BB - September 7, 2010

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

8B - September 7, 2010 The Michigan Daily - mithigandailycom

'M' suffers loss
to NoC. 5 UConn
Field hockey team North Carolina.
"You're not going to get better
has been defeated by without playing the best," Pan-
kratz said. "We want to be one of
three top-six teams the best."
But in the next several weeks,
this season the Wolverines' outlook reverses
completely.
By ALEX HERMANN Michigan returns home for it
Daily Sports Writer first game at the Phyllis Ocker
Field Hockey Field on Friday
Playing the best in the country against James Madison.
certainly has its advantages. It won't take to the road again
But for the Michigan field hock- until the opening of Big Ten sea-
ey team, these advantages have yet son on September 26 against Penn
to include winning. State.
The Wolverines lost 2-0 at No. Actually, eleven of the Wolver-
5 Connecticut on Sunday - their ines next 13 contests are in Ann
third loss to a top-six team this Arbor, which is in stark contrast to
season. the six home games Michigan had
Against the Huskies,. Michigan all of last season.
was shut out for the second time
in four games despite being out-
shot by just one, 9-10.
The Wolverines were also
unable to capitalize on a 5-3
penalty-corner advantage.
In fact, an inability to put the
ball into the back of the net has
plagued Michigan through the
first four games of the season,
having scored just twice in the
team's first four games.
"They finished, we didn't,"
Michigan coach Marcia Pan-
kratz said after the game.
One potential explanation
for the team's offensive woes is
its youth.
Michigan (0-4) has nine true
freshman and one redshirt
freshman on a roster comprised
of 22 players.
Of those players, many have
already begun seeing increased 1432 W
roles this season.
Freshmen Rachael Mack
and Michelle Roberts both
received their first starts of the mus
year against Connecticut (3-0),
while freshman midfielder Mal-
lory Albini has started every 11:00 am
game this year under Pankratz. Free <
Two other first-year players and friend
have made contributions in a Tues
reserve role.
"When you have transition,
you're going to have growing Young Life Coll
pains," Pankratz said. "But Questions? Lini
everybody is really contribut-s Q eios? i
. s£ x. call 662-44(
ing at some point."
The team's lack of offensive
potency could also be attribut-
ed to the early-season schedule,
which includes the Huskies, No.
6 Wake Forest and top-ranked
defending national champion

ROBINSON
From Page 1B
junior tight end Kevin Koger said.
"You didn't see anybody droop.
That was really big for us. We're
more mature this year, we know
more of the offense."
The Wolverines had the ball for
nearly 14 more minutes than Con-
necticut. In the second half, the
Huskies had just three posses-
sions. The Huskies had nine pos-
sessions the entire game.
Entering the season opener,
it was widely assumed that the
defense would be an area of con-
cern for Michigan. The Wolver-
ines' strong running game helped
that perceived weakness.
"(It's) gotta help them," run-
ning backs coach Fred Jackson
said of the defense. "They're not
out there as many snaps. When
you do that it helps tremendous-
ly because now they're playing
40-50 snaps instead of 70 snaps.
If we've got anything we need to
improve on, itgives them a chance
to just get collected and be able to

be better as a unit."
After the game, defensive play-
ers were going up to fifth-year
senior offensive lineman Steve
Schilling and thanking him for
how well the offense played. Sat-
urday, the defense had a chance to
regroup, a luxury the unit wasn't
afforded during Rodriguez's first
two years at Michigan. Turnovers
and short drives kept the Wolver-
ines' defense on the field a lot.
The Wolverines' ability to con-
vert 14 of 19 third downs and avoid
penalties and turnovers, allowed
the Michigan offense to get into a
groove and continue drives - four
of which were 75-yards or longer.
"The first two years you (saw)
we had a lot of three-and-outs,"
Koger said. "That was a big thing
they were emphasizing this year
- converting third downs. That
was a key for us today, keeping our
defense fresh."
Not once did the Wolverines go
three-and-out against Connecti-
cut.
It helped that Michigan has the
dangerous Robinson to employ on
third downs. The Huskies defense

SAM WOLSON/Daily
Senior Martell Webb celebrates with a group of Michigan football players at the
Wolverines' 30-10 win over Connecticut on Saturday.
was chasing Robinson in week Rodriguez's current quarterback
one. Notre Dame's 3-4 scheme, led is fifth in the country in rush-
by sophomore linebacker Manti ing, albeit after just one week of
Te'o, now faces that tall task. games.
Robinson carried the ball 29 "It's deja vu all over again. West
times, and the Wolverines ran Virginia, Pat White, 3rd down and
the ball a total of 61 times. Rodri- 15 and they run the quarterback
guez's most successful teams at draw," said Esdall, who regularly
West Virginia featured one of faced Rodriguez when they were
the nation's best ground games conference foes. "Here we go
with Pat White and Steve Slaton. again."


0

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RODRIGUEZ
From Page 3B

up blood.
Defensive back Carvin
Johnson, who sprained his
knee against Connecticut, is
"very doubtful," according to
Rodriguez. Redshirt freshman
Thomas Gordon will likely
start in Johnson's place against
Notre Dame, with Floyd Sim-
mons serving as the backup.
Rodriguez also discussed the
status of three players besides
senior cornerback Troy Wool-
folk who didn't play in Satur-
day's game.
Running back Fitz Toussaint
(knee) and WR Junior Heming-
way (hamstring) are uncertain
for Saturday's game until the
staff sees how they look this
week, but Rodriguez hopes they
will be able to play at Notre
Dame.
Reserve defensive back Jared
Van Slyke, who has a clavicle
injury, is out for the season.
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