i
The Michigan Daily - SportsTuesday - September 3, 2002 - 21A
Deacons beat
Blue for third-
straight time
By Ban Steer
Daily Sports Writer
Wake Forest is becoming a thorn in the Michigan
field hockey team's side.
For the second straight year, the Demon Deacons
handed the Wolverines their first loss of the season,
recording a 2-0 shutout during the ACC/Big Ten Chal-
lenge in Chapel Hill this past weekend. The loss gave
the Wolverines a weekend split after they beat North
Carolina 2-0 on Saturday.
Michigan (1-1), the defending national champion,
has now lost three straight to Wake Forest since its
thrilling 3-2 double-overtime victory in the first round
of the 1999 NCAA tournament.
The Wolverines had numerous opportunities to score
against Wake Forest goalkeeper Katie Ridd, but they
were unable to take advantage of 10 shots and five
penalty corners.
"We got off a lot of shots, but we just didn't finish in
the circle," senior forward Molly Powers said. "It was
very similar to our opener against them last year when
we lost a tough one in overtime."
The Demon Deacons clung to a precarious 1-0 lead
for nearly the entire game, until Heather Auginbaugh
sealed the win with a rebound score on Michigan goal-
tender Molly Maloney just before the final minute.
Despite the tough loss, playing against a perennial
power like Wake Forest early in the season will make
Michigan a stronger team.
Defensive effort wavers for
stickers over the weekend
By Albert Kim
Daily Sports Writer
Defense wins championships, as
the Michigan field hockey team
found out during its national title
run last year. Michigan can only
hope that this year there will be
more days like Saturday, and fewer
days like Sunday..
After playing a virtually flawless
defensive game on Saturday against
North Carolina and allowing just one
shot on goal, the Wolverines faltered
against a strong Wake Forest attack
on Sunday, yielding 18 shots. The
Wolverines walked away from the Big
Ten/ACC challenge in Chapel Hill,
NC with a 1-1 record to start their
championship defense.
"Wake Forest came at us with more
on Sunday," sophomore defender
Kate Dillon said.
Michigan allowed Kelly Dolton
and Wake Forest too many chances
and penalty corners to win. Maloney
was tested early and often, and
despite her career high four saves, the
team fell 2-0.
"She played really well for us,"
freshman defender Lori Hillman said.
"She's a good leader and keeps every-
one in good position."
Communication was another prob-
lem in the Wake Forest game.
"I felt stronger on Saturday," Dillon
said. "On Sunday, I think we stopped
communicating a little bit, and I was
more hesitant to go to the ball."
The shutout win on Saturday was
impressive, given the three vital play-
ers that Michigan lost from of its
championship defense of a year ago.
The departures of starting goalie
Maureen Tasch and top defenders
Catherine Foreman and Laura Stinson
left formidable holes in Michigan's
defense. For many teams, losing
those players would require time for
the new defense to gel.
The Wolverines aren't buying that
theory though. Coming off a cham-
pionship has changed their perspec-
tive, and the Wolverines aren't
expecting any drop-offs in chem-
istry or talent.
"I think we have a really great out-
look this year," Dillon said. "We're
really strong and cohesive as a
defense."
Juniors Stephanie Johnson and
Kristi Gannon are expected to
anchor a talented and deep defense,
and Maloney will be looked upon to
carry the load in goal. According to
Dillon, Maloney has comparable
experience to Tasch, and will be up
to the challenge.
JESICA YURASEK/Daily
Freshman defenseman Lori Hillman fights the weather and the U.S. National Team on Aug. 23.
"It definitely sets the tempo for the rest of the season
and gives us a high standard so we know what we need
to work on;' Powers said.
North Carolina, another field hockey powerhouse,
suffered its first-ever home loss to Michigan as the
Wolverines improved their all-time record against the
Tar Heels to 2-5.
Junior forward April Fronzoni provided all the scor-
ing for Michigan, falling just one goal shy of her sec-
ond straight hat trick against North Carolina.
"I think our team chemistry is great right now
because of the new system," Fronzoni said. "The
defenders and midfielders did a great job of getting the
ball to the forwards."
Michigan's new system is a 4-4-2 line formation, in
which the defenders and midfielders can get the ball to
the forwards, allowing the Wolverines to use their
speed as a weapon.
The Wolverines will now return to And Arbor for a
nine-game homestand. Michigan's only other match
this year 1-0 exhibition contest against the U.S. nation-
al team. Kristi Gannon, the Wolverines' No. 2 scorer
from a year ago, put in the lone Team USA goal to beat
her alma mater.
"It was more of a friendly match," Powers said.
"Kristi is always a tough competitor, and it was inspir-
ing to see a former teammate on the national team. It
shows where your hard work can lead."