Michigan
Pacific
Week #3: Wolverines to Open Home Slate Against Pacific, Monmouth
9/5/2018 2:20:00 PM | Field Hockey
» No. 7 Michigan kicks off the home portion of its 2018 slate this weekend, hosting Pacific at 7 p.m. on Friday and Monmouth at noon on Sunday.
» Emma Way has scored the first goal in each of the last three games and leads the Wolverines with four markers on the season.
» U-M is 15-8 all-time in home openers at Phyllis Ocker Field and boasts an impressive 65-16 home record over the last seven seasons.
THIS WEEK
Fri., Sept. 7 -- vs. Pacific (Phyllis Ocker Field), 7 p.m.
Free Admission | Live Stats
Sun., Sept. 9 -- vs. Monmouth (Phyllis Ocker Field), noon
Free Admission | Live Stats | Live Video
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
• Game Day Information: Phyllis Ocker Field Information | Free Admission
The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (1-3) will open the home portion of its 2018 slate this weekend, kicking off a four-game homestand with a pair of non-conference games. The Wolverines will face Pacific (2-2) on Friday (Sept. 7) at 7 p.m. before welcoming Monmouth (2-2) at noon on Sunday (Sept. 9) at Phyllis Ocker Field. Admission is free to all regular-season home games.
PROMOTIONS
• Pacific: Team Poster Giveaway | More Promotions
• Monmouth: Cardiac Awareness Game, Stress Ball & Schedule Cup Giveaway | More Promotions
WOLVERINE BITES
• Michigan owns an impressive 170-53 record at its home facility since its 1995 inauguration, including a stout 65-16 mark over the last seven seasons. The Wolverines posted an 11-2 record at Ocker Field last season, outscoring their home opposition, 43-5. In home openers at Ocker Field, U-M is 15-8.
• The Wolverines led the nation in total attendance in 2017 (7,268) and ranked second nationally with a 559 average crowd size. Michigan has ranked top-three nationally in both total attendance and average attendance in three of the four seasons since its Ocker Field renovation.
• Senior Emma Way has scored in each of the last three games -- tallying the game's first goal in each -- and leads the Wolverines with four goals and eight points this season. She posted her fourth career multi-goal game with two markers at UMass (Aug. 31), including the early game-winner -- the ninth of her career.
• Sophomore Halle O'Neill has also scored in three of the Wolverines' four games this season and more than halfway to her 2017 goal total (four). O'Neill, who moved to the center back position this season, is a key player on Michigan's offensive and defensive corner units.
• Freshman goalkeeper Anna Spieker posted 11 saves, including seven in the second half, in the Wolverines' loss at No. 1 UConn last Sunday (Sept. 2). It was the most saves by a Michigan goalie since Sam Swenson tallied 14 in a double-overtime win at Northwestern in 2015. Spieker also earned one save at UMass to earn the shutout and her first collegiate victory in the Wolverine cage.
• Seven Wolverines have made their official collegiate debuts this season: sophomore/freshmen Maya Gompper, Abbey Hutton and Emma Tamer, and freshmen Katie Anderson, Kathryn Peterson, Sofia Southam and Anna Spieker. Of note, Peterson and Hutton have started all four games in the midfield and backfield, respectively, while Gompper and Spieker have started three games apiece.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Pacific -- The Tigers are 2-2 this season after splitting a pair of two home games last week, beating Providence, 2-1, last Monday (Aug. 27) before falling to Miami (Ohio), 3-1, on Thursday (Aug. 30). Rylee Comeau and Kriekie Van Wyck share Pacific's team lead with two goals and an assist apiece, while goalkeeper Marlise Van Tonger owns a 1.75 goals-against average and .821 save percentage. The Wolverines own a perfect 9-0 record in the all-time series against Pacific, including a 5-0 decision in the most-recent meeting in 2015.
Monmouth -- The Hawks enter the weekend with a 2-2 record after splitting each of their opening two weekends, most recently defeating Hofstra, 2-0, on Sept. 2, and falling to Columbia, 3-1, on Sept. 3. Hanna Kelly leads Monmouth with three goals on the season, while goalkeeper Gabi Millan carries a 2.45 goals-against average and .655 save percentage. Sunday will mark the first-ever meeting between Michigan and Monmouth.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wolverines split a pair of non-conference road games last weekend, cruising to a 5-0 win at UMass (Aug. 31) before dropping a close 2-1 decision at No. 1 UConn (Sept. 2). Way netted three goals on the weekend, junior Meg Dowthwaite tallied a goal and two assists, and Spieker posted 12 saves in the Wolverine cage. [ Recaps: Massachusetts | Connecticut ]
UP NEXT
Fri., Sept. 14 -- vs. Rutgers (Phyllis Ocker Field), 7 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 16 -- vs. Central Michigan (Phyllis Ocker Field), 2 p.m.
