1, #19 Penn State 0
Records: U-M (14-5, 5-1 Big Ten), PSU (10-9, 3-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Saturday, Nov. 6 -- Semifinals at Big Ten Tournament (Evanston, Ill.)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Sophomore Mary Fox (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) netted the game-winning goal with just over five minutes remaining to give the No. 9-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team a 1-0 victory over No. 19 Penn State and a three-way share of the Big Ten Conference title on Saturday (Oct. 30) in its regular-season finale at Bigler Field. With the victory, the Wolverines improved their conference record to 5-1 to share the crown with Iowa and Michigan State.
U-M also locked up the top seed -- and therefore a first-round bye -- at the 2004 Big Ten Tournament as the seeding determination went to the third tiebreaker of goal differential in all conference games. With their 1-0 victory against Penn State, the Wolverines ended the season with a conference goal differential of eight while both Michigan State and Iowa had a mark of seven. It is the third consecutive conference title for the Wolverines and the fifth under head coach Marcia Pankratz since 1997. Last season, U-M also clinched as share on the Big Ten crown with a 5-2 victory over Penn State in the regular-season finale.
The contest proved to be a defensive effort for each team as play was largely contained to the midfield. The Wolverines went on the attack late in the game as Fox's goal came at the 64:55 mark following a flurry of shots around the Nittany Lion cage. Senior Jessica Blake (Perth, Western Australia/St. Mary's Anglican) took the initial shot, which was turned away by PSU goalkeeper Megan Akstin and put back in front of the goal. A Penn State defender blocked the second shot that went high toward the upper portion of the cage, but Fox made good on the Wolverines' third attempt, blasting a point-blank shot past Akstin to give the Maize and Blue the only goal it would need.
U-M outshot Penn State 11-5 in the contest -- including a 9-3 advantage in the second half -- and out-cornered the Nittany Lions 5-2. Sophomore goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) earned her sixth shutout of the season with three saves, while Akstin made seven stops in the PSU cage.
The top-seeded Wolveries will face the winner of the Penn State/Ohio State match at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Nov. 6) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in Evanston, Ill. The second semifinal game will pit the winners of Iowa/Northwestern and Michigan State/Indiana, and all games will be held at Northwestern's Leonard B. Thomas Sports Complex.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Penn State | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Mary Fox, 64:55 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 11, PSU 5
Saves: U-M 3 (Beth Riley), PSU 7 (Megan Akstin)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, PSU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 5, PSU 2
Penalty Strokes: None
NOTES
• U-M has won five Big Ten titles since joining the conference in 1978 -- all of which have come in the last eight years. The Wolverines captured the conference crown in 1997, '99, 2000, '02, '03, '04.
• With the victory, the Wolverines improved their record to 8-19 against Penn State, including six of the last eight meetings.
• Earning her sixth shutout of the season, sophomore goalkeeper Beth Riley matched her season mark from last year, giving her 12 during her U-M career. Riley ranks sixth on the Wolverines' career shutouts list, just one shy of the fifth spot, currently held by Maureen Tasch (13, 1998-2001).
• Mary Fox's second-half tally was the first game-winner of her U-M career. She joins Adrienne Hortillosa, Jessica Blake and Jill Civic as only the fourth Wolverine to register a game-deciding goal this season.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On the win ... "I am proud of the way the team played today. To come in here against a tough Penn State team on Senior Day is a very difficult task, but we stayed focused and played our game. When you win the Big Ten title consistently, there becomes an expectation, and I thought the team responded very well to the challenge. I'm very proud of everyone; this was a great win for Michigan."
Team Stats
Fox, Mary
64:55
