Michigan
(8-6)
Connecticut
(9-4)
Penalty Strokes Decide Michigan Win Over Connecticut
10/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team rallied from an early deficit to battle through a marathon game and win on penalty strokes 2-1 over No. 15 Connecticut on Sunday (Oct. 9) at Phyllis Ocker Field. It was the first stroke-off game in the Wolverine program's 32-year history.
With the score knotted at 1-1 through 100 minutes of play, the game went to a stroke-off with both teams lining up five players in the east end zone. The Wolverines needed only three and a half rounds to decide the non-conference contest as senior Lori Hillman (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional HS), junior Kara Lentz (Manchester, Mass./St. Paul's School) and sophomore Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) all made good on their opportunities and Connecticut missed three of their first four, including one saved by junior goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS), giving U-M an insurmountable 3-1 edge and ending the stroke-off.
Michigan held the game's momentum heading into the stroke-off after rallying from a slow start to dominate the second half and both overtime periods. The Wolverines outshot UConn 14-5 and outcornered them 12-0 during the last 65 minutes of play.
The Huskies controlled the first frame of the contest, outshooting Michigan 9-1 and owning a 2-1 edge in penalty corners. Connecticut opened scoring at the 14:59 mark when Nicole Harmony coralled a bouncing pass from Lindsay Leck through the Wolverine striking circle and batted it in past Riley to the far lower corner.
Hillman tallied her first goal of the season less than eight minutes later, at the 22:36 mark, to tie the game at one goal apiece. The Wolverine captain picked up the ball deep in Connecticut's zone, carried it to the top of the circle and sent a hard shot on the Husky cage. The ball found the lower left corner to beat a sprawling Melissa Bostwick.
Shots were an even 15-15 through the entire contest, but Michigan held a substanial 13-2 advantage in penalty corners. Riley made four stops in the U-M cage and another in the stroke-off for her second straight win, while Bostwick saved six of Michigan's seven shots on goal.
Michigan will hit the road for a Big Ten Conference match against Northwestern next Sunday (Oct. 16) in Evanston, Ill. The contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CDT at the Wildcats' Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | OT | SO | F |
| Connecticut | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- UConn, Nicole Harmony, 14:59 (Lindsay Leck)
1st -- U-M, Lori Hillman, 22:36 (unassisted)
Stroke-Off Results
UConn, Lizzy Peijs, missed
U-M, Hillman, good
UConn, Jennifer Kleinhans, missed
U-M, Kara Lentz, good
UConn, Laura Puddle, good
U-M, Lucia Belassi, good
UConn, Meagan Hoffman, missed
U-M wins stroke-off 3-1
Shots: U-M 15, UConn 15
Saves: U-M 4 (Beth Riley), UConn 6 (Melissa Bostwick)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, UConn 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 13, UConn 2
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
HARMONY, Nicole
Assisted By: LECK, Lindsay
bounced thru circle,batted in
14:59
Hillman, Lori
shot from top circle
22:36
Lentz, Kara
100:00
