Mayer's Six-Point Day Leads U-M to Double-OT Win Over No. 19 Albany

Saturday, September 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

10:00 AM

Michigan

(3-4)

Albany

(4-2)

OT 1

OT 2

Albany

Michigan

Mayer's Six-Point Day Leads U-M to Double-OT Win Over No. 19 Albany

9/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Kent Reichert

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ocker Field)
Score: Michigan 4, #19 Albany 3 (2OT)
Records: U-M (3-4), Albany (4-2)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Sept. 19 -- vs. Quinnipiac (Phyllis Ocker Field), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Redshirt junior Katie Adams (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) tallied the first game-winning goal of her career at 92:32 to help the University of Michigan field hockey team knock off No. 19 Albany, 4-3, on Saturday morning (Sept. 18) at Phyllis Ocker Field.

Alicia Mayer

The victory is U-M's third straight and second extra-time win over a ranked foe in three games, with the Wolverines scoring four goals in each of those three wins. U-M led 2-0 and 3-2 in the second half, but Albany forced overtime with 21 seconds left in regulation time.

Aside from Adams' heroics, senior Alicia Mayer (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) tallied a career-high six points on two goals and two assists. Mayer staked U-M to a 2-0 advantage with goals at 21:32 and 39:22 and then assisted on the other two Maize and Blue markers.

U-M scored the only goal of the first half in transition at 21:32 when Mayer beat her defender to the right post and redirected a crossing pass from senior Zara Saydjari (Skowhegan, Maine) into the cage. Shots were just 2-2 heading into the second half of play.

Both offenses found their stride in the second half as a combined 23 shots were registered, 13-10 in favor of U-M. Mayer deflected a penalty corner shot by senior Meredith Way (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) at 39:22 to extend U-M's lead to 2-0.

Albany finally broke through with back-to-back goals at 50:33 and 51:39 to knot the game at 2-2. Corrinne McConville scored on a direct penalty corner and Christina Patrick converted on a rush from the right edge.

The Wolverines settled down defensively and took a 3-2 lead on a quick counterattack at 55:49. Mayer received a long pass just inside the top of Albany's circle. With her back to the goal, she sent the ball to the left side, where freshman Rachael Mack (Bromsgrove, England/Bromsgrove School) was waiting to drive home a one-time shot past the rushing goalkeeper.

Albany battled back once again, generating a penalty corner opportunity in the final minute. Patrick crashed in from her position as the pusher and tapped in a rebound with 21 seconds left in regulation.

Both teams had outstanding scoring chances in the first overtime period, before U-M finally cashed in with 7:38 remaining in the second overtime. Mayer inserted the ball from the right side on a long penalty corner that found its way to Adams, who pivoted and slashed a backhand shot into the netting.

Michigan looks to extend its winning streak to four games on Sunday (Sept. 19) when it hosts Quinnipiac at 1 p.m. at Ocker Field.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	OT	OT	F
Michigan	1	2	0	1	4
Albany	0	3	0	0	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Alicia Mayer, 21:32 (Zara Saydjari)
2nd -- U-M, Mayer, 39:22 (Meredith Way)
2nd -- UA, Corrine McConville, 50:33 (Ashlyn Bach, Christina Patrick)
2nd -- UA, Christina Patrick, 51:39 (Nina Walters)
2nd -- U-M, Rachael Mack, 55:49 (Alicia Mayer)
2nd -- UA, Christina Patrick, 69:39 (unassisted)
2OT -- U-M, Katie Adams, 92:32 (Mayer)

Shots: U-M 23, UA 13
Saves: U-M 2 (Haley Jones), UA 5 (Christine Hoffman 0, Kristi Troch 5)
Defensive Saves: U-M 0, UA 0
Penalty Corners: U-M 10, UA 8

NOTES

• Michigan is now 2-0 in overtime games this season. The last time the Wolverines won consecutive overtime contests was when U-M defeated Penn State 3-2 in overtime in the first round of the 2007 Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 2 and then beat Ohio 1-0 in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament on Nov. 10.

• Junior Katie Adams picked up her first goal of the season in the double-overtime session. It was her first career game-winner and the third goal of her career.

• Senior Alicia Mayer's six-point outburst is the largest by a Wolverine since current senior Meredith Way's hat trick in U-M's 3-0 win over Northwestern Sept. 27, 2008.

• Michigan has won three games in a row at Phyllis Ocker Field for the first time since Oct. 5-17, 2008, when it defeated Ohio State, Central Michigan and Michigan State at home.

• Michigan beat a ranked opponent for the second time this season. The Wolverines defeated then-No. 14 James Madison, 4-3, in overtime on Sept. 10.

• Michigan now evens the all-time series against the Great Danes to 1-1.

• Alicia Mayer, Meredith Way and Rachael Mack all have scored at least one point in all three home games for the Wolverines.

• Albany was the fifth ranked opponent the Wolverines have played this season.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On today's win ... "I was quite pleased with the play through the midfield for most of the game. We had really good decision making and were poised over the ball. Albany had a couple of goals that were a bit unexpected, I guess, down the stretch. I was really, really proud of how we reacted in overtime. We stayed strong and stayed focused and were able to bury it. It's not easy when you're under a lot of pressure like that."

On the play of Alicia Mayer ... "She did a good job. She worked hard, executed on the corner like she does so well and we were happy with her hustle and her performance. Zara Saydjari had a really good game today. She hustled and worked really hard."