Weekly Release #4
9/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 14 -- at Louisville (Louisville, Ky.), 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15 -- vs. Vermont (Louisville, Ky.), 2 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 21 -- vs. Iowa (Phyllis Ocker Field), 3 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 23 -- vs. Penn State (Phyllis Ocker Field), Noon
This Week's Lineup
The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (2-4, 0-0 Big Ten) returns to the road this weekend for a pair of non-conference meetings in Louisville, Ky. U-M will face host No. 16 Louisville Friday (Sept. 14) at 3 p.m., before returning the following day (Sept. 15) for a 2 p.m. meeting against Vermont. Both games will be held at the Cardinals' Trager Stadium.
Scouting the Opponents
Louisville -- The Wolverines own a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series against Louisville, with five of U-M's wins coming by way of shutout. In last season's meeting between the two programs, Ashley Lennington (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle HS) scored the lone tally of the contest with four minutes remaining in regulation to give Michigan the 1-0 home victory. The goal came after a U-M penalty corner opportunity, as Lennington got her stick on the direct shot from Kara Lentz (2003-06) and redirected it high for the game-winning goal. The Cardinals are 3-3 this season after they split a pair of contests in Iowa City, Iowa, falling to the Hawkeyes 4-3 (Sept. 7) before they defeated Missouri State 5-0 (Sept. 8). For information on Louisville field hockey, visit www.uoflsports.com.
Vermont -- The Wolverines will face Vermont for just the second time in program history, and U-M carries a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series. In the lone previous meeting between the two schools on Sept. 18, 2005, Michigan scored four times in the first half and added a second-half insurance tally to claim a 5-0 home victory. Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) and Sarah Wilhite (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey HS) each netted a pair of goals, while goalkeeper Beth Riley (2003-06) made six saves en route to her second straight shutout win. The Catamounts are 5-1 heading into the weekend after they boasted three consecutive shutouts to open the 2007 campaign. In its most recent outing, Vermont suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Virginia 2-1 last Sunday (Sept. 9). For more information on Vermont, visit www.uvm.edu/athletics.
Big Ten Standings and Statistics
Throughout the 2007 season, the latest standings and statistics from the Big Ten Conference can be found by visiting the Big Ten's website.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll
After its weekend split against Old Dominion and Connecticut, Michigan remained in the No. 15 position in the latest edition of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll of the top 20 teams in NCAA Division I, released on Tuesday (Sept. 11). The poll is available on the NFHCA's site.
STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (9/11/07)
Rank, Team (first-place votes) Points 1. North Carolina (23) 913 2. Maryland (24) 911 3. Connecticut 832 4. Iowa 790 5. Wake Forest 710 6. Michigan State 673 7. Penn State 632 8. James Madison 574 9. American 480 10. Duke 456 11. Boston College 345 12. Ohio 344 13. Old Dominion 330 14. Delaware 292 15. MICHIGAN 252 16. Louisville 233 17. Virginia 230 18. Albany 189 19. Stanford 182 20. Boston University 160
Statistically Speaking ...
National statistics, compiled by the NCAA, will be released every Monday during the season. Statistics can be accessed at NCAA Field Hockey.
Feeling Weekly
Senior captain Lucia Belassi netted the second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week of her collegiate career on Monday (Sept. 10) after she contributed to all but one of U-M's goals during the weekend homestand. Belassi recorded her eighth-career multi-point effort against Old Dominion (Sept. 7), collecting a goal and two assists on Michigan's three first-half tallies. Belassi also scored the Wolverines against Connecticut (Sept. 9), connecting on a direct shot of a first-half penalty corner.
Ironman
Senior captain Lucia Belassi has appeared in every game of her U-M career, currently boasting 73 total games played with 38 consecutive starts. Belassi is on track to crack Michigan's top-10 leaders in career games played. She needs 12 to reach the 10th spot, currently held by Jeanne Shinn (85, 1997, 2000). Junior Stephanie Hoyer (Englewood, Colo./Chrerry Creek HS) has achieved similar status and made her 50th career appearance in the Wolverines' Sunday contest against Connecticut (Sept. 9), while sophomore Paige Laytos (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) has started all 26 games of her collegiate career.
On the Horizon
The Wolverines open the Big Ten schedule next weekend with a pair of conference meetings on Phyllis Ocker Field. U-M will face Iowa Friday (Sept. 21) at 3 p.m., before wrapping up the homestand Sunday (Sept. 23) against Penn State at noon.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
