Michigan Breezes Past No. 20 Rutgers

Friday, October 6

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

(10-2, 5-0Big Ten)

Rutgers

(7-5, 2-2Big Ten)

Rutgers

Michigan

10/6/2017 9:51:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan held No. 20 Rutgers without a shot en route to a 5-0 win -- U-M's seventh in a row and sixth shutout in seven games.
» Meg Dowthwaite tallied two goals, including the game-winner at 18:14, for her second straight multi-goal effort.
» Maggie Bettez and Regan Leavitt, both junior backs, tallied their first collegiate goals; 14 different Wolverine players have scored this season.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #4 Michigan 5, #20 Rutgers 0
Records: U-M (10-2, 5-0 Big Ten), RU (7-5, 2-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 8 -- vs. Stanford (Phyllis Ocker Field), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team earned its seventh straight win in decisive fashion, holding No. 20 Rutgers without a shot en route to a 5-0 win on a rainy Friday evening (Oct. 6) in front of 341 fans at Phyllis Ocker Field. It was the Wolverines' sixth shutout in seven games and kept U-M unbeaten in Big Ten Conference play.

Sophomore Meg Dowthwaite registered two goals -- her second straight multi-goal effort -- to up her season total to a team-best 12 markers, while juniors Maggie Bettez and Regan Leavitt both tallied their first collegiate goals.

Dowthwaite opened the scoring at the 18:14 mark, when she drove the circle from the right side and sent a high reverse chip on goal. Rutgers goalkeeper Gianna Glatz got her stick on it over her head but redirected it behind her and into the cage. Bettez's goal followed late in the half, at 31:48, on a corner rebound when graduate student Esther de Leijer's shot hit the left post and bounced to Bettez, who had inserted and was in prime position to knock it into the cage.

Dowthwaite struck again early in the second half, at the 37:10 mark, after receiving a 50-yard pass from senior Katie Trombetta all alone inside the Rutgers defensive 25. Dowthwaite carried the ball into the circle, pulling the goalkeeper out, and sent another reverse chip to the board. It was her third multi-goal game of the season.

Freshman Kayla Reed converted on the Wolverines' first penalty-stroke attempt of the season just 1:24 later, at 38:34, after graduate student Carly Bennett was hauled down in front of the cage to earn the call. Reed beat Glatz to the left side for her third goal of the season.

Leavitt closed out the scoring at 52:36, when she took a pass from junior Leah Cardarelli and, with Glatz pulled out of position, punched it into the open net from the right side. With Bettez and Leavitt's goals tonight, 14 different Wolverine players have scored this season -- seven of whom have scored their first collegiate tallies.

Michigan outshot the Scarlet Knights, 24-0, and outcornered them, 10-0. Senior Sam Swenson and freshman Sidonie LaPlante combined for the shutout, while Glatz posted nine saves and her teammates added two defensive saves.

Michigan (10-2, 5-0 Big Ten) will close out the homestand on Sunday (Oct. 8), hosting No. 12 Stanford at 2 p.m. at Ocker Field. Admission to all regular-season home games is free, and the game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.