Michigan
(10-4)
Kent State
(9-5)
Fitzpatrick Nets Two Goals in Michigan Win at Kent State
10/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Kent, Ohio (Murphy-Mellis Field )
Score: #5 Michigan 3, Kent State 1
Records: U-M (10-4), Kent State (9-5)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Oct. 12 -- vs. Indiana (Phyllis Ocker Field), 4 p.m.
KENT, Ohio -- Sophomore Kelly Fitzpatrick (Hummelstown, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) registered the second multi-goal effort of her career to lead the No. 5-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team to a 3-1 decision against Kent State Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 9) on Murphy-Mellis Field. With the score knotted up midway through the opening frame, the Wolverines tallied a pair of unanswered goals to extend their winning streak to eight straight games.
Michigan (10-4, 4-0 Big Ten) refuted its reputation as a second-half team, scoring on its first shot of the contest at the 32-second mark. Freshman Meredith Way (Newmanstown, Pa./Warwick HS) dribbled the ball down the right side of the field and carried into the circle where she found Fitzpatrick untested on the opposite side. The Wolverine rookie fed a pass across the circle and Fitzpatrick connected, pushing the ball past KSU goalkeeper Kara Copeland to the far corner. The Wolverines have taken the initial lead just four times this season, and U-M boasts a perfect record in such situations.
After the teams traded several opportunities, Kent State took advantage of a penalty-corner opportunity midway through the half to even the score at one a piece. Charlotte Muller's direct shot was blocked by a U-M defender, but the Golden Flash senior corralled her own rebound and sent it to the back of the Michigan cage.
U-M regained its advantage -- one it would not relinquish -- late in the frame, as junior Stephanie Hoyer (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) scored the game-winning goal at the 32:44 mark off another penalty-corner opportunity. Fifth-year senior captain Kristen Tiner (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) took the initial shot, which hit a KSU defender and kicked out to Hoyer. The Wolverine junior slammed it in for her fourth goal of the season.
The Wolverines, who outshot the Golden Flashes 13-6 in the game, pushed their lead to 3-1 midway through the second half when Fitzpatrick stole a Kent State break-out ball and carried it into the circle to set up a one-on-one situation. Copeland sprinted out to challenge the play, but Fitzpatrick maneuvered the ball around the sprawled goalkeeper and into the open cage, icing the Wolverine at the 52:00 mark.
The U-M backfield held Kent State to just four shots on goal, and junior/sophomore goalkeeper Paige Pickett (Dallas, Texas/Episcopal School of Dallas) earned three saves to pick up her 10th career win. In the Tiger cage, Copeland made four stops on Michigan's seven shots on goal.
The Wolverines will wrap up the home portion of their schedule at Phyllis Ocker Field Friday (Oct. 12) with a4 p.m. meeting against Big Ten Conference rival Indiana.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Kent State | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Kelly Fitzpatrick, 0:32 (Meredith Way)
1st -- KSU, Charlotte Muller, 19:43 (unassisted
1st -- U-M, Stephanie Hoyer, 32:44 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Fitzpatrick, 52:00 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 13, KSU 6
Saves: U-M 3 (Paige Pickett), KSU 4 (Kara Copeland)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, KSU 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 4, KSU 2
Penalty Strokes: None
Team Stats
Fitzpatrick, Kelly (5)
Assisted By: Way, Meredith
From the top of the circle in transition
0:32
MULLER, Charlotte (5)
Left side following corner play
19:43
Hoyer, Stephanie (4)
Rebound off corner
32:44
Fitzpatrick, Kelly (6)
Off steal at top of circle
52:00
