No. 5 Michigan Wins Eighth Straight at KSU
10/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Kent, Ohio - Fifth-ranked Michiagn (10-4) extended its winning streak to eight games with a 3-1 road victory over Kent State Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 9) at Murphy-Mellis Field. The Wolverines held the Golden Flashes to just six shots and only one in the second half.
"We had a great opportunity today against another nationally ranked team and just came up a little bit short," Head Coach Kathleen Schanne said.
The Michigan offense caught the Flashes on their heels during the opening possession and scored 32 seconds into the game. With several KSU players out of position, Kelly Fitzpatrick's shot from the right side gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
"We didn't have enough pressure on the ball," said Schanne of the opening minute. "It was a wake-up call for us though and we responded really well to it. We started stepping up to them"
Midway through the first half, the Flashes earned a penalty corner that resulted in Charlotte Muller's fifth goal of the season. Following the insert pass, Rachel Miller took a shot at the top of the circle that was blocked, but Muller was there to get the deflection on the left side and capitalized with a low shot to tie the game 1-1.
Two minutes later Miller and Laurie Wilkins penetrated the circle and earned a penalty stroke. Miller directed her shot to left edge of the goal, but Paige Pickett made a kick save.
With just over two minutes left in the half, Michigan earned its first penalty corner and scored off of a rebound by Stephanie Hoyer. Midway through the second half, Fitzpatrick made it a two-goal lead (3-1) with her second score of the game. She made a steal in KSU territory forcing a one-on-one with goalkeeper Kara Copeland.
"Defensively, we didn't organize quick enough," said Schanne of the three Wolverine goals.
During the final 15 minutes of the game, the Flashes were able to put offensive pressure on, but did not get many clean looks at the goal.
"We turned the ball over a little too often when we got it inside their circle," Schanne said. "With 10 minutes to go, I called a timeout and said let's attack and I think we did a good job of that."
Fitzpatrick's two goals brought her season total up to six.
Three of Kent State's five losses have come to nationally ranked opponents (Delaware, American, Michigan).
The Golden Flashes (9-5, 4-1 MAC) return to Murphy-Mellis Field for a pair of Mid-American Conference games this weekend. KSU takes on Miami Saturday (Oct. 13) and Ball State Sunday (Oct. 14) with 1 p.m. start times.
