Michigan
5-8, 0-3Big Ten
Penn State
10-3, 3-0Big Ten
Wolverines Play Tough in Setback at No. 12 Penn State
4/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Site: Stata College, Pa. (Penn State Lacrosse Field)
Score: #12 Penn State 11, Michigan 5
Records: U-M (5-8, 0-3 Big Ten), PSU (10-3, 3-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 409
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 12 -- at Notre Dame (South Bend, Ind.), 1 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The University of Michigan women's lacrosse team trailed by just two goals, 5-3, at halftime, but a 31:18 Wolverine scoring drought spanning both halves allowed No. 12 Penn State to pull away and earn an 11-5 win Thursday (April 9) at Penn State Lacrosse Field. Sophomore Jess Angerman led the Wolverines with two goals and an assist, while sophomore Kelly Schlansker added a pair of goals and sophomore Anna Schueler tallied U-M's fifth goal.
The early minutes of the game saw solid offensive possessions for both teams, but neither team could manage a goal until the 22:41 mark when Penn State's Madison Cyr opened up the scoring.
Michigan responded with back-to-back goals a minute apart. Sophomore Sophie duPhily fed Angerman from the elbow as Angerman cut around the crease, caught the pass and buried the shot (20:55). Schlansker then gave the Maize and Blue a one-goal lead on a solo drive to the cage (19:54).
PSU's Maggie Gallagher and Schlansker swapped goals, and U-M maintained a 3-2 lead at the 14:14 mark. Schlansker's goal started with a long pass in transition from sophomore Margaret Metzger to Schlansker behind the cage, where she received the pass and drove around the crease and fired a low shot into the goal.
Out of a media timeout, the Nittany Lions scored immediately, starting a 3-0 run over six and a half minutes. Both teams were scoreless for the final 7:34 of the first half, and PSU took a 5-3 lead into the break.
Out of the locker room, Penn State won the draw and went straight to goal. Michigan goalkeeper Allison Silber made a point-blank save but was unable to corral the ball, and Penn State's Steph Lazo put back the rebound goal.
The Nittany Lions added two more goals to make it six unanswered goals and take an 8-3 lead with 23:53 to play. Michigan was then able to maintain possession and work its offense, eventually leading to a free-position goal from Angerman at the 12:56 mark, making it 8-4.
With Penn State leading 9-4, Angerman connected with Schueler cutting down the middle to help the Wolverines pull within four, 9-5, with 6:38 remaining in the game. The Nittany Lions notched two more goals before the final buzzer to secure their fifth straight win.
Silber finished the game with a season-high 12 saves, including seven in the second half.
Next up, the Wolverines will play their second of three straight road games when they travel to South Bend, Indiana, to take on No. 13 Notre Dame in their non-conference finale on Sunday (April 12) at 1 p.m.
NOTES
• With their points today, Jess Angerman (2G, 1A) and Anna Schueler (1G) have each tallied at least one point in each of the last 12 games. Schueler is the only Wolverine to score at least one goal in each of those 12 games.
• With her two caused turnovers, Madeline Dion continues to lead Michigan with 24, which is a U-M record for most in a season.
• Kim Coughlan had a career-high three ground balls.
• U-M goalie Allison Silber made a season-high 12 saves. Her career-high 14 saves came at Penn State in last season's meeting between the Wolverines and Nittany Lions.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Jennifer Ulehla
On the team coming out strong ... "This was an important game for us because we've been talking about coming out hard. Penn State is an incredibly good team and I thought we really came out with the right mentality and we competed today, especially in that first half. I think we grew a tremendous amount. I'm really proud of this group."
On the team staying engaged for 60 minutes ... "We made big headway when it comes to competing for 60 minutes today. Fatigue did have a factor so we lost a little bit of speed and quickness, especially on the offense in the second half. But, in general, they really executed our game plan. We had a difficult time scoring in the second half. They played with a lot of heart today and I think this program took steps forward."
On what she stressed to the team prior to the game ... "We really tried to come out loose. We had four things that were incredibly important to us today. One was to celebrate the little things -- to really enjoy the little things that are so important that we do well -- sometimes we get too caught up in the mistakes that we make. To go along with that, we wanted high energy, and we had that. We celebrated the little things, we had high energy. Also, we wanted to compete for 60 minutes, and we wanted to have fun. Those were the four things and when you take a look at those 60 minutes, take out the fatigue factor, and I think this team played with a lot of passion today. We're learning how to compete at a top level."
On Allison Silber's performance today ... "She was key in the cage -- I think in the first half, but even more so in the second half. Defensively, I thought our defense played so much better today, which also gives Silber better opportunities to come out with saves because we're working as a unit. There were definitely times when our offense wasn't able to keep possession of the ball and we were fatigued and Penn State was getting better shots off and Silber was coming up with big saves that were keeping us in the game. Penn State broke it open towards the end of the second half, but Silber was a big part of our success today."
On the offense working as a unit ... "We valued the ball, we were able to possess the ball a lot more, and that allowed our defense to rest, which was good since we were playing such a high-pressure defense. Before going into Notre Dame, we'll focus on our shot selection. We possessed the ball and were able to come up with some good looks, but in the second half we weren't shooting as accurately as we would have liked, but that's a process. We'll learn that when we're fatigued we have to stay focused and 'hitch and bury' as we call it."
U-M Sophomore Goalie Allison Silber
On coming out strong ... "We came out here and really wanted to have a lot of energy and fight. The outcome was not our main focus -- we were more focused about staying focused and competing as a team and having fun -- and I think we did that."
On playing well at Penn State two straight years ... "I think it's totally a coincidence. Obviously I'm happy that I'm playing well at Penn State. Today I just stayed calm and watched the ball. When I bring energy I tend to do better and that's what I focused on. Our defense really played a big part in that -- they held them off and kept them from getting great looks. Our defense tired out their offense and when they did get shots off they gave me the best opportunity to save them."
