Wolverines Net Game-Winner in Final Minute to Rally Past No. 20 Wake Forest

Sunday, August 31

Iowa City, Iowa

11:00 AM CT

Michigan

(2-1, 0-0)

Wake Forest

(0-3, 0-0)

Wake Forest

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Net Game-Winner in Final Minute to Rally Past No. 20 Wake Forest

8/31/2025 3:15:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 7 Michigan scored twice in the fourth quarter, netting the game-winning goal with 27 seconds left in regulation, to beat No. 20 Wake Forest, 2-1, at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
» Abby Tamer deflected a pass from outside the circle for the game-winner; Juliette Manzur scored the equalizer at 47:14.
» It was Kristi Gannon Fisher's first career win as the Wolverines' head coach.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team scored twice in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner with 27 seconds left, to rally past No. 20 Wake Forest, 2-1, in its ACC/Big Ten Challenge finale on Sunday (Aug. 31) at Iowa's Grant Field. It was the first win in the tenure of new head coach Kristi Gannon Fisher.

Graduate student Abby Tamer netted the game-winning goal at 59:33 after Michigan pushed down the field in the final minute following a Wake Forest green card -- the only card issued in the game. Freshman Maxine Rogge hammered a free hit into the circle near the right sideline at the Wake 25, and Tamer deflected it high to the opposite side of the cage to give U-M its first lead of the game.

Despite trailing for much of the game, the Wolverines largely dominated possession in the second half but struggled to break through inside the circle. Junior Juliette Manzur set the tone immediately in the fourth quarter, drawing a penalty corner just nine seconds into the frame before minutes later scoring the tying goal at the 47:14 mark.

Sophomore Anjolie Norton set up the tally with a long pass up the middle through the midfield; it hit a couple sticks to redirect the ball to the left post, where Manzur corralled it, turned and fired it cross cage to the lower right corner. It was the third time in as many years that Manzur recorded Michigan's first goal of the season.

Wake Forest scored its goal at the 10:13 mark in the first quarter with a bit of bad luck for Michigan. Wake played the ball into the circle from the Michigan 25, and as the Wolverines' backs moved toward the circle entry on the right side, a Demon Deacon player reached out and tipped it to the left behind the defense and into the lower corner of the cage.

The Wolverines turned away a few solid Wake scoring opportunities after tying the game early in the fourth quarter, including a penalty corner four minutes later and a loose ball with less than four minutes to go. The Demon Deacons fed the ball into the circle, but the attacking player couldn't control it as it bounced to the front of the cage and graduate student goalkeeper Caylie McMahon stepped out to clear it.

In all, Wake Forest outshot the Wolverines 11-9 in the game, while Michigan led in corners 7-6. McMahon and sophomore goalkeeper Hala Silverstein played a half apiece and combined for three saves, while Wake goalkeeper Ruby Butterfield stopped three of five U-M shots on goal.

Michigan (1-1) will host Bellarmine for its 2025 home opener at 1 p.m. next Sunday (Sept. 7) at Phyllis Ocker Field. Admission is free for all regular-season home games, and the contest will be streamed live on B1G+.