Michigan
Indiana
Wolverines to Host Indiana for Regular-Season Finale at Ocker Field
4/14/2021 2:46:00 PM | Field Hockey
» No. 3 Michigan will conclude its 2020-21 regular season on Saturday (April 17), hosting Indiana for a non-conference slate at 11 a.m. on Ocker Field.
» The Wolverines captured the Big Ten regular-season title last weekend, defeating Maryland, 2-1, to wrap league play with a perfect 6-0 record.
» Michigan will honor its five graduating seniors prior to Saturday's game; the class contributed to three Big Ten regular-season titles, a Big Ten Tournament title and a trip to the NCAA semifinals over its tenure.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, April 17 -- vs. Indiana (Phyllis Ocker Field), 11 a.m.
TV: Big Ten Network+ | Live Stats | Live Video
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The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (9-2, 6-0 Big Ten) will wrap up its regular season at home on Saturday (April 17), hosting Indiana for a non-conference slate at 11 a.m. at Phyllis Ocker Field. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.
Wolverine Bites
• The Wolverines captured the 2020-21 Big Ten regular-season title with its 2-1 victory at No. 11 Maryland last Saturday (April 10). With its 11 regular-season crowns -- 10 under head coach Marcia Pankratz -- Michigan boasts the second most of any Big Ten school behind Iowa (12). The Wolverines have claimed three of the last four Big Ten regular-season titles, previously winning titles in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018. Six of their league titles have come in outright fashion.
• Michigan posted a perfect 6-0 record in Big Ten play with wins against Indiana (2-1, March 5), Iowa (1-0, March 12), Northwestern (3-2, March 20), Rutgers (1-0, March 26), Michigan State (3-0, April 2) and Maryland (2-1, April 10). The Big Ten is playing a conference-only schedule in 2020-21; in all two-game series this season, only the first contest counts toward the conference standings. U-M is the only unbeaten program in the standings.
• Michigan surged to No. 3 in the latest NFHCA national rankings -- its highest ranking since similarly holding the third spot late in the 2017 season. U-M has six wins over teams currently ranked among the top 15 -- No. 2 Iowa (1-0), No. 6 Rutgers (1-0, 1-0), No. 8 Northwestern (3-2) and No. 12 Maryland (2-1, 2-0).
• The Wolverines will honor their five graduating seniors -- graduate student Clare Brush and seniors Maya Gompper, Abbey Hutton, Kragen Metz and Kayla Reed -- prior to Sunday's regular-season finale. Over the last four seasons, the quintet was contributed to a 57-19 record, three Big Ten regular-season titles, a Big Ten Tournament title and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the NCAA semifinals in 2017.
• Michigan has won six straight games and earned shutout wins in five over the stretch. U-M leads the nation with a .889 save percentage and ranks third with a 0.51 team goals-against average. Junior goalkeeper Anna Spieker similarly leads the nation with her personal .900 save percentage and lists third with a 0.46 GAA. She boasts 45 saves over just five total goals allowed.
• Sophomore Sarah Pyrtek owns Michigan's scoring lead this season with five goals, an assist and 11 points. She boasts three game-winning goals, including both against MSU with markers in the opening five minutes of each contest. Pyrtek also scored the late game-winning goal in the opener against Iowa and tallied the go-ahead marker in the fourth quarter against Northwestern (March 20).
• Freshman Lora Clarke was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after posting the game-winning goal off a tip at the 44:44 mark in Saturday's game at Maryland. She also assisted on the game-winner in the second quarter on Sunday. It was both her first collegiate goal and first collegiate assist.
• Marcia Pankratz owns a 313-135 career record over her 21 seasons at the helm of the Michigan program (1996-2004, '09-19). She ranks 12th all-time among NCAA Division I coaches with a .696 win percentage --- eighth among active coaches -- and lists 18th in total wins.
Scouting the Opposition
Indiana -- The Hoosiers are 0-12 on the season after dropping two games to Penn State, 1-0 and 3-0, last weekend at Penn State. Emma Martin and Mary Kate Kesler share the team lead with one goal apiece, while goalkeeper Shannon McNally carries a 3.80 goals-against average and .646 save percentage. Michigan boasts a 19-8 advantage in the all-time series against Indiana and has won 10 of the last 11 meetings, including a 2-1 decision in its season opener in March.
Last Time Out
Michigan swept its road trip to No. 11 Maryland, defeating the Terps, 2-1 and 2-0, last weekend in College Park. The Wolverines clinched the Big Ten regular-season title in the conference game on Saturday (April 10). Freshman Lora Clarke broke a 1-1 tie with the game-winning goal on a tip in the waning seconds of the third quarter. Sophomore Sarah Pyrtek also scored in the weekend's first game, while junior Tina D'Anjolell and freshman Anouk Veen tallied goals in the second. Junior goalkeeper Anna Spieker posted nine saves in the two-game series. [ Recaps: Game 1 | Game 2 ]
Up Next
Wed-Sat., April 20-24 -- at Big Ten Tournament (Iowa City, Iowa)
