Weekly Release #6
9/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 30 -- vs. Indiana (Ocker Field), 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 2 -- vs. Penn State (Ocker Field), 1 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 6 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 9 -- vs. Connecticut (Ocker Field), 12:30 p.m.
This Week's Lineup -- vs. Indiana, vs. Penn State
The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (6-4, 0-1 Big Ten) returns home to Ann Arbor to host a pair of Big Ten Conference matches against Indiana and Penn State at Phyllis Ocker Field. U-M will take the field against the eighth-ranked Hoosier squad at 4 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 30) before wrapping up the weekend competition against seventh-ranked Penn State at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 2).
WCBN to Broadcast Indiana Game
WCBN, Michigan's student radio station will air, via tape delay, the Wolverines' conference match against Indiana on Friday (Sept. 30). The broadcast will be available Friday evening at 7 p.m. EST on 88.3 FM in the local Ann Arbor community as well as via intenet stream on MGoBlue.com.
Scouting the Hoosiers
The Wolverines own a narrow 5-4 edge in the all-time series against Indiana with all five wins occuring since the Hoosiers re-instituted their program in 2000. Michigan has outscored IU by a 31-2 margin during the current winning streak. In last season's meeting between the two programs, sophomore Jill Civic (Wescosville, Pa./Emmaus HS) tallied a pair of goals, including the gamewinner at 50:20 mark. Indiana boasts a 9-1 record this season and has won five straight, including a 3-2 double-overtime decision against Michigan State (Sept. 24). For more information on Indiana, visit www.iuhoosiers.com.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
Michigan owns an all-time record of 8-19 against Penn State but has won six of the last eight meetings. Last season, sophomore Mary Fox (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) broke up the scoreless tie with just over five minutes remaining to give Michigan a share of the Big Ten regular-season title in the regular-season finale. Sophomore goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) was perfect in the U-M cage, stopping three PSU shots on goal for the shutout. The Nittany Lions are 10-1 this season and currently boast a 10-game winning streak after opening the season with a 3-1 loss against Old Dominion. In its most recent outing, PSU earned a 6-2 win over Northwestern to open Big Ten play (Sept. 24). For more information on Penn State, visit www.gopsusports.com.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll
The Wolverines fell several positions to the 13th spot in the most recent STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, released on Tuesday (Sept. 27). Demonstrating the strength of the Big Ten Conference this season, six Big Ten schools are listed among the top 15 in this week's national rankings. The STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll can be found by visiting the NFHCA's site.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (9/27/05)
Rank, Team (record) Points Previous 1. Wake Forest (7-0) 580 1 2. Maryland (10-1) 548 2 3. North Carolina (8-1) 503 3 4. American (8-0) 473 4 Duke (7-2) 473 5 6. Old Dominion (6-4) 423 7 7. Penn State (10-1) 382 8 8. Indiana (9-1) 342 11 9. Michigan State (7-3) 331 6 10. Ohio State (8-2) 329 14 11. Louisville (9-2) 253 13 12. Northeastern (8-1) 246 12 13. MICHIGAN (6-4) 238 9 14. Iowa (6-4) 223 10 15. Villanova (8-1) 120 17 16. Boston College (6-2) 108 18 17. James Madison (5-4) 95 19 18. Connecticut (6-3) 88 15 19. Richmond (5-4) 78 16 20. Boston University (6-3) 64 NR
Statistically Speaking ...
National statistics, compiled by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), are released every Tuesday during the season. Senior/junior Katie Morris ranks among the top national scorers, holding a share of the 11th spot with 19 points and listing 18th in points per game (1.90), while ranking eighth in goals (8) and 20th in goals per game (0.80). Junior goalkeeper Beth Riley holds down the 15th spot on the nation's saves list with 62 stops. Statistics can be accessed at Virginia's site.
Among the Big Ten Conference, senior/junior Katie Morris shares the top position in points (190) and goals (8), while ranking second in points per game and third in goals per game. She also ranks second in both goals and goals per games. Juniors Kara Lentz (Manchester, Mass./St. Paul's School) and Mary Fox (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) list ninth and 10th, respectively, in both assists and assists per game. Lentz boasts four assists and 0.40 assists per game, while Fox has three assists and 0.38 assists per game. In the U-M cage, junior Beth Riley sits second in saves (62) and saves per game (6.20). Throughout the 2005 season, the latest standings and statistics from the Big Ten can be found by visiting the Big Ten's website.
Having a Career Year
With Michigan's 4-3 win at Kent State last Sunday (Sept. 25), junior Beth Riley earned her 36th career win to take sole possession of Michigan's all-time wins record. Riley was previously tied with Katie Oakes (1997-99) at 35. Riley also sits within striking distance of several other U-M career records. She shares the fourth spot -- with Oakes and Maryann Bell (1983-86) -- with 48 career games played. She boasts 11 career shutouts and needs two more to reach the fifth position on Michigan's all-time shutout rankings, currently held by Maureen Tasch (13, 1998-2001).
We're Going Streaking
Junior Kara Lentz currently owns the Wolverines' longest point-scoring streak with five straight games (1-4-6). Just 10 games into the season, the U-M striker has already matched her career-best tallies in every major scoring category.
Hillman, Fuchs Earn Seventh-Place USA Finish at Junior Worlds
Behind the play of senior captain Lori Hillman (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional HS) and guidance of assistant coach Tracey Fuchs, the USA Under-21 team posted a 4-2-2 mark en route seventh place -- its best finish in four appearances -- at the Junior World Cup, held Sept. 14-25, in Santiago, Chile. Hillman started every game in the U.S. backfield and contributed to just 14 goals allowed against the toughest junior teams in the world. Team USA wrapped up the competition with a 4-2 victory over South Africa in the seventh/eighth-place contest.
Free Hits
Junior/sophomore Kristen Tiner tallied her first collegiate point with an assist against Kent State (Sept. 25). She is the fifth Wolverine to accomplish such a feat this season.
Junior Jill Civic has two goals this season on just two shots on goal. Incidentally, both of Civic's goals are gamewinners. She and senior/junior captain Katie Morris share the team lead this season in gamewinners with two a piece.
On the Horizon
The Wolverines will play a Thursday-Sunday series next week, facing Michigan State and Connecticut. U-M will head to East Lansing, Mich. to square off against the Spartans in Big Ten action on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 5 p.m. before returning home to Ocker Field for a 12:30 p.m. meeting on Sunday, Oct. 9, against Connecticut.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
