Michigan
3-12, 0-6ALC
Vanderbilt
5-11, 2-4ALC
U-M Unable to Overcome First-Half Deficit against Vanderbilt
4/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Vanderbilt 16, Michigan 9
Records: U-M (3-12, 0-6 ALC), Vanderbilt (5-11, 2-4 ALC)
Attendance: 527
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 26 -- vs. Fresno State (Michigan Stadium), 4 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite hat trick contributions from freshmen Anna Schueler (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) and Kim Coughlan (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Saint Anthony's), the University of Michigan women's lacrosse team could not bounce back from a 9-2 first-half deficit against Vanderbilt on Saturday (April 19) at Michigan Stadium.
With the Wolverines trailing 9-2 at the half, freshman Tess Korten (Glen Head, N.Y./North Shore) recorded the lone assist of the day, hitting freshman Madeline Dion (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) as she cut down the middle of the crease 40 seconds into the second half to make it 9-3.
Schueler and Coughlan each netted back-to-back goals to aid in Michigan's second-half comeback efforts. Schueler's two goals came just 49 seconds apart, with 23:00 and 22:11 minutes on the clock, respectively, to give her the hat trick and put the Wolverines within five, 10-5. Later in the half, Coughlan notched two scores within 23 seconds -- the first off a free-position opportunity and the second on a drive hard to the right to complete the hat trick -- again cutting Vanderbilt's lead to five, 13-8, with 6:08 remaining in the game.
Freshman Jess Angerman (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) notched a pair of goals for the Wolverines, with one coming in each half. She split two defenders and placed the ball in the lower right corner of the net with 3:19 to go in the first half to make it 8-2. For her second on the day, Angerman took advantage of a free position and whipped it past the goalie with 1:05 left in the game, putting the Wolverines within six, 15-9. Vanderbilt had the last say in the game, notching the final goal with eight seconds remaining in regulation, to secure its second ALC victory.
Schueler put away her first goal of the game within the opening minute of play to give U-M the early, and only lead of the game, 1-0, while Coughlan's first tally came at the 11:34 mark of the second half off a dodge to the middle and shot just inside the left post.
Freshman Allison Silber (Phoenix, Md./McDonogh School) came up with eight saves, including two off free-position opportunities.
Next up, the Wolverines will return to Michigan Stadium for their final regular-season game against Fresno State on Saturday (April 26) at 4 p.m.
NOTES
• With three goals today, Kim Coughlan has now recorded hat tricks in each of the last two games.
• Jess Angerman extended her goal scoring streak to six consecutive games with two goals today.
• With her two second-half goals today, Madeline Dion has now scored in each of the last six games.
• Kelly Kubach had a career-high three ground balls and matched a career best with three caused turnovers.
• In addition to her three goals, marking her fifth hat trick of the season, Anna Schueler also came away with a game-high five draw controls, giving her a team-best 49 on the season.
• Michigan lost the battle in ground balls (12-8) and tied in draw controls (6-6) but won both categories in the second half -- ground balls (8-7) and draw controls (9-6).
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Jennifer Ulehla
On the difference between the first and second half ... "They relaxed. I think there were a lot of good distractions today with the band being there and the cheerleaders, it was a beautiful day and it was an ALC conference game. Again, we are young and we have grown a lot this season. I think our first few opportunities we had good looks. Then they changed their defense, pressured us a little more, and got us a little uncomfortable and we started to lose a little confidence. The rest of the first half went in that direction until I was able to get a hold of them at halftime."
On struggling in the first half ... "They put that high pressure on us and you have to react a different way when that occurs. What we need to understand is that we can still play lacrosse and beat that defense, it's just you have to go about it a little bit differently. Because we are young, the pressure comes on us and we tend to go a little more inward and lose our confidence. In the future, when we are able to put that type of pressure on our team in practice, it will definitely get us a lot more prepared for opportunities like this. When it really comes down to it, it's experience. We have experienced a lot, they haven't experienced that pressure since Brown, and so it was a little bit of a reminder. In the end, I think that nerves got the best of them, but I was able to calm them at halftime and they came out and played in the second."
On how far this team has come this season ... "I am incredibly proud with their work ethic and how far they have come. I'm looking at the stats now, and we are competing in ground balls and draw controls, and saves. Vanderbilt is a great team and a mature team. What we wanted out of this year was to get better each and every day and our main goal is to build a championship culture. We are trying to figure out through a difficult schedule what it takes to be a champion and I think we are getting there. From a coaching standpoint, I am proud of this young group and how they have taken the hits that have come their way. We have played a very difficult schedule and they have come back each and every day and have said, 'bring it on', like we did this second half. This team was down and out and they pulled it back together and came out fighting. That says a lot about our heart and our passion and our desire, and that's what we are going to build on in the future."
U-M Freshman Anna Schueler
On the difference between the first and second half ... "We talked about it in the locker room afterwards and I think we came out jumpy and anxious. We got out of our rhythm really quickly. We have done that in games before and unfortunately haven't learned from it quite yet, but coming into the second half we played together much more as a team. It showed that we can compete with a team like Vanderbilt and what we are capable of."
On what they did well in the second half ... "Offensively, we moved a lot more. We didn't just rely on one pass and go. We were clearing the ball up the field, we spread out wide, everyone touched the ball. It wasn't just one person running around, which I think is important. Defensively, we played with a lot more intensity. We weren't afraid to move our body or our sticks. I think overall, as a team game, we just really improved."
On the key to getting a full 60 minutes ... "I think it is definitely mentality with us. We have great athletes on the team and we can compete with any team. It's just when we come out, we are playing as freshmen, and sometimes we think of it as an excuse. I think we need to come out with a mentality of 'we can play with anyone if we play our hardest'. Coming out like that, I think we will see a solid full 60 minutes against Fresno."
