Wolverines Cannot Overcome Slow Start in Loss at No. 17 Ohio State

Friday, September 15

Columbus, Ohio

4:00 PM

Michigan

(4-3, 0-1)

Ohio State

(7-1, 1-0)

Michigan

Ohio State

Kelsey Reviello (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Cannot Overcome Slow Start in Loss at No. 17 Ohio State

9/15/2023 6:51:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 8 Michigan fell to No. 17 Ohio State, 5-1, in its Big Ten opener.
» Ohio State scored goals within the opening minute of the first and second halves.
» Kelsey Reviello scored U-M's goal on a third-quarter corner for her third goal in as many games.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team could not overcome a sluggish start in its Big Ten Conference opener, falling to No. 17 Ohio State, 5-1, on Friday (Sept. 15) at Buckeye Varsity Field. The defeat snapped U-M's four-game winning streak.

The Buckeyes set the tone with a goal just 38 seconds into the contest, crashing the circle and converting out of a scrum in front of the cage. Michigan gained some sustained momentum inside the OSU 25 following the early goal, but Ohio State added another late in the first quarter, at 12:06, on a redirection from the post to pad its lead to 2-0 entering the halftime break.

Ohio State struck early again in the second half, at the 30:53 mark, with a goal somewhat reminiscent of its first, crashing the Michigan circle and scoring on a redirection near the right post.

Michigan twice put the ball in the cage on penalty corners in the third quarter, but both were deemed too high. Freshman Kelsey Reviello converted on a direct corner shot late in the frame, at 41:42, for her third goal of the season -- and in as many games.

But Ohio State bookended the Michigan goal with two on the penalty corner itself to stymie any Wolverine rally.

Ohio State outshot the Wolverines, 15-6, and outcornered them, 10-4. Junior/sophomore goalkeeper Caylie McMahon earned six saves, while OSU goalkeeper Abby Danson stopped one of two shots on goal.

The Wolverines (4-3, 0-1 Big Ten) will wrap the weekend with a noon game at Kent State on Sunday (Sept. 17) at Murphy-Mellis Field in Kent, Ohio.