Michigan
(3-4)
Albany
(5-2)
Albany's Second-Half Goal Dooms Michigan in Loss
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Storrs, Conn. (George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex)
Score: #20 Albany 3, #16 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (3-4), UA (5-2)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Sept.21 -- vs. Connecticut (Storrs, Conn.), Noon
Boxscore
STORRS, Conn. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team suffered a 3-2 setback to No. 20 Albany on Friday afternoon (Sept. 19) at UConn's George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex. With equal shot and penalty-corner tallies and a tied score through halftime, the Great Danes scored the lone goal of the second half to secure the non-conference victory.
The Great Danes surged early in the second frame, registering the entirety of its second-half statistics -- six shots and three corners -- within a narrow five-minute window before converting on its final attempt at the 49:57 mark. Michele Polizois netted Albany its second straight goal off a penalty corner, scoring the gamewinner on the direct shot from the top of the scoring arc. Albany's Michelle Simpson and Jess Lindsey earned assists for the stop and the push, respectively.
The Wolverines took the game's initial advantage after their early pressure in which they outshot Albany 4-1 in the opening minutes of the contest resulted in senior back Sarah Wilhite's (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey HS) fourth goal of the season at the 12:05 mark. The marker came in the immediate aftermath of a U-M penalty-corner opportunity as Wilhite, after inserting the ball to initiate the play, got her stick on a shot to redirect it past Albany goalkeeper Ashley Ross.
After the Great Danes scored twice to steal away the lead, Wilhite evened the score in the waning moments of the half to claim her second consecutive multi-goal effort and bring her point total in thepast three conteststo 14. As with her first tally, Wilhite's goal followed a broken penalty-corner opportunity. Ross stopped the original shot from freshman midfielder Bryn Bain(Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional HS), but in the ensuing chaos, Wilhite accepted a cross pass from senior forward Stephanie Hoyer(Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) and stuffed the ball into the cage.
The two squads matched each other evenly in nearly every statistical category. Each team posted 12 shots -- six in each half -- and seven penalty corners. Sophomore/freshman goalkeeperChristi Barwick(San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) earned five saves for the Wolverines, while the Great Danes' Ross stopped six of Michigan's eight shots on goal.
The Wolverines (3-4) will close out their four-game road swing onSunday (Sept. 21) with a noon game against host and No. 4-rankedConnecticut at George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs, Conn.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Albany | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Michigan | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Sarah Wilhite, 12:05 (Alicia Mayer)
1st -- UA, Christina Patrick, 15:54 (Nicole Savage)
1st -- UA, Savage, 24:49 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Wilhite, 26:17 (Stephanie Hoyer)
2nd -- UA, Michele Polizois, 49:57 (Michelle Simpson, Jess Lindsey)
Shots: U-M 12, UA 12
Saves: U-M5 (Christi Barwick), UA6 (Ashley Ross)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, UA 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 7, UA 7
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Wilhite, Sarah
Assisted By: Mayer, Alicia
GOAL by MICH Wilhite, Sarah (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Mayer, Alicia.
12:05
Patrick, Christina
Assisted By: Savage, Nicole
GOAL by ALBANY Patrick, Christina, Assist by Savage, Nicole.
15:54
Savage, Nicole
GOAL by ALBANY Savage, Nicole.
24:49
Wilhite, Sarah
Assisted By: Hoyer, Stephanie
GOAL by MICH Wilhite, Sarah, Assist by Hoyer, Stephanie.
26:17
Polizois, Michele
Assisted By: Simpson, Michelle , Lindsey, Jess
GOAL by ALBANY Polizois, Michele, Assist by Simpson, Michelle and Lindsey, Jess.
49:57
