Weekly Release #2

Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 10 -- vs. Syracuse (Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 11 -- vs. Old Dominion (Ocker Field), 2 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Central Michigan (Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 19 -- vs. Northeastern (Ocker Field), Noon

This Week's Lineup -- vs. Syracuse/Old Dominion
The University of Michigan field hockey team (2-2, 0-0 Big Ten) kicks off a four-game homestand with a pair of non-conference games at Phyllis Ocker Field. On Friday (Sept. 10), the Wolverines will host Syracuse at 3 p.m. and return to the field on Saturday (Sept. 11) against Old Dominion at 2 p.m.

A Look at the Syracuse Series
Michigan and Syracuse will meet for the third time on Friday with the all-time series tied at an even 1-1. In the last meeting between the two programs -- on Sept. 19, 1999 -- the Maize and Blue earned a 3-2 decision after Courtney Reid put U-M ahead for good on a goal with just 3:30 remaining.

Scouting the Orange
For more information on Syracuse, visit www.suathletics.com.

A Look at the Old Dominion Series
The Wolverines will sqaure off against Old Dominion for the fourth consecutive year and trail in the all-time series by a slim 2-3 margin. Last season, Michigan blanked the Monarchs 4-0 on the road as April Fronzoni collected her 65th career goal to become the Wolverines' all-time goal-scoring leader.

Scouting the Monarchs
For more information on Old Dominion, visit www.odusports.com.

STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll
Beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 14, and continuing every Tuesday throughout the 2004 season, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) will be conducting a poll of the top 25 teams in NCAA Division I. The Wolverines ended the 2003 campaign with the No. 6 national ranking in the final STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. For more information, visit the official NFHCA site.

Statistically Speaking ...
National statistics, compiled by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), are released every Tuesday during the season.

Big Ten Standings and Statistics
Throughout the 2004 season, the latest standings and statistics from the Big Ten Conference can be found by visiting the Big Ten's website.

Lending a Helping Hand
With three assists in the opening four games, senior captain Adrienne Hortillosa leads the Wolverines in the category this season, improving her career total to 30 helpers in her four seasons at Michigan. Hortillosa ranks fourth on U-M's all-time assists lists, just one tally shy of the third spot, currently held by Jennifer Lupinski (31, 1992-95). Two-time NFHCA All-American Catherine Foreman (1998-2001) holds the U-M record for most career assists with 61.

Born to Win
Senior Molly Maloney (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest HS) collected her 28th career win with the Wolverines' 4-3 overtime decision at Maine. Maloney maintained her hold on the third position among the all-time winningest U-M goalkeepers, just four wins away from Maureen Tasch (32, 1999-2001) in the second spot. Sitting atop the list is Katie Oakes (1997-99) with 35 career wins during her Wolverine tenure.

Free Hits
Senior Adrienne Hortillosa has scored in each of the Wolverines' four opening games and shares the U-M lead in scoring (with senior Jessica Blake) with nine points (3-3-9).
Senior Jessica Blake notched a career-best two goals in the 4-3 overtime victory against Maine (Aug. 31) while Adrienne Hortillosa matched a career-high five points in the same contest.
Three Wolverine players -- junior/sophomores Nicole Lonsway (Rockville, Mich./Thomas S. Wooten), Lauren MacMillan (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson HS) and Katie Morris (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) -- have each registered their first career goal in the Maize and Blue uniform. MacMillan and Lonsway both achieved the feat against New Hampshire (Sept. 2) while Morris has already notched three goals this season, including a career-high two tallies against New Hampshire.
Michigan's five freshmen -- Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1), Lauren Conforzi (Mississagua, Ontario/Gordon Grayson), Keri DeVos (Fort Worth, Tex./Country Day School), Ashley Lennington (Carlise, Pa./Carlise HS) and Jillianne Whitfield (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) -- each made their first collegiate appearance for the Maize and Blue during the opening four-game road series. Sophomore/freshman Eleanor Martin (Anchorage, Ky./Louisville Collegiate School) has made her collegiate debut against North Carolina (Aug. 28) and has started all four U-M games.

On the Horizon
The Wolverines will continue their homestand next weekend, hosting another pair of non-conference matches at Ocker Field in Ann Arbor. On Friday (Sept. 17), U-M will square off against intrastate rival Central Michigan at 3 p.m. EDT before returning to the field on Sunday (Sept. 19) against Northeastern with a Noon start.