Michigan
Rutgers
Maize and Blue to Travel East for B1G Matchups at Rutgers, Penn State
10/14/2026 1:40:00 PM | Field Hockey
By Talia Black
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (6-6, 1-4 Big Ten) will resume conference play this weekend, heading east to take on Rutgers (7-6, 1-2 Big Ten) at 3 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 16) at the Bauer Track/Field Hockey Complex in Piscataway, N.J., before facing Penn State (8-4, 2-1 Big Ten) at noon on Sunday (Oct. 18) at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex in State College, Pa. Both games will be streamed live on B1G+.
Notes
• The Wolverines are 6-6 on the season with a 1-4 record in Big Ten play after splitting last weekend's matches. The Maize and Blue fell 5-2 to No. 2 Maryland on Friday (Oct. 9) before ending the homestand with a 2-1 win over then-No. 18 Monmouth on Sunday (Oct. 11).
• Natalie Millman added to her season goals total with a pair against the Terrapins, leading both teams with three shots on the day. Esmée de Willigen and Juliette Manzur each scored a goal in Sunday's matchup, leading the Wolverines to a win over the Hawks and snapping a four-game losing skid. The trio now leads the team with four goals apiece. Millman and de Willigen have also surpassed their previous season-high goal totals after their performances last weekend.
• The Maize and Blue defense came up big against Monmouth, with goalkeeper Hala Silverstein notching two saves and Abby Burnett recording her first defensive save of the season. U-M held the Hawks without a penalty corner in the first half and only three on the day. Michigan has drawn 76 penalty corners this season, ranking 28th nationally in corners per game (6.33), while allowing opponents only 45 total corners through 12 games. The Wolverines have not conceded a penalty stroke this season.
• Rutgers heads into the weekend having won back-to-back games, including a 3-2 shootout victory over Ohio State on Oct. 9. The Scarlet Knights are led by forward Olivia Fraticelli, who leads the team with 11 goals, which ranks third in the conference. Midfielder Anna Cogdell ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 23 shots on goal while Fraticelli is close behind at 20. Goalkeeper Emily Nicholls leads the conference in total saves (56) and averages 4.31 per game.
• U-M faced Rutgers twice last season, meeting at home in a 2-1 regular-season win before squaring off again in the Big Ten Tournament, where Michigan earned a 2-1 double-overtime win to advance to the semifinals. Michigan leads the all-time series 15-4 and has won the last three matchups.
• Penn State enters the weekend on a five-game win streak, highlighted by a pair of 1-0 road victories over Rutgers and Michigan State, with the latter coming in overtime. Goalkeeper Aby Deverka holds a .750 save percentage and has posted six shutouts over 12 games. Her goals-against average of 1.41 ranks No. 25 in the nation and No. 4 in the conference. Forward Ella Gaitan leads the Nittany Lions with 20 points on nine goals and two assists, including 28 shots on goal this season. Midfielder Sienna Dunn leads the NCAA with an assists-per-game average of 1.00.
• Penn State leads 31-27 in the all-time series against the Wolverines. U-M has defeated the Nittany Lions in its last four matchups, including a 2-1 win in last year's home contest.
