The Michigan Daily -- michigandaily.com
September 29, 2014 - 3B
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom September 29, 2014 - 3B
'M' salvages split
Redshirt junior midfielder Colin McAtee and the Michigan men's soccer team moved to 0-1-2 in the Big Ten with Sunday's 1-0 loss to No. 7Penn State.
'M' falls to Penn State, 1-0
with 2-1
Michigan dedicates
field, beats Rutgers
By BEN KIM
For the Daily
With alumnae from teams
one to 41 in the stands for
Facility Dedication Day, the
pressure was heightened for the
Michigan field hockey team to
defend its home field. And the
Wolverines didn't disappoint.
No.14 Michigan (2-1 Big Ten,
7-3 overall) salvaged a weekend
split with a 2-1 win over Rutgers
(0-3, 4-5) on Sunday.
The win came after its first
loss in nearly four weeks in a
2-0 defeat against. Maryland
last Friday.
"The big point of focus was
to stay focused," said Michigan
coach Marcia Pankratz. "To not
get distracted by all the stuff
going on and to play quickly."
The first half was a perpetual
tug of war for control over the
game, though the Wolverines
were able to score early on
their second shot of the game.
Redshirt freshman forward
Carly Bennett scored in the
seventh minute after recovering
a blocked shot from junior
forward Shannon Scavelli.
Michigan was able to maintain
the offensive pressure with
three additional shots, all
coming from penalty corners.
Just when the Wolverines
seemed to have control of the
game, Rutgers came back with
three consecutive corners of
its own. The Scarlet Knights
were able to convert on their
final corner with a goal from
midfielder Sophie Wright in the
19th minute, tying the game at
one. Both teams were unable to
score again for the rest of the
half, despite having a combined
13 shots.
victory
"We have a very experienced
backfield, so I was proud of
them," Pankratz said. "Sammy
Gray did a great job marking
and defending today and (junior
fullback Lauren Thomas) is
always solid. It was important,
because it wasn't one of our best
games. It was an important win
to pull out."
The beginning of the
second half took on a different
progression for Michigan,
as it lost three players in less
than two minutes of play to
penalty cards. Redshirt senior
midfielder Ainsley McCallister,
junior midfielder Jamie Dean
and redshirt senior fullback
Leslie Smith were awarded
yellow, green and yellow cards,
respectively.
"I don't think we've ever
been down three players in
my 20 years," Pankratz said.
"They defended that very well,
and then when you get those
three players back, it's a big
momentum shift."
Rutgers was unable to
capitalize on its° numbers
advantage, getting just two
shots in the second half. The
Wolverines, though, were able
to utilize the "momentum shift"
when sophomore midfielder
Eliza Stein scored the game-
winning goal in the 48th
minute.
Despite Friday's loss and
the good, but not great, play in
Sunday's win, Pankratz was
still pleased with the weekend.
"We tried to have time to
make a couple of adjustments
to help tactically get them a
little bit more aggressive, and
it worked a little bit, but we can
get better at it," she said. "It's a
work in progress. But it's being
able to win those games that are
a struggle that is important, soI
was proud of them for that."
Wolverines can't
pick up first Big
Ten win
By ISAIAH ZEAVIN-MOSS
Daily Sports Writer
The stage was set perfectly
for a Maize and Blue comeback.
As the clock winded down in
the second half Sunday at U-M
Soccer Stadium, the Michigan
men's soccer team was staging
its final attack. They were
awarded a flurry of corner
kicks, and the Nittany Lions'
defense seemed on the brink of
collapse. But there was never a
Wolverine to smash any of the
crosses into the back of the net.
When the final whistle blew, the
score line read No. 7 Penn State
1, Michigan 0.
Throughout the game, the
Wolverines (0-1-2 Big Ten, 1-4-2
overall) had their chances to
score. In the first half, senior "We had our chances, and we
midfielder Tyler Arnone didn't put them away," Arnone
headed the ball just left of the said. "They put their one chance
goal. Later on in the half, after away, and goals change games."
a clinical run by freshman Added Michigan coach
forward Nate Kohl, Arnone sent Chaka Daley: "We've just got to
a ball through the middle of the get lucky. One's got to go in off
box, but no Michigan player was of the knee. (This result) is not
on the other end. for a lack of playing well. We
After dominating the just have to get some positive
second half's opening 10 results out of our play."
minutes, controlling most of Penn State (3-0-0, 8-0-1)
the possession and pace, the came into the game touting
Wolverines a defense
let up in the that had
57th minute. "W e had allowed just
After an W ha our three goals
acrobatic save chances and we all season,
by Michigan a d presenting
goalkeeper didn't put them the
Adam Grinwis, Wolverines
the ball fell to away." with their
the feet of Penn toughest
State forward competition
Connor yet.
Maloney, who confidently and Throughout the game,
efficiently knocked the ball into Michigan sent balls into the
the lower right corner of the net. center of the field, but they
were often poorly timed and
erratically placed. While the
Wolverines controlled the
possession, they could not put
the finishing touch on their
attack.
"As upset and disappointed
guys will be that we didn't win
today, the belief is there that
we can still make this season
into something," Arnone said.
"We can play against the best
teams in the country. Now, it's
just knowing what it feels like
to win, what it feels like to come
out on top."
Daley is confident his team
will not be too discouraged and
will turn things around.
"If you play for Michigan,
in the Big Ten, it's easy to get
pumped up. We play great
teams all year, we have a great
schedule," Daley said. "We're
certainly not giving up or
quitting because we lost a few
games. We've got to get back to
work tomorrow."
Back lme embraces
5-3-2 scheme in win
Wolverines move
to 4-1 in Big Ten
after shutout of
Michigan State
By SHAWN HEROOR
Daily Sports Writer
To an outsider, a move to a
5-3-2 formation may look like
a conservative switch. But
according to Michigan women's
soccer coach Greg Ryan, the
change in formation will play to
the Wolverines' strengths.
On Saturday, the Wolverines
bought in on his plan en route
to a 2-1 victory over Michigan
State.
The new formation, which
features five defenders across
the backline, looked shaky at
times. The Wolverines were
bailed out with a couple of
great saves by freshman keeper
Megan Hinz, but held the
Spartans to only one goal and
three shots on target.
Ryan credited the center
backs with holding the Spartans
to few opportunities. He praised
junior Christina Ordonez, who
played all 90 minutes despite
battling a sickness.
"Defensively, we really
carne together, especially in
the second half," Ryan said.
"Christina was really sick all
day and still was outstanding.
Game in and game out, she's just
been so solid for us."
Ordonez, who partnered
sophomore Anna Soccorsi and day, and in the second half,
junior Sydney Raguse in the we got her and (freshman left
center of defense Saturday, wing-back) Taylor Timko more
lauded the team's chemistry as involved in the attack.
the reason the Wolverines have "We don't want her to sit back
gelled so quickly. and defend. She's too dynamic
"Playing with your best of an attacker - we need her
friends makes it so much easier up the pitch to get our attack
to switch formations and going."
tactics," Ordonez said. "We're With a major overhaul, the
all on the same page, so we've Wolverine defense will continue
been able to do some new things to be under scrutiny throughout
quickly." Big Ten play. Ryan believes
But with that the
the new five-person
formation, backline will
perhaps the "Defensively, continue
greatest to pay
adjustment we really dividends
has come for for the
sophomore came together, Wolverines
Madisson in the chase
Lewis. especially in the for the
Currently conference
fourth on second half.~ title.
the team in "We just
points, Lewis need to
has been used understand
over the past season and a half how to play how to create more
as a forward in the Wolverines' opportunities with the new
4-3-3 formation. The switch formation," Ryan said. "I think
has moved her into the right once we get Maddie and Taylor
wing-back position, in an effort more involved, we can really see
to start the attack from the ourselves take off."
backline. Added Ordonez: "We're not
Lewis transitioned well, trying too look to far ahead in
though. Her key contribution the future. We're just trying to
came on the defensive end in play to our strengths and take
the 49th minute, when her each week as it comes."
last-ditch tackle on a Spartan The Wolverines moved to 4-1
forward spoiled a golden in the Big Ten with the win, and
opportunity for Michigan State. the strength of their backline
"Madi was solid on both should have them right in the
sides of the game," Ryan said. thick of the Big Ten race all
"Her positioning was good all season.
Freshman defensive specialist Caroline Knop led the team with 33 total digs in two matches over the weekend.
M ichig an's youth exposed
again n1 two B1g Ten losses
By TYLER SCOTT Abbey Cole tallied three kills the weekend's matchups, where
For the Daily and senior Lexi Dannemiller she saw action for the first time
had five assists, helping since she had been diagnosed
In its first competition Michigan earn a fourth set win, with mononucleosis. Despite
against Big Ten opponents, Cole and Lambert combined not having been able to practice
Michigan's youth was exposed for 39 of the or train for
once again. Wolverines' a month,
After falling to Purdue on the 72 kills while fu * she led the
road, the Wolverines were also Dannemiller team in
bested by Indiana, with both led all players because assists both
losses coming in five sets. with 55 assists. they at Purdue
In the first match of the Despite the want to w in and Indiana,
weekend. against Purdue, successes, totaling
the Wolverines (0-2 Big Ten, Indiana right now." 105 for the
5-7' overall) came out strong, grabbed a 4-3 weekend.
winning the first set before fifth set lead When
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dropping the next two sets as
well as the decisive fifth, falling
25-18, 25-17, 25-21, 25-22, 15-9.
After the defeat Friday,
Michigan sought to achieve
its first conference win of the
season on the road against
Indiana. Once again they
grabbed a first-set advantage
before falling in a five-set loss,
25-22, 25-23, 25-21, 27-25, 15-10..
Despite the loss, the
Wolverines were nearly able
to rally for the comeback after
being down 2-1. With Indiana
leading 19-9 in the fourth set, a
pair of key kills from freshman
Adeja Lambert sparked an
incredible rally. Sophomore
that was never
relinquished. It was bolstered
by several Wolverine errors
before becoming a-15-10 victory
to win the match.
"Statistically we were better
than them in almost every
category," said Michigan coach
MarkRosen. "Butwhenyoulook
at some of the errors we made,
we ended up giving almost a full
set worth of free points, so we
just have tobe more consistent."
Injuries have limited the
lineup options for Rosen, who
has few alternatives besides
starting players with limited
experience. Dannemiller was
only recently made available for
they took
to the floor on Saturday three
of Michigan's starters were
underclassmen. Dannemiller
was the only senior. As much
as the young talent aided the
Wolverines' cause, it was
evident that there was no
substitute for experience.
"There's no doubt some of
the girls have been put in way
too early, but there's not a lot of
choice right now, and they've
handled the responsibility
well," Rosen said. "It's hard
because they work hard, they
put in a lot of effort and it's
frustrating because they want
to win right now."