Michigan
Michigan State
Wolverines to Open B1G Play with Trips to MSU, CMU
9/16/2026 11:28:00 AM | Field Hockey
By Talia Black
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (3-2, 0-0 Big Ten) will kick off Big Ten play this weekend, hitting the road for a pair of in-state matchups. The Wolverines will face rival Michigan State (3-3, 0-0 Big Ten) on Friday (Sept. 18) at 4 p.m. at Ralph Young Field in East Lansing, Mich., before wrapping up the weekend against Central Michigan (2-5) on Sunday (Sept. 20) at 1 p.m. at Cristy Freese Field in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The Michigan State matchup will air live on Big Ten Network, while the Central Michigan game will stream live on Chippewas All Access.
Notes
• Michigan has claimed three Big Ten regular-season and four tournament titles over the last nine seasons and posted a 48-22 conference record in that span. The Wolverines went 4-4 in conference play and tied for fourth in head coach Kristi Gannon Fisher's first season, with notable wins against rival Michigan State (5-0, Sept. 19), No. 15 Rutgers (2-1, Oct. 5) and No. 17 Indiana (3-1, Oct. 31). U-M defeated Rutgers again with a dramatic 2-1 double-overtime win in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament (Nov. 6) before falling to eventual winner Northwestern, 5-3. Michigan last won the Big Ten Tournament title in 2024.
• The Wolverines have won two of their last three games after splitting their opening weekend contests at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Winston-Salem, N.C. Michigan has outscored opponents 10-5 through five games this season. The Maize and Blue opened the season with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over No. 2 North Carolina (Aug. 28) before falling 2-0 to No. 7 Wake Forest (Aug. 30).
• Seven different Wolverines have found the back of the net this season. Senior Esmée de Willigen leads the way with three goals on four shots on goal after recording a hat trick against Vermont (Sept. 6). Junior Eva Bernardy has scored twice in 2026 while leading the team with 14 shots.
• U-M dropped a 1-0 home contest to undefeated California last Friday (Sept. 11) at Phyllis Ocker Field. Redshirt junior Hala Silverstein recorded a season-high three saves, but the Wolverines were held to one penalty corner and four shots on goal.
• The Wolverines will take a 14-game winning streak against Michigan State into Friday's matchup. The Spartans are 3-3 this season after falling to California 3-2 at home last weekend (Sept. 13). Michigan holds a 50-25-6 advantage in the all-time series. Bianca Pizano leads the Spartans with 10 points this season, while starting goalkeeper Lola Munoz de Verger owns a 2.60 goals-against average and .630 save percentage.
• Central Michigan (2-5) enters the weekend with back-to-back wins against Mercyhurst (9-0, Sept. 11) and Saint Louis (3-2, Sept. 13). The Chippewas will face Kent State on Friday (Sept. 18) before taking on the Wolverines on Sunday (Sept. 20). Mora Rulli leads Central Michigan with 15 points and six goals, while goalkeeper Jenna Billig has recorded 36 saves and one shutout this season. Michigan leads the all-time series 42-15-2 and has won the last two meetings by identical 11-0 scores in 2023 and 2025.
