Wolverines to Kick Off Postseason vs. Northwestern at Big Ten Tournament

» Michigan, the No. 4 seed at the 2021 Big Ten Tournament, will open against Northwestern at 11 a.m. on Thursday (Nov. 4) in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals in Piscataway, N.J.
» The Wolverines are the reigning Big Ten Tournament champions and seek their eighth tournament crown in program history; U-M's seven tournament titles are tied for the most in conference history.
» Michigan is ranked fifth in the nation in scoring average (3.42) and scoring margin (2.34); Sofia Southam ranks second individually with a team-best 18 goals and 1.29 goals-per-game average.

THIS WEEK
Thursday, Nov. 4 -- vs. Northwestern – Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals (Piscataway, N.J.), 11 a.m.
TV: B1G+ | Live Stats | Live Video | Tournament Central | Bracket

• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (13-3) will begin the postseason portion of its 2021 schedule as the No. 4 seed at the Big Ten Conference Tournament. The Wolverines will face No. 5-ranked -- and seeded -- Northwestern (14-4) in the quarterfinals at 11 a.m. on Thursday (Nov. 5) at Bauer Track and Field Hockey Complex in Piscataway, N.J. U-M won the regular-season matchup against Northwestern 2-1 in double overtime. The winner will face No. 1 Iowa in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 5).

2021 Big Ten Tournament Schedule

Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 4-7
Bauer Track/Field Hockey Complex (Piscataway, N.J.)

Wednesday, Nov. 4 • Quarterfinals (B1G+)
Game 1 -- #4 seed Michigan vs. #5 seed Northwestern, 11 a.m.
Game 2 -- #2 seed Rutgers vs. #7 seed Indiana, 2 p.m.
Game 3 -- #3 seed Penn State vs. #6 seed Maryland, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 5 • Semifinals (Big Ten Network)
Game 4 -- #1 Iowa vs. Game 1 Winner, 2 p.m.
Game 5 -- Game 2 Winner vs. Game 3 Winner, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7 • Championship Game (Big Ten Network)
Game 6 -- Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, Noon

Michigan vs. the Big Ten Tournament Field

Indiana: Michigan boasts a 21-8 advantage in the all-time series against Indiana and has won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including a 5-3 decision this season. The Wolverines rallied from an early two-goal deficit with goals from five different players, including three in the second half, to pull away. Michigan is 2-0 against Indiana in Big Ten Tournament games, most recently earning a 3-0 win in the 2012 semifinals.

Iowa: Michigan trails 45-27 in the all-time series against Iowa. U-M has claimed eight of the last 11 meetings, but dropped this season's meeting 2-1 in a shootout. Head coach Marcia Pankratz was a two-time NCAA All-American during her collegiate career at Iowa (1982-85). Michigan holds a 7-5 advantage in Big Ten Tournament games against the Hawkeyes, most recently earning a 2-0 win last season's semifinals.

Maryland: The Terps hold a 19-5 advantage in the all-time series against Michigan, but the Wolverines have claimed three of the last four meetings -- but not the regular-season meeting two weeks ago, which Maryland won 2-1 in Ann Arbor. U-M has faced Maryland only once in Big Ten Tournament play, falling to the Terps 5-1 in the 2015 Big Ten Tournament final.

Northwestern: Michigan trails 34-31 in the all-time series against the Wildcats, but has claimed nine of the last 13 meetings, including a 2-1 double-overtime decision in the regular season -- with sophomore Anouk Veen netting the game-winner off a penalty corner. Michigan owns a 4-2 edge against Northwestern in Big Ten Tournament meetings and has won each of the last two, including a 3-1 decision in the 2018 quarterfinals.

Penn State: Michigan trails 28-24 in the all-time series against PSU. U-M has claimed nine of the last 12 meetings but dropped the regular-season finale, 3-2, in overtime after sacrificing a late lead. PSU holds a narrow 8-7 edge in Big Ten Tournament play, and the Wolverines and Nittany Lions have met six times in the championship game. Penn State claimed a 2-1 decision in last season's quarterfinal matchup. PSU shares the league record -- with Michigan -- with seven tournament titles.

Rutgers: Michigan is 11-1 in the all-time series against Rutgers since 1992 and earned a decisive 3-0 shutout in the regular-season meeting at Ocker Field. Three different Wolverines scored goals, including freshman Abby Tamer with the first goal in the final minute of the first half, while U-M held Rutgers without a corner in the game and no shots in the second half. The Wolverines are 1-0 against Rutgers in Big Ten Tournament competition, earning a 3-0 win in the 2014 first round.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan is the reigning Big Ten Tournament champion and will look to capture its eighth tournament crown in school history. U-M and Penn State share the conference lead with seven tournament titles apiece. The Wolverines won back-to-back crowns in 1999 and 2000, again in 2004 and 2005 and most recently won titles in 2010, 2017 and last spring's 2020-21 season. Michigan has advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game in 14 of the last 23 seasons.

• Michigan lists fifth nationally with a 3.42 scoring average and fifth with a 2.34 scoring margin. Senior Sofia Southam ranked second with a 1.29 goals-per-game average this season -- behind North Carolina's two-time NFHCA National Player of the Year Erin Matson with 1.62.

• Southam has tallied 18 goals in 14 appearances this season -- tied for the 12th best single-season mark in program history and the most for a Wolverine player since Emma Way posted 19 goals in 2018. She boasts four multi-goal games and four game-winners. She entered the season with 11 career goals, while her previous season best was five as a freshman.

• Michigan ranks ninth nationally with a 1.09 goals-against average, while senior goalkeeper Anna Spieker individually lists 14th with a 1.15 GAA. The Wolverines have earned five shutouts with three complete-game efforts for Spieker. With 21 career shutouts, Spieker owns the second spot on Michigan's career leaders list. Sam Swenson (2014-17) owns the program record with 23 career shutouts.

• The Wolverines remain No. 2 in the most recent NFHCA coach poll -- behind No. 1 Iowa. U-M owns eight wins over ranked teams, including No. 1 North Carolina (3-2, Aug. 27) in the season opener and, more recently, No. 6 Northwestern (2-1, Oct. 8), No. 3 Louisville (2-1, Oct. 10) and No. 3 Rutgers (3-0, Oct. 22). The Big Ten Conference boasts six teams in the top 10, six of the top seven spots. [ NFHCA Coaches Poll ]

Last Time Out

Michigan dropped its regular-season finale, falling 3-2 in overtime at No. 7 Penn State, last Friday (Oct. 29). U-M converted on a pair of fourth-quarter penalty corners to rally and take a late lead with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Penn State scored on a late corner of its own and netted the game-winner on a drive into the circle at 67:40 mark. Freshman Alana Richardson and senior Sofia Southam scored U-M's goals. [ Full Recap ]

Up Next

Fri-Sun., Nov. 12-14 -- NCAA First/Second Rounds (Campus Sites)