Junior defenseman Keaton Pehrson 
was caught in unfamiliar territory. As 
Michigan underwent a line change, 
Pehrson 
remained 
in 
Wisconsin’s 
defensive zone. Despite being short three 
teammates, Pehrson’s relentless pursuit 
of the puck overpowered the Badgers. 
He won the battle all by himself and the 
Wolverines gained possession. That was 
around the time where Michigan would 
hit a wall — both literally and figuratively.
Wisconsin’s game plan was clear: Do 
not allow the Wolverines any room in the 
slot. Their tight-knit defense seemingly 
blocked every Michigan shot, constantly 
sacrificing their bodies and maintaining 
good positioning. They did this successfully 
enough to the tune of a 4-2 victory.
Wolverines’ 
coach 
Mel 
Pearson 
understands other teams’ tendencies, 
especially against his talented squad.
“We’re going to see that a lot, teams 
just pack it in,” Pearson said. “As the 
game wore on, we got better getting to 
the net, but we were playing a little too 
individualistic. Guys would hold onto the 
puck too much instead of give and go and 
beat guys.”
Efforts from players like senior forward 
Luke Morgan were instrumental in the 
Wolverines’ forechecking scheme tonight. 
Early in the second period, Morgan 

was grinding down in Wisconsin’s 
corners. He won a fight for the puck 
and eventually, senior forward Jimmy 
Lambert possessed it. He was unable to 
find sophomore forward Brendan Brisson 
— who was wide open in the slot for his 
signature one-timer opportunity. That 
play didn’t define the game, but it was a 
microcosm of Michigan’s struggles.

The forecheck was excellent. All four 
lines of forwards and even the defensemen 
were active, bullying their way to the puck 
and setting up in the offensive zone. But, 
mostly due to the Badgers’ shutdown 
defense, they weren’t able to generate 
many scoring looks. 
“I didn’t think we were getting it to 
the net enough in the first 40 minutes 
of the game,” senior forward Jimmy 
Lambert said. “If we did get it to the net, we 

didn’t really have anyone there to collect 
rebounds or puck retrievals in the corners.”
Even on the typically outstanding 
power play, the Wolverines had a 
difficult time finding the net. Brisson was 
robbed of a goal by a blocked shot from 
a Wisconsin defenseman. Despite the 
opportunities, there always seemed to be 
a wall of red guarding the crease.
In the rare instances when Badger 
goaltender 
Cameron 
Rowe 
was 
challenged, he rose to the occasion. His 
plethora of sprawling and acrobatic 
saves held Michigan to only two goals, 
propelling Wisconsin to the upset victory. 
As the Wolverines maintain their national 
spotlight, expect other teams to give them 
their best game.
“Everyone knows who we are, 
everyone has high expectations for us and 
we have high expectations for ourselves,” 
Lambert said. “Man to man, I just think 
that we have to be better because it’s Big 
Ten time.”
Seniors like Lambert have been 
through the wringer a few times now, 
but for the rest of the team, lessons like 
tonight will prove invaluable during 
the postseason. If Michigan wants to 
compete for a national championship, 
they will need to perform for 60 minutes, 
not just play desperate catchup.
Pearson added: “We just have to start 
with that urgency on the drop of the puck. 
We have to continue to play with that 
urgency from the get-go.”

Down 1-0 against No. 7 Penn 
State on Friday, the No. 2 Michigan 
field hockey team (13-3 overall, 5-3 
Big Ten) shifted into a higher gear, 
scoring twice in the final ten minutes 
to take the lead. With three minutes 
left in the game, the Wolverines were 
finally in the driver’s seat.
It ended up being three minutes 

too long. With the game clock in it’s 
final ticks, the Nittany Lions (13-4, 
4-2) tied it up to send the game into 
overtime. After a back and forth start 
to the period, the Wolverines’ 2021 
regular season ended in the seventh 
minute with a disappointing 3-2 loss.
“The team worked hard to come 
back from being behind,” Michigan 
coach Marcia Pankratz said. “We 
just had one too many elements that 
weren’t up to snuff.”
While both teams started slow — 

combining for only four shots in the 
first half — the pace quickly picked 
up in the second. Just 90 seconds into 
the third quarter, Penn State forward 
Emma Spisak fired a shot past senior 
goalkeeper Anna Spieker.
The momentum stayed firmly 
in the Nittany Lions’ corner, as they 
held the Wolverines to just one 
shot on goal. In the fourth quarter, 
however, Michigan fired on all 
cylinders offensively, putting six 
shots on goal off the sticks of five 

Wolverine players.
Though Penn State goalkeeper 
Brie Barraco was able to save the 
majority of the shots, one of the saves 
bounced right to Michigan freshman 
midfielder Alana Richardson, who 
put it back on the net for the first of 
the Wolverines’ day.
Michigan found its tie-breaker 
with less than three minutes left to 
play, in a penalty corner conversion 
off the stick of senior midfielder Sofia 
Southam.

“One of our strengths this year 
has been our perseverance,” redshirt 
senior Halle O’Neill said. “Even 
though we haven’t trailed that many 
times, we’ve still been able to pull 
back even when we’ve needed to and 
then get ahead.”
The lead was short lived however 
as Penn State forward Sophia 
Gladieux snuck the ball past Spieker 
just one minute later to end regulation 
tied at two. In the overtime period, 
the Wolverines initially were in 
firm control but faltered after being 
unable to find the back of the cage in 
their three chances.
The Nittany Lions took advantage, 
and midfielder Mackenzie Allessie 
ended the game in the seventh 
minute.
“Any team can beat any team 
in the Big Ten, no matter where 
you are in the rankings,” Pankratz 
said. “If you don’t play all 60, 70, 
however many minutes it takes 
to get a result, you’re not giving 
yourself the best chance to win, 
plain and simple.”
After starting with a perfect 11-0 
record, the Wolverines suffered 
a shaky finish to their campaign, 
losing three of their final five games. 
Members of the team chalked part of 
the issue up to the schedule; of their 
final five games, four — including all 
three losses — came against top 10 
opposition.
“The scheduling was rough this 
year,” O’Neill said. “We ended up 
facing the best teams as they were 
reaching their stride.
“That being said, it’s hard to beat 
a good team twice. We’ll face at least 
one of the teams that beat us again in 
the tournaments, and we’ll be ready 
for them.”

The Michigan volleyball team was 
ready for a fight against Iowa.
The first set of play was hotly 
contested, with each team fighting 
to create any sort of separation. It 
wasn’t until the score was tied at 
13 that either team could jump out 
to a significant lead. Sophomore 
setter Scottee Johnson launched 
the ball towards sophomore outside 
hitter Jess Mruzik, who spiked it 
off the Iowa blocker’s outstretched 
hands to earn a critical side out. The 
Wolverines subsequently rattled off 
a quick seven-point run and dropped 
just four more points en route to a 
comfortable 25-16 first set win.
Patient 
but 
aggressive. 
This 
mantra repeated by coach Mark 
Rosen 
perfectly 
encapsulates 
Michigan’s win in straight sets over 
the Iowa Hawkeyes.
“We kept pushing them,” Rosen 
said. “We kept pressuring them, and 
all of sudden in the first set we broke 
it open.”
Michigan played a consistent 
match, tallying just eight errors 
over three sets of play — half of 
Iowa’s 16. The constant pressure 
of the Wolverines’ capable outside 
players eventually overwhelmed the 
Hawkeyes. Iowa lost the first two sets 
after major Michigan scoring runs 
and was unable to even put up a fight 
in the third.
Mruzik totaled 14 kills on .481 
hitting, and senior outside hitter 
Paige Jones added another 11 kills 
on .258 hitting. Both players posted 
accuracy marks well above their 
averages for the season.

“Iowa is a really good blocking 
team,” Mruzik said. “I just wanted to 
keep swinging high and (use) the top 
of their hands to get as many lucky 
bounces as possible.”
Mruzik 
aimed 
high 
and 
repeatedly bounced her booming 
spike off the outstretched hands 
of the Iowa middle blockers. This 

strategy, a product of Rosen’s game 
plan, resulted in many side outs and 
runs in the Wolverines’ favor. Time 
and time again, Michigan relied on 
its outside hitters — and time and 
time again, they rose to the occasion.
“I was really pleased with how 
steady our team played,” Rosen said. 
“Iowa played really well, especially 
in the first set early and the second 
set. They were hitting great numbers 
(and) running a really good offense.”
As a team, Michigan was able 
to 
outpace 
Iowa’s 
formidable 
offensive attack due to its patient but 

aggressive scheme. The Wolverines 
were never fazed, even when the 
Hawkeyes held a three-point lead 
midway through the second set. 
Inevitably, Iowa would make an 
error. Two missed attack chances by 
the Hawkeyes led to a one-point lead 
in Michigan’s favor. The Wolverines 
never relinquished the lead again.

Michigan’s dazzling 51 kills on 
.391 hitting are numbers that prove a 
trust in Rosen’s ideals. The relatively 
low volume of attempts, only 10 
more than Iowa, proves that the 
Wolverines were able to put the ball 
away consistently.
Patience and aggression have 
allowed 
this 
Michigan 
team 
to approach its full potential. 
Few teams can keep up with 
Michigan’s outside hitters when 
they are able to grind their 
opponents down in the way they 
did Saturday.

Led by outside hitters, Michigan 
offense dismantles Iowa
No. 2 Michigan drops final regular 
season game against No. 7 Penn State

JOSHUA MESSE
For the Daily

LUKE HALES/Daily 
Wisconsin’s game plan was clear: Do not allow the 
Wolverines any room in the slot. Their tight-knit 
defense seemingly blocked every Michigan shot.

JEREMY WEINE/Daily 
Alana Richardson scored Michigan’s first goal in its loss to Penn State. 

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com 
Sports
10 — Wednesday, November 3, 2021

TESS CROWLEY/Daily 

Wolverines’ senior outside hitter Paige Jones notched 11 kills in the Wolverines’ win over Iowa.

DAVID WOELKERS
Daily Sports Writer

Michigan can’t complete the sweep, 
comes up short versus Wisconsin 

SAM BERNARDI
Daily Sports Writer

There are few weak spots on 
the Michigan hockey team. Its No. 
3 ranking and 6-2-0 record are 
indicative of a well-balanced roster. 
But, its two losses are enough to 
prove that, as a matter of fact, it does 
have some flaws. The Wolverines 
are most vulnerable when they 
allow odd-man rushes, the blame 
falling not only on their defensemen, 
but on their forwards too.
Michigan has a host of talented 
offensive defensemen, including 
senior 
Nick 
Blankenburg, 
sophomore 
Owen 
Power 
and 
freshman Luke Hughes. Their skill 
allows them to push in transition 
and join in on the attack. When 
successful, they offer a huge boost 
to the Wolverines. On the season, 
Power leads the Michigan blueliners 
with two goals and eight points, 
while Hughes is not far behind 
with two goals and seven points. 
Blankenburg, the team’s speedy 
captain, has already recorded three 
goals and four points this year.
There is no denying that this 

offensive-minded style of play has 
been productive for the Wolverines. 
But, it has also been detrimental in 
unsettled situations when they’ve 
had to get back on defense quickly.
“If the weak side (defenseman) 
is gonna jump we have to be more 
aware of that,” fifth-year forward 
Michael Pastujov said. “As soon as 
(opponents) see us jumping they’re 
gonna be jumping the other way. 
The forwards just gotta be aware of 
the situation. …It’s something we’re 
working on in practice, trying to 
limit those odd-man rushes.”
Friday night versus Wisconsin, 
Michigan 
sacrificed 
several 
breakaways following defensive 
breakdowns. 
Oftentimes, 
the 
Badgers would start in their own 
zone, take advantage of the overly-
aggressive Wolverine defenders 
and play a pass ahead for a cutting 
forward. Whether it was a neutral 
zone turnover or a defenseman who 
pinched too much in the offensive 
zone, Wisconsin was able to expose 
Michigan’s lack of discipline.
The team does not want to 
discourage its defensemen from 
initiating scoring chances, but 
communication 
with 
forwards 

is imperative for recoveries and 
preventing sophomore goaltender 
Erik Portillo from facing opponents 
alone.
“We have some defensemen 
that are really good activating 
and joining the rush offensively,” 
assistant coach Bill Muckalt said. 

“With that, a lot of times we’re 
asking a forward to fill into that 
position.”
Even more frustrating for the 
Wolverines is how solid they’ve 
played in their own defensive 
zone. Opponents have struggled to 
produce even-strength goals and to 

maintain possession. Considering 
how comfortable they look in their 
own zone, it’s crucial for Michigan 
to address its issues in transition. 
“Our (defensive) zone coverage 
has been fantastic,” Muckalt said. 
“Because we’ve been sustaining 
a lot of (offensive) zone time and 

pressure when there is a breakdown, 
we just have to be aware whether 
it’s a defensive man holding the line 
or (a forward) as a backtrack.”
On the other side of the ice, 
Michigan struggles to backcheck. 
The team is extremely effective 
while forechecking, so it’s a bit 
surprising that its forwards have not 
replicated this effort getting back 
on defense. This issue resonates not 
just in its forwards but throughout 
the team.
“One thing we harp on a lot is 
coming back for a purpose, not just 
coming back to come back,” junior 
defenseman Jack Summers said. 
“If you’re coming back, you have to 
get their stick. You can’t just stand 
there. … Those loose pucks can’t get 
put in.”
The Badgers may have found a 
blueprint that other Big Ten teams 
will try to replicate against the 
Wolverines: pack the defensive zone 
and take advantage of the overly-
aggressive Michigan defensemen. 
This 
upcoming 
series 
versus 
Michigan State will show fans if 
Michigan can fix its mistakes, or 
if there are more concerns for the 
future.

SAM BERNARDI
Daily Sports Writer

Forecheck thrives, but scoring opportunities are hard to come by for Michigan

KATE HUA/Daily 
While defensemen’s offensive aggression has generated many scoring chances for Michigan, it has also left it exposed to 
odd-man rushes.

Wolverines finish 4th in women’s cross 
country Big Ten Championship

As the runners passed the 2.5-mile mark of the six-
kilometer (3.73-mile) Big Ten Championship race, the 
Michigan women’s cross country team looked to be 
in a prime position to take home the title. 
In first place with 59 points and three Wolverines 
in the top 10, Michigan looked to capitalize on its 
position. As the runners approached the 3-mile 
mark, junior Ericka VanderLende, accompanied 
by Minnesota’s Megan Hasz and Michigan State’s 
Jenna Magness, held a tight lead. As they kicked 
the wet mud behind them going up the final hill, it 
was shaping up to be a photo finish. But on the final 
push, Hasz edged out VanderLende for the Big Ten 
title by 0.8 seconds. 
No. 9 Michigan finished fourth at the Big Ten 
Championships on Friday in a highly competitive 
event. The tight race around Penn State’s Blue and 
White Golf Courses was the most competitive race 
the Wolverines had all season. 
In the first mile, the runners practically blended 
together. Everyone was running stride by stride, 
foreshadowing a race that would come down to 
the final kilometer. 
“This was definitely our most competitive race 
with many people close together,” VanderLende 
said. “(It was) a little intimidating because we 
haven’t really had a great split like that.”
VanderLende stayed at the front of the pack, 
placing in the top five at every mile split. 
“Today was a good day,” VanderLende said. 
“Personally, I think it’s been a long time coming to 
have a decent race for me and when the stakes are 
higher, I feel like I race better. So I think it worked 

out well individually as well.”
VanderLende wasn’t the only Michigan 
runner to have a good day, though. Senior Kayla 
Windemuller put up a personal best herself. 
Windemuller also fought at the front for the 
entire duration of the event. The first time All-
Big Ten honoree missed out on fifth place by 0.4 
seconds.
“Mostly, I just wanted to maintain my 
position,” Windemuller said. “(Michigan coach 
Mike McGuire) would tell us before the race that 
every place that you’re in is precious, but the only 
place ahead of you is more precious than the one 
you’re in.”
The runners had a tricky course, dealing with 
strong rain and heavy winds for the duration of 
the event. Not only did they run on wet grass, but 
the runners had to weave between trees and trek 
uphill for large parts of the course. Windemuller 
and the Wolverines, though, had the benefit 
of running this course before. Experience that 
competitors lacked.
“It was kind of fun,” said Windemuller. “It’s 
kind of what cross country is all about. Just the 
mental toughness, working hard and the tough 
conditions. If anything, it was my favorite because 
we were dealing with a lot of rain even in practice.”
Added VanderLende: “The weather, definitely, 
has an impact on my mental state, but I just tried 
to push it away. Normally, I don’t enjoy running 
in the cold, but just setting that aside, focusing on 
the task at hand really helps take my mind off the 
conditions.”
Although the Wolverines failed to take home 
the Big Ten Championship, Michigan has a chance 
at redemption as it prepares for the NCAA Great 
Lakes Regional on Nov. 12 in Evansville, Ind. 

JAKE SINGER
Daily Sports Writer

