Wolverines Blank Central Michigan for Fourth Straight Season

Sunday, October 13

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

(8-6)

Central Michigan

(4-8)

Team	1	2	Final F
Central Michigan	0	0	0
Michigan	0	2	2

Wolverines Blank Central Michigan for Fourth Straight Season

10/13/2013 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #16 Michigan 2, Central Michigan 0
Records: U-M (8-6), CMU (4-8)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Oct. 20 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team used a pair of second-half goals and a commanding defensive effort to knock off intrastate rival Central Michigan, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 13) in front of 409 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field. The Wolverines held CMU to just one shot -- early in the first half -- and no penalty corners en route to its third shutout victory of the season and fourth straight over the Chippewas.

Haley Jones

After a scoreless first half, Michigan broke through early in the second after a long-hit opportunity just outside the circle from senior/junior captain Ainsley McCallister (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS), who stepped inside and sent a slow roller toward the net. Despite several players jockeying for position in front, none touched the ball in front as it rolled right into the cage, giving U-M the its first lead at the 39:57 mark. It was her fifth goal of the season.

The Wolverines took advantage of a broken corner in the final minutes of the frame to add a late insurance goal. Senior/junior Sammy Gray (Wilmette, Ill./North Shore Country Day School) drove the ball to the front from just outside the circle on the top left side, and sophomore Shannon Scavelli (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland Shrub Oak HS) got her stick on it, tipping to past CMU goalkeeper Sadie Reynolds for her fifth goal at the 62:37 mark.

Michigan outshot the Chippewas, 17-1, and outcornered them, 11-0. Fifth-year senior Haley Jones (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) earned one save for her second complete-game shutout effort of the season -- 16th shutout of her career -- while Reynolds stopped six of U-M's eight shots on goals.

The Wolverines will return to the road next weekend, traveling down to Columbus, Ohio, to face rival Ohio State at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 20) at Buckeye Varsity Field.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Central Michigan	0	0	0
Michigan	0	2	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Ainsley McCallister, 39:57 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Shannon Scavelli, 62:37 (Sammy Gray)

Shots: U-M 17, CMU 19
Saves: U-M 1 (Haley Jones), CMU 6 (Sadie Reynolds)
Defensive Saves: none
Penalty Corners: U-M 11, CMU 0

NOTES

• With today's victory, Michigan improved to 32-15-2 in the all-time series against Central Michigan. U-M has won each of the last four meetings -- all by shutout.

• Senior/junior Ainsley McCallister and sophomore Shannon Scavelli both own a career-best five goals this season. Scavelli has scored in three of the last four games, while McCallister has tallied at least one point in five of the last six.

• Fifth-year senior Haley Jones earned her 16th career shutout, moving her to fourth among U-M's all-time leaders in the category. She is tied with Beth Riley (2003-06).

• Today's match marked the second time this season that U-M held an opponent without a single penalty-corner opportunity. It also tied the Wolverines' season-best one shot allowed.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On U-M breaking through in the second half ... "That goal by Ainsley [McCallister] was really critical. Not only was it the first goal, but it settled the team down at little bit. I think the further along you go in a scoreless match, the more tense things become. She did a nice job of putting it on goal and finishing."

On Michigan rebounding after Friday's disappointing loss ... "It was really important. I think the players know that, and that's what makes Michigan student-athletes what they are -- they're mentally tough; they can handle some adversity really well, stay in the present and focus on the task at hand. I thought they did that great today, and I'm really proud of the team for that effort."

On the Wolverines' defensive play ... "As a team defense effort, I think we had a good rotation going for substitutions. They played as a unit, they communicated well, they were in good position, and they were aggressive and stepped up when they had to. The played good one-on-one defense."

On the strong defensive effort keeping U-M in the game early ... "We have a lot of confidence in our defense and certainly in our goalkeeper. So, I felt that they stayed really poised and played our game through most of it. I knew that if we stayed patient like that, then some goals would finally start to go in and we would prevail."

U-M Senior/Junior Ainsley McCallister
On the halftime message ... "We just wanted to come out and play with heart -- win every 50/50 ball, stepping up. We wanted to play our game, not anyone else's style. We wanted to focus on our own tactics."

On her goal ... "I was in the circle and just saw a little gap. I saw [Rachael] Mack cutting in, so I just decided to push it at goal as hard as I could. I was actually hoping for her to touch it, but she didn't and the sea parted, and it hit backboard. Hey, a goal's a goal. It always changes the tone when you're up, so it always helps to get at least one on the board. We wanted to keep pushing, obviously, but it feels good to get that first one."

U-M Fifth-Year Senior Haley Jones
On the defensive effort ... "I thought our defense played great. We held them to only one shot. That's always nice; it gives me a nice break back there. We did a little bit of rotating around on defense, and everybody really stepped up well. We stayed aggressive and really utilized our transfer, which was huge. We played to our strengths, and it showed."

On the bounce-back win ... "It was critical. We really needed this one. Friday was upsetting and certainly not the outcome we wanted or expected at all. We knew today wouldn't be easy. Central Michigan is always a battle; they're a good team. They definitely came and fought hard today. We really needed to put the ball in the net and come out with a win, so we can go into our week of upcoming training on a good note."