Lennington's Two Goals Propel Wolverines Over Temple

Thursday, August 30

College Park, Md.

7:00 PM

Michigan

(1-2)

Temple

(1-1)

Michigan

Temple

8/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

Site: College Park, Md. (Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex)
Score: #12 Michigan 2, Temple 1
Records: U-M (1-2), Temple (1-1)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Sept. 2 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), Noon

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Senior Ashley Lennington (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle HS) registered the first multi-goal effort of her career to lead the No. 12-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team to a thrilling 2-1 victory against Temple Thursday evening (Aug. 30) at Maryland's Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. After sacrificing the initial lead, the Wolverines rallied with two unanswered goals, including the game-winner with 13 seconds remaining in regulation, to claim their first win of the season.

With the score knotted at 1-1, Michigan (1-2, 0-0 Big Ten) swarmed the Owls' scoring circle late in the contest, drawing back-to-back penalty corners and a pair of shots in the final two minutes of play. Lennington's game-winning goal -- the second game-winner of her career -- came on a rebound at the 69:47 mark after Temple goalkeeper Eric Hanshue turned away a direct shot from senior captain Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1). Lennington, who was camped out on the right side of the Owl cage when the rebound popped up high, swatted the ball out of the airt o sent it to the back of the cage.

Scoring was limited to the second half, as Michigan and Temple each failed to convert on opportunities in the opening frame. The Wolverines established early control, firing several quick shots deep in Temple territory while holding the Owls without an attempt through the opening 12 minutes of play.

The Owls struck first, however, taking the match's first advantage early in the second half after a successful penalty corner conversion at the 40:07 mark. The Owls controlled play for the opening minutes of the frame, flurrying around the U-M circle with back-to-back penalty corners and three shots. Temple converted on the third, as Ashley Bird used the chaos in front of the U-M cage after a corner to slam a hard shot past junior/sophomore goalkeeper Paige Pickett (Dallas, Texas/Episcopal School of Dallas) to claim her first goal of the season.

Michigan wasted little time -- exactly two minutes -- before using its own penalty corner opportunity to even the score. With the ball sitting just inches away from the goal line after the initial shot from Belassi was stopped by Hanshue, Lennington, who was left alone beside the cage,pounced on it and used a reverse sweep to flip it over the sprawled Owl goalkeeper.

The Wolverines outshot the Owls 13-10, including a 6-3 differential in the first half,and outcornered them 7-4 in the contest. Pickett recorded five saves in the U-M cage -- upping her season total to 17 --to claim her first collegiate victory, while Hanshue made five stops on Michigan's seven shots on goal.

The Wolverines will wrap up their East Coast road trip on Sunday (Sept. 2) with a noon meeting against No. 1-ranked Maryland at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Station, Md.

MATCH SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	0	2	2
Temple	0	1	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- Temple, Ashley Bird, 40:07 (Leanne Vogelsong)
2nd -- U-M, Ashley Lennington, 42:07(unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Lennington, 69:47 (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 13, Temple 10
Saves: U-M 5 (Paige Pickett), Temple 5 (Erin Hanshue)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, Temple 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 7, Temple 4
Penalty Strokes: None

NOTES

• With the victory, U-M improved to 4-1 in the all-time series against Temple.

• The two-goal effort was the first multi-goal game of senior Ashley Lennington's career. She improved her career totals to eight goals and, adding five assists, 21 points.

• Former Wolverines Beth Riley could be found on the opposing sideline during tonight's game vs. Temple. Riley is a first-year assistant coach with the Owls.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Nancy Cox
On today's game ... "Michigan played very well for the entire first half -- a complete 35 minutes. When we came out for the beginning of the second half, we were on our heels, which was secondary to what Temple did quite well. Paige Pickett played exceptionally well for her third match of the season. She made a game-saving stop at a critical juncture of the match -- midway through the second half -- and it was just a beauty. There will be matches where you expect your goalkeeper to keep you in the match and make a save that will turn the tide, and she really did it tonight. There were just some tremendous efforts. Our back four played quite well. For periods of time in that match, the ball speed really picked up across the back four. Sarah Wilhite really stepped up tonight. Obviously, within our program at Michigan, it's about the entire team performing, and I think we did that. All 22 contributed tonight, and I really think we saw the depth of our program. I commend Temple for their effort on the field. Our student-athletes matched their effort tonight. With 13 seconds remaining, just like we would expect, our seniors stepped to the plate and put the ball to the back of the net."

On improvements since last weekend's matches ... "Our attack flow was markedly better tonight, and when I say that, I'm referencing our ability to attack from the backfield line. We were able to move the ball from backfield past the midfield line to the forwards, and likewise, we were able to move the ball from the backfield line to the midfield line to the forwards. So, it was really nice to see Kelly Fitzpatrick. She made some great funds tonight, and I am exceptionally pleased with where she is physically coming along. It was just a total team effort tonight. I certainly hope that effort continues for our match on Sunday."

U-M Senior Forward Ashley Lennington
On her game-winning goal ... "Both goals came on corners. The game-winner originated as a straight shot from Lucia [Belassi]. It bounced off the goalkeeper and went straight up into the air. I was on the right side of the cage, and, as it was in the air, I kind of reverse baseball-swung into the goal. It seemed like it was in slow motion. That was with only 13 seconds left in the game, so it was pretty exciting."

On the team effort ... "It was a great team effort. The first half was probably the best hockey we've played yet this season. Everyone was diving all over the turf. Everyone was giving 110 percent on absolutely every play. We were so tired, but we kept fighting though the tired legs and huffing and puffing. We knew this was a pivotal game for us to win. Two years ago we went into overtime against Temple, and we did not want that to happen this year. We didn't want any letdown. So, at the end, we all connected on the field and just said, 'There's no way their getting into our circle and taking this from us.'"

On the U-M offense ... "We were really clicking tonight. Our cuts were on. We were really connected. As an offense, you can't just think for yourselves, you have to think about your other teammates. So, we were really clearing and having great weaves and filling spaces. I think we really understood where we needed to be tonight for each other. So, it was an awesome game to be a forward. It really showed how well we can play together. It's something we have really been working on this past week, and I know we'll continue to work hard."