Michigan
Michigan State (ex)
Wolverines Thump Spartans in Preseason Exhibition
8/19/2017 3:35:00 PM | Field Hockey
» Michigan defeated in-state rival Michigan State, 4-0, in its annual preseason exhibition contest at Ocker Field.
» Emma Way netted a pair of first-half rebound goals, while Halle O'Neill and Meg Dowthwaite scored just 1:54 apart early in the second half.
» The Wolverines held MSU to five total shots, while goalkeeper Sam Swenson earned one save to secure the complete-game shutout.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: Michigan 4, Michigan State 0 (exhibition)
Next U-M Match: Saturday, Aug. 26 -- vs. North Carolina - ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Iowa City, Iowa), 11:30 a.m. CDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team earned a decisive win in its annual preseason exhibition contest, defeating in-state rival Michigan State, 4-0, Saturday afternoon (Aug. 19) at Phyllis Ocker Field.
The Wolverines tallied a pair of goals in each half, taking an early lead in the opening 10 minutes before bracketing the halftime intermission with three goals over a 15-minute stretch. Michigan largely dominated the offensive stats, outshooting the Spartans, 19-5, including a 10-1 differential in the second half, and outcornering them, 5-2.
Junior Emma Way took advantage of rebounds to score both of Michigan's first-half goals, netting the game-winner at the 9:55 mark. After sophomore Guadalupe Fernandez Lacort's slick reverse chip from the top of the circle was rebounded to the right post, Way corralled the ball and banged it into the near side of the cage. Late in the half she was in a similar place to collect the ball after an MSU defensive save kicked to the right. Way again found the near side of the cage at 33:57 to pad the Wolverines' halftime lead.
Michigan scored twice within a two-minute span early in the second stanza to pull away. Freshman Halle O'Neill -- squaring off against her older sister, Madison, in her first collegiate competition -- rocketed in a hard shot from the top of the circle for her first, albeit unofficial, goal at 44:17. Sophomore Meg Dowthwaite followed with another tally just 1:54 later, taking a cross-circle pass from freshman Kragen Metz on the left side and knocking it to the board.
Despite missing several veteran players -- all midfielder and backs -- the Wolverines were stout on defense. Senior goalkeeper Sam Swenson made one save midway through the second half to earn the complete-game shutout. Spartan goalkeeper Katie Miller posted 10 saves, while her backfield added a pair of defensive saves.
Michigan will kick off the season next weekend, traveling to Iowa City, Iowa, for the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolverines will open play against North Carolina at 11:30 a.m. CDT on Saturday (Aug. 26) before taking on Wake Forest at 11:30 a.m. Sunday (Aug. 27). Both games will be held at Iowa's Grant Field.
