Wolverines Blanked in Road Defeat at No. 9 Penn State

Friday, September 29

State College, Pa.

6:00 PM

Michigan

(5-6, 1-1Big Ten)

Penn State

(10-2, 2-0Big Ten)

Michigan

Penn State

Wolverines Blanked in Road Defeat at No. 9 Penn State

9/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

Site: State College, Pa. (Bigler Field)
Score: #9 Penn State 4, #20 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (5-6, 1-1 Big Ten), PSU (10-2, 2-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Oct. 1 -- vs. Maryland (State College, Pa.)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team sacrificed two goals in each half to fall 4-0 against No. 9 Penn State on Friday evening (Sept. 29) at Bigler Field. It was the first Big Ten Conference loss of the season for the Wolverines (5-6, 1-1 Big Ten).

The Nittany Lions (10-2, 2-0 Big Ten) took early control behind back-to-back goals from Shaun Banta within the opening 11 minutes of the game. She kicked off scoring at the 3:57 mark, carrying the ball across the U-M circle before firing a shot from the right post that deflected off senior goalkeeper Beth Riley (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) into the corner of the cage. Banta added her second tally less than seven minutes later off a PSU penalty corner. Riley made the initial save on the direct shot, but the rebound kicked out to Banta, who blasted a hard, low shot from the top right of the circle to beat Riley at 10:29.

After a Michigan timeout midway through the frame, the Wolverines picked up the pace with a pair of consecutive penalty corners and several point-blank scoring opportunities. Senior/junior striker Kristen Tiner (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) fired a direct shot through the crowd, but it was stopped by PSU goalkeeper Jeri Beaumont and the U-M attackers could not corral the rebound. Both teams contained play to the neutral space for much of the remainder of the half, and the Nittany Lions entered the halftime intermission with a two-goal advantage.

Penn State continued to pressure after the break, outshooting the Wolverines 8-0 through the first 20 minutes of the second frame. Riley stood tall in the Wolverine cage, recording several saves off shots deep in the circle.

Senior Mary Fox (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) used her speed to create an opportunity midway through the second half, carrying the ball down the field and pairing with sophomore Stephanie Hoyer (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) to pressure deep in the PSU circle. U-M could not get the shot off, but the play triggered the Wolverine offense as U-M followed with several additional opportunities.

Penn State snapped the Wolverines' momentum late in the half, however, converting on a penalty stroke at the 60:18 mark. Following a scrum in front of the U-M cage, in which Michigan was deemed to have covered the ball, Mallory Weisen lined up against Riley and fired a shot just inside the left goal post and just beyond the reach of the sprawling U-M goalkeeper.

The Nittany Lions added another tally four minutes later off their final penalty corner opportunity of the contest as Allison Scola took a feed pass from Annelise Legel in front of the U-M cage and sent a bouncing shot to the lower left corner.

Penn State outshot the Wolverines 22-9 and narrowly outcornered them 7-6. Riley earned a career-high 13 saves for the Wolverines, while Beaumont made six stops in the shutout effort.

The Wolverines will remain in State College, Pa., for a neutral-site contest against No. 1-ranked Maryland on Sunday (Oct. 1). The match is slated for a noon start at Bigler Field.

MATCH SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	0	0	0
Penn State	2	2	4

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- PSU, Shaun Banta, 3:57 (Annelise Legel)
1st -- PSU, Banta, 10:29 (unassisted)
2nd -- PSU, Mallory Weisen, 60:15 (penalty stroke)
2nd -- PSU, Allison Scola, 64:24 (Legel)

Shots: U-M 9, PSU 22
Saves: U-M 13 (Beth Riley), PSU 6 (Jen Beaumont)
Defensive Saves: U-M 1, PSU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 6, PSU 7
Penalty Strokes: U-M 0, PSU 1