The Michigan Daily -- Thursday, October 22, 1998 -- 13A
wM' field hockey
faces nemesis
By Dan Dingerson
Daily Sports Writer
e biggest challenge of the season faces the Michigan field
h y team this weekend. The team travels to No. 7 Penn
State on Friday, and then to No. 18 Ohio State on Sunday.
The two teams constitute the biggest threats to Michigan's
defense of its Big Ten title. The Wolverines were only able to
manage a split with the two at home this year, and now they
have to face them on the road.
Penn State currently holds second place in the Big Ten, and
hi State is third. A sweep of the weekend would assure the
Wolverines at least a share of the Big Ten title.
Even more importantly, a win on Friday would show the
eam that it can compete with and defeat the mighty Lady
Lims. Penn State has already defeated the Wolverines already
Pi this year, and has defeated Michigan six out of seven
imes since Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz took over the
program.
No team in the Big Ten has dominated the Wolverines in
ecent years like the Lions have.
"They match up with us very well, they play the same style
- a fastbreak game," Pankratz said.
The Michigan losses include one in each of the past two Big
Ten tournaments. Last year, the loss was in the championship
lame and kept the Wolverines out of the NCAA tournament.
other obstacle that the Wolverines will have to overcome
s 7n State's home dominance - the Lions have won 19
traight in Happy Valley.
Although the game against the Lions is a critical matchup
or the Wolverines, they must be careful to remember their
pponent on Sunday - the powerful Buckeyes.
The Wolverines have won three straight against Ohio State
ncluding a 1-0 victory on Oct. 9 in Ann Arbor. None of the
hree =wins were in Columbus, though, the site of last year's
one'loss to the Buckeyes, and the site of this Sunday's game.
The Buckeyes will be trying to stay in the Big Ten race, and
i vj tory over the Wolverines will be instrumental in that goal.
W- Buckeyes are looking to return to their midseason form,
'hen they beat Penn State and lost by one goal to Michigan.
n recent weeks, the team has slipped out of the top 10 nation-
illy, and out of the Big Ten lead.
The Wolverine who may be the most crucial over the week-
-nd might be senior captain Amy Philbrook. The team leader
issed the home meetings against Penn State and Ohio State
ecause of a knee injury, but should be back to full strength
ow.
Philbrook is second on the team in goals and is one of the
i st on-field leaders. Her tying goal last Sunday against
iichigan State marked her return to the team, and helped to
'netgize her teammates. Her presence this weekend could lead
o the Wolverines playing a stronger game than they did in the
earns' prior meetings.
Despite the strong play of her replacements two weeks ago,
hilbrook's injury required a major adjustment by the team.
fhis,time, the Wolverines go into the games with a full roster
nd a great deal of confidence.
After the first loss to the Nittany Lions, the Wolverines were
nxious to play them again, and felt that they would earn a win
h they traveled to Penn State.
Wey win, the Wolverines should be cautious as they know
hey will probably have to face Penn State again in the Big Ten
oumtament. For a team that tends to focus on the present, it is
gamble they will be more than happy to take.
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Northeastem News (Northeastern U.)
BOSTON, Mass. (U-WIRE) - With
conference hopes and national recogni-
tion on the line, the Northeastern field
hockey team went out and won two big
games this week, defeating Stanford and
Maine, 1-0 and 3-2, respectively.
The win at Maine on Sunday was
especially huge, raising the Huskies'
conference record to 3-1 and keeping
them right in the hunt for the top-four
position needed to qualify for the
America East tournament in November.
"Maine was a tough game for us,"said
coach Cheryl Murtagh, who raised her
career record against the Black Bears to
11-0-1. "It was a big game for them
since it was homecoming, but we were
ready to play. We showed we have the
confidence to win these types of games:"
But, the victory did not come easily,
Maine had a chance to win on the last
play of the game.
With no time remaining, Northeastern
allowed Maine to get a penalty-corner
shot off, but junior Jackie Carl blocked
the ball and cleared it for the win.
The Huskies now look to move up
from No. 12 in the polls this week.
Freshman goalie Kathleen Madaus
stopped nine shots to-secure the win.
including four down the stretch.
"They put a lot of pressure on her, but
she held her ground," said senior Tori
Calio. "I have definite confidence in her.
She organizes the defense real well and
has become a leader back there."
The win gave the Huskies four
straight and seven of their past eight.
Last Wednesday, the Huskies had to
Irney spot
deal with the weather as well as the
-Stanford pressure in their victory at
Parsons Field. The weather was so bad
that the field was flooded throughout
most of the game.
The lone goal was scored by senior
Hilary McHugh"s penalty-corner shot:
early in the second half, giving her a;
team-leading nine goals on the season:
The Cardinal defense was able to get a
piece of the shot as it dribbled past"
Stanford goalie Meg Crowley.
"She really has come into her own,
Calio said of McHugh. "We rely on
Hilary and she has picked us up."
"Hilary has played great," said
Murtagh. "She has stepped up her play
and she has been helping on the attack,
which has been very important. She also
has been making good decisions for us.'"
The two wins put the Huskies itt
prime position to make a run at the con-
ference lead, with two key America East
games coming up. The first is the home'
coming game tomorrow against
Vermont at Parsons Field.
The second, on Sunday, is the all-
important battle with cross-town rival
Boston University at Nickerson Field.
With Boston's 4-1 conference record,
slightly better than the Huskies, the
intensity in Brighton figures to be even
greater.
"BU is always a big game" said
Danilecki, named America East player
of the week this week. "But we definite-
ly have to win these two games this.'
week. It's going to be important to win
our conference games the rest of the way
because teams like Delaware and UNH
have been playing so well."
FILE PHOTO
This weekend the Michigan field hockey team faces Its biggest challenge of the season when it takes
on No.7 Penn State and No. 18 Ohio State on the road. The Nittany bons and the Buckeyes also are
the No. 2 and No.3 teams respectively in the conference.
Philbrook returns to lead Wolverines
into Happy Valley
The Wolverines will try to avenge their worst defeat of the season tomorrow when
they face Penn State on the road. Michigan will be led by captain Amy Philbrook,
who is returning from an knee injury. The senior missed two games with a hyperex-
tended knee, and saw limited playing time in another contest. Philbrook, who com-
peted in the Junior World Cup in Seoul, South Korea, is a candidate for regional All-
American.
Philbrook's season stats:
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Goals -9 (2nd on team)
Assists - 2
Total Points - 20 (2nd)
game winning goals - 3 (1st)
I v e a