Michigan
Virginia Tech
U-M's Winning Streak Snapped with Last-Second OT Loss to Virginia Tech
3/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Virginia Tech 13, Michigan 12 (OT)
Records: U-M (3-3), VT (5-4)
Attendance: 130
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 14 -- vs. Niagara (Michigan Stadium), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's lacrosse team had its three-game win streak snapped by Virginia Tech, as the Hokies overcame an early 6-1 deficit to take a one-goal lead into the half and eventually force overtime, where they scored with two seconds left to edge the Wolverines, 13-12, on Wednesday (March 11) inside Michigan Stadium. Sophomores Anna Schueler and Kim Coughlan led U-M with three goals and one assist apiece, while sophomore Madeline Dion set a new program record with five caused turnovers and also added two goals.
The non-conference matchup was tied on six different occasions, and there were five lead changes throughout the game, including four in the second half.
Michigan held a five-goal lead, 6-1, with 9:35 left in the first half, when Virginia Tech responded with six unanswered goals in the last 10 minutes of the opening half. Virginia Tech's goal with 15 seconds remaining in the first half gave it its first lead of the game,7-6, at the break.
After being held scoreless for the final 12:35 of the first half, the Wolverines started the second half with back-to-back goals from Dion and Coughlan, putting Michigan back in the lead, 8-7, at the 26:01 mark. Virginia Tech responded with two straight goals to regain the lead, 9-8, with 22:26 to go in regulation.
Sophomore Jess Angerman's third goal of the game tied the game for the fourth time, 9-9, at 21:16, before Virginia Tech answered with two unanswered goals at 18:32 and 16:45, giving the Hokies their largest lead of the game, 11-9.
Michigan's defense then held VT scoreless for more than 16 minutes, and U-M took back the lead, 12-11, at 3:31, with three consecutive goals, including two from Schueler. After U-M regained the lead, Angerman won the draw, but out of a Wolverine timeout at 1:11, Michigan was unable to maintain possession, and the Hokies notched the game-tying goal with 26 ticks left in regulation.
The six-minute overtime period featured five turnovers, including two by Virginia Tech and three by Michigan. With less than 20 seconds to play, Dion forced a VT turnover, but U-M's counterattack was stumped as the Hokies intercepted a pass, and VT's Meg Bartley scored the game-winning goal with two seconds left in overtime.
U-M goalie Allison Silber made eight saves in the game, while Virginia Tech's Hannah Sieger earned her first win of the season, making thee saves in 48 minutes of action.
Next up, the Wolverines will remain at home to host Niagara on Saturday (March 14) at 1 p.m. at Michigan Stadium. [ Tickets ]
NOTES
• With the overtime loss, Michigan is now 2-2 all-time in overtime games, including 2-1 in Michigan Stadium.
• Madeline Dion set a new program record with five caused turnovers and also matched her career high with two goals.
• Jess Angerman has now scored at least three goals in each of the last four games and leads the Wolverines with 15 goals this season.
• Anna Schueler has now had five draw controls in each of the last four games and leads Michigan with 23 total this season.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Jennifer Ulehla
On what allowed Virginia Tech to get back in the game after going out to a 6-1 lead ... "It is a real positive that we're able to come out, especially against a team like that, and be able to put some points up on the board. It's a learning experience to play with a lead like that. The game plan doesn't change -- if you're in a situation where you're taking a little more time off the clock, you still have to be attacking the cage. We just have to learn how to be up. This team is resilient and this is just one step further in the direction we're trying to go. I'm happy that we're able to get that lead, now we just have to hold it."
On her message to the team after losing a second close game in overtime ... "What we said after the game is that we win as a team and we lost as a team. The important thing about this game is we want to look at all the real positive things that occur because there were so many. From a learning standpoint, we need to dissect the aspects of the game from a strategic standpoint that are going to help us get better. We're going to spend the next couple days, going into our game against Niagara, to learn from this experience so that when we get back into another overtime situation, we're making better decisions -- there is strategy behind it."
On different players stepping up each game and what that means about the team ... "It reinforces that we have a great foundation. As these kids continue to get better and better each day, which is one of our goals, that foundation, at some point, is going to really propel us forward. The future looks bright. We have to take hits like this, because we're inexperienced, and learn from them, but we have a great group where anybody can step up at any given time and really make a difference. Tonight that was Madeline Dion -- she was a huge difference maker with five caused turnovers. And then you look at our goals and how many different players scored -- it's a real positive."
