Michigan
(16-6)
Ohio
(18-5)
Belassi Delivers in OT for Michigan Win at NCAAs
11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament after it claimed a 1-0 overtime victory against No. 15 Ohio on Saturday (Nov. 10) on Phyllis Ocker Field. Senior captain Lucia Belassi(Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) registered the game-winning goal at the 83:10 mark of the contest on a rebound in front of the Bobcat cage.
Belassi's goal was her third overtime tally of the season and sent the Wolverines to the NCAA second round for the seventh time in nine years. Sophomore Kelly Fitzpatrick(Hummelstown, Pa./Palmyra HS) took the initial shot that set up the goal, firing the ball from the right side of the circle and hitting Ohio goalkeeper Jessie Martin in the pads. The ball kicked out to the penalty-stroke area, where Belassi corralled it and pushed a low shot into the bottom left corner.
Despite registering no shots on goal through regulation play, the Bobcats largely controlled the overtime frame, outshooting Michigan 6-5 while drawing a pair of penalty-corner opportunities. Junior/sophomore goalkeeper Paige Pickett's (Dallas, Texas/Episcopal School of Dallas) stopped a pair of OU shots on goal in the extra stanza, including a point-blank effort by Marcy Dull a little more than six minutes in.
Fitzpatrick had a number of scoring chances throughout the contest, pacing the Wolverine offensive effort with seven shots, including three on goal in overtime. She secured a break-away opportunity early in the extra frame and cruised into the circle on the left side of the field. Martin, however, challenged the play near the top of the circle -- as she did several times throughout the match -- laying out to knock the ball loose before Fitzpatrick could get a shot off.
Michigan's first chance of the contest came on a similar play from Fitzpatrick. The U-M sophomore got behind the Ohio defense when she subbed back into the game near the eight-minute mark and, alone in the circle, accepted a pass right in front of the Bobcat cage. Martin, however, sprawled on the ground and stopped the shot from Fitzpatrick.
Both teams drew penalty-corner opportunities late in the first half and Michigan peppered Martin with back-to-back direct shots from Belassi and fifth-year senior captain Kristen Tiner(Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School). The Wolverines maintained the momentum in the second half and dominated the frame with a 7-1 advantage in shots. U-M miscued on a couple of perfect set-ups, including a late two-on-one between junior Stephanie Hoyer(Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) and Fitzpatrick. The former used her speed to get around several Ohio defenders and force the ball into the circle. Drawing Martin out to the left, Hoyer rifled a pass across the goalmouth, but Fitzpatrick, who was alone on the right post, could not get her stick on the ball.
The Wolverines recorded significant advantages in both statistical categories, outshooting the Bobcats 17-9 and outcornering them 6-3. Pickett earned two saves for the Wolverines -- both in overtime -- to tally her fifth shutout of the season, while Martin posted 12 stops in the OU cage.
The Wolverines will face Wake Forest, a 3-2 winner over Michigan State in the first opening-round match, in the NCAA quarterfinal round Sunday (Nov. 11) at 2 p.m. at Ocker Field
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | F |
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
OT -- U-M, Lucia Belassi, 83:10 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 17, Ohio 9
Saves: U-M 2 (Paige Pickett), Ohio 12 (Jessie Martin)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, Ohio 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 6, Ohio 3
Penalty Strokes: None
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Belassi, Lucia
rebound in front to lower left corner
83:10
