U-M's B1G Tourney Run Ends with Semifinal OT Loss to Northwestern

Friday, November 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:45 PM

Michigan

(13-7)

Northwestern

(15-6)

OT 2

Northwestern

Michigan

U-M's B1G Tourney Run Ends with Semifinal OT Loss to Northwestern

11/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

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By: Leah Howard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Semifinals)
Score: #10 Northwestern 2, #12 Michigan 1 (OT)
Records: U-M (13-7), NU (15-6)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 9 -- NCAA Selection Show (NCAA.com), 10 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team scored early but could not maintain its advantage, falling to No. 10 Northwestern, 2-1, in overtime in the Big Ten Conference semifinals on Friday afternoon (Nov. 7) in front of 501 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field.

The Wildcats' Dominique Masters netted the game-winning goal at 71:16 off a penalty corner early in the extra period, accepting the insert on the left side and driving a low shot that was deflected into the cage. It was Masters' second corner goal of the contest.

Michigan led for much of the game after scoring just 1:10 in the first half when fifth-year senior Ainsley McCallister scored on a low tip off a broken Wolverine penalty corner. Fifth-year senior Leslie Smith corralled the ball after it bounced out of the circle on the stop and carried back in before winding up a hard low shot on goal. McCallister, who inserted on the corner, got her stick on it and redirected past Wildcat goalkeeper Maddy Carpenter. It was McCallister's fifth goal in four games.

Northwestern evened early in the second half, at 43:27, as Masters found the lower right corner on a Wildcat penalty corner. Charlotte Martin and Lisa McCarthy earned assists on the stop and the push, respectively.

Northwestern outshot the Wolverines, 13-8, and outcornered them, 10-4. Freshman goalkeeper Sam Swenson was strong in the U-M cage, matching a career best with seven saves, including four in the first half. The Wildcats' Carpenter stopped three of Michigan's four shots on goal.

Michigan will await the NCAA Tournament selections on Sunday (Nov. 9) at 10 p.m. The 16-team tournament opens with first- and second-round matches Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, at four campus sites to be announced. The selection show will be aired live on NCAA.com.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	OT	F
Northwestern	0	1	1	2
Michigan	1	0	0	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Ainsley McCallister, 1:10 (Leslie Smith)
2nd -- NU, Dominique Masters, 43:27 (Charlotte Martin, Lisa McCarthy)
OT -- NU, Masters, 71:16 (McCarthy)

Shots: U-M 8, NU 13
Saves: U-M 7 (Sam Swenson), NU 3 (Maddy Carpenter)
Defensive Saves: none
Penalty Corners: U-M 4, NU 10

NOTES

• The Wolverines fell to 23-31 in the all-time series against Northwestern.

• Today's game marked the first time that Michigan was outshot by an opponent since its season opener.

• Michigan is 1-4 in overtime games this season -- all against teams ranked in the nation's top 12.

• Fifth-year senior Ainsley McCallister extended her point streak to four straight games with her first-half goal and has now matched a career best with six this year. She has contributed to seven of Michigan's last nine goals, with five goals and two assists over the stretch.

• Fifth-year senior Leslie Smith upped her career assist total to 30 and ranks sixth among U-M's all-time leaders in the category. With 94 career points, Smith also ranks ninth among the Wolverines' all-time leaders in that category and is four goals shy of cracking U-M's top 10 leaders in career goals.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On the game ... "It was a hard-fought battle between two really good teams. We got the better of them earlier in the year with a nice goal, but we couldn't finish when we had to, and they did. It was that close. Our team does well when we score early, so it was nice to get up. It let us settle in. It was just a hard-fought game and back and forth.

On the defensive play ... "I thought they played as well as they've played all season. They did a really nice job. A couple calls didn't go our way, but that's how the game goes sometimes."

On U-M's chances to make the NCAA Tournament ... "It's hard to know yet, because there are some conferences that still need to play their championship final. If there are no upsets in the automatic qualifiers, then we might have a chance to get in. But if there's a lot of upsets, we could get bumped out. We're on the bubble. We're telling the team to get themselves ready, and we'll find out on Sunday."

U-M Fifth-Year Senior Ainsley McCallister
On the game ... "It was definitely a good, hard battle. They just ended up with the win today."

On the physicality of the game ... "I play physically, and they matched it. I knew this would be a very competitive game, so I was ready for it."

On the defensive play ... "Sam [Swenson] performed really well. She had some great saves off of corners. The two that went in were just really unfortunate. She had a great game."

U-M Junior Lauren Thomas
On the Wolverines' effort ... "I think it was a team performance, and there's certainly no one at fault in a game like this. Some games you win, some games you learn. Today we learned. We feel ready for, hopefully, the NCAAs. We'll wait for the selection show and go from there."

On Sam Swenson's play ... "Sam is a great goalie. She's a freshman, but she has a lot of experience. It's a nice thing as a defender to know that you have a brick wall behind you. She saved us today in a lot of circumstances. We're grateful for her."