Wolverines Defeat Northwestern in Regular-Season Finale

Sunday, October 29

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

4-2(11-8. Big Ten)

Northwestern

(7-11, 1-5Big Ten)

Northwestern

Michigan

Wolverines Defeat Northwestern in Regular-Season Finale

10/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #16 Michigan 3, Northwestern 1
Records: U-M (11-8, 4-2 Big Ten), Northwestern (7-11, 1-5 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Nov. 3 -- vs. Iowa at Big Ten Tournament (Phyllis Ocker Field), 12:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) scored a goal in both halves, leading the No. 16-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team to a 3-1 victory over Northwestern on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 29) at Phyllis Ocker Field. The Wolverines ended the regular season with an 11-8 overall record and finished 4-2 in Big Ten Conference action.

After play was largely contained to neutral territory in the second half, and with the scored locked at 1-1, Belassi gave U-M the final edge at the 62:05 mark on a chip-in goal from the right side of the NU scoring circle. Senior/junior Eleanor Martin (Anchorage, Ky./Louisville Collegiate School) fired a pass across the circle on the free hit to Belassi, who one-timed a shot past NU goalkeeper Emily Kyle for her fourth game-winning tally of the season.

Freshman Kelly Fitzpatrick (Hummelstown, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) added an insurance goal just a minute and a half later, at the 63:35 mark, with a strong single-handed effort on the left side of the circle. Fitzpatrick's initial shot set-up was broken up by a Wildcat defender, but the U-M freshman regained control of the ball, launching a hard shot to the opposite corner of the cage, putting the game away for Michigan.

The Wolverines had gained the early advantage after finding the back of the NU cage on their first shot of the game at the 3:38 mark. Junior Ashley Lennington (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle HS) corralled the ball deep in the Wildcat zone, and fed a pass to Belassi at the top of the scoring circle. Belassi dribbled the ball uncontested toward the cage, maneuvered the ball around Kyle, who had come out to greet the play, and pushed it into the right corner.

Northwestern regularly pressured the Michigan defensive third, but U-M backfield largely held the Wildcats out of its scoring circle -- and without a shot -- until the 33rd minute. The momentum shifted, however, in the closing moments of the half when the Wildcats went on the attack, producing seven shots and three penalty corners in the final two minutes.

Northwestern's Alex Quinn knotted the score at 1-1 with just nine seconds remaining in the frame. Quinn's goal came out of a scrum following a Wildcat penalty corner opportunity. Michigan goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) made a save on the initial shot, stopping back-to-back rebound chances, but with the ball sitting in front of the U-M cage for what seemed like eternity, Quinn knocked the ball into the lower left corner.

The Wolverines held a 13-10 advantage in shots, but Northwestern outcornered Michigan 9-6 in the contest, including a 5-2 differential in the second half. Riley earned seven saves in the U-M cage, while Kyle stopped five of U-M's eight shots on goal.

The Wolverines will host the Big Ten Tournament next weekend at Phyllis Ocker Field in Ann Arbor. The first round is slated for Friday, Nov. 3, while the semifinals will take place on Saturday, Nov. 4. The Big Ten championship game and the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament will be contested on Sunday, Nov. 5.

MATCH SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Northwestern	1	0	1
Michigan	1	2	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st-- U-M, Lucia Belassi, 3:38 (Ashley Lennington)
1st -- NU, Alex Quinn, 34:51 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Belassi, 62:05 (Eleanor Martin)
2nd -- U-M, Kelly Fitzpatrick, 63:35 (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 13, NU 10
Saves: U-M 7 (Beth Riley), NU 5 (Emily Kyle)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, NU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 6, NU 9