Wolverines Surge in Second Half to Rout California

Sunday, September 4

Berkeley, Calif.

Noon PT

Michigan

(3-1)

California

(0-3)

Michigan

California

Carly Bennett

9/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Leah Howard

» No. 10 Michigan scored four goals in the second half, including three in a narrow 4:08 span midway through the frame, to defeat California, 5-0, in Berkeley.
» Carly Bennett and Courtney Enge netted two goals apiece, while Bree Bednarski tallied her first collegiate marker; Enge posted three goals over the two-game weekend.
» Goalkeepers Sam Swenson and Claire Stemper faced no shots on goal in the combined shutout effort; it was Stemper's collegiate debut.

Site: Berkeley, Calif. (Underhill Field)
Score: #10 Michigan 5, California 0
Records: U-M (3-1), UC (0-3)
Next U-M Match: Saturday, Sept. 10 -- vs. Villanova (Phyllis Ocker Field), 1 p.m.

BERKELEY, Calif. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team scored a season-high five goals, including four in the second half, to cruise to a 5-0 win against California on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 4) at the Golden Bears' Underhill Field. It was the Wolverines' second shutout win of the season.

After just three combined shots and one penalty corner between the two teams in the first half, the Wolverines broke the game open with three goals over a narrow 4:08 span midway through the second. Senior/junior Carly Bennett and senior Courtney Enge tallied two goals apiece in the contest, while freshman Bree Bednarski netted the first of her collegiate career.

"We played a full 70 minutes of hard, intense hockey," said head coach Marcia Pankratz. "We set the pace in the first half and really wore them down in the second as we started to finish our opportunities. I think our fitness and work ethic had a lot to do with it. We just outworked them. So, I'm really pleased with our effort today."

Bennett scored the game-winning goal late in the opening half, at 28:08, after intercepting a pass at midfield and surging through the two Cal defenders to bear down, one on one, against goalkeeper Kori Griswold. With Griswold stepping out to challenge to the left side, Bennett fired a shot across to the lower right corner for her first tally of the season and the second game-winner of her career.

Michigan picked up the pace with continued pressure in the Golden Bear 25 midway through the second half before finally breaking through on a penalty-corner opportunity -- its third of the game -- at the 54:23 mark. Enge inserted the ball and was in perfect position, all alone, when the rebound off of senior Sina Lampe's direct shot rolled to the left side, allowing her to tap it into the open cage.

The Wolverines struck again less than two minutes later, at 56:55, when Bennett picked up a pass from Lampe in stride, carried it into the circle from the left side and sent a diving, sweeping shot to the opposite corner of the cage. The play created her second one-on-one with Griswold of the game, and the beat the Golden Bear goalkeeper on the inside.

Bednarski followed with a similar goal just 1:36 later, at the 58:31 mark, when she accepted a pass from senior captain Eliza Stein on the left side and drove a tight-angle, cross-cage shot to the right side board.

Michigan kept the pressure on the Golden Bears late, drawing four corners in the final two minutes of play, and added one more goal on a corner rebound with time expired. Lampe's direct shot was saved, but California could not clear the rebound as it slowly moved left where Enge pounced on it and lifted it high into the near side of the cage for her second goal of the game and third of the weekend.

Michigan outshot the Golden Bears, 12-2, and outcornered them, 7-0. Junior Sam Swenson and freshman Claire Stemper -- in her collegiate debut -- saw no shots on goals in the combined shutout effort, while California's Griswold earned four saves.

Tweet of the Game

Beautiful day in Berkeley! 20 minutes until game time. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/MRiwFmrOjE

-- Michigan FieldHockey (@umichfldhockey) September 4, 2016

The Wolverines will return to Ann Arbor for their home opener against Villanova at 1 p.m. next Saturday (Sept. 10) at Phyllis Ocker Field. Admission is free to all home Michigan field hockey games.