University of Louisville
MICHIGAN
No. 15 Michigan Tops Field Hockey 3-2
September 14, 2007 | Field Hockey
Sept. 14, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - University of Louisville freshman Nicole Youman scored a goal and added an assist, but it wasn't enough as No. 15 Michigan edged the host 16th-ranked Cardinals 3-2 Friday afternoon at Trager Stadium.
The Wolverines capitalized on a penalty corner to take the lead just 2:12 into the game when Lucia Belassi drove the ball past Cardinal goalkeeper senior Marie-Claire Heller. Jillianne Whitfield and Michaela McDermott assisted on the goal.
Belassi added her second score of the game with just under two minutes remaining in the half when she connected from the top of the circle on a feed from Paige Laitos. The Wolverines took the 2-0 lead into the break despite an evenly played first half in which Michigan outshot Louisville 8-7 and held a 5-4 edge in corners.
Belassi set up the final Wolverine goal, sending a pass to Ashley Lennington who was waiting in front of the cage to make it a 3-0 game at the 41:15 mark.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard when they connected on a penalty corner at the 63:52 mark. Youman delivered a shot from the top of the circle with junior Lauren Schaefer and senior Casey Meizinger assisting on the goal.
Another corner with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game pulled the Cards within a goal. This time senior Allison Maffitt tipped Youman's shot to make it a 3-2 game at the 69:32 mark.
The teams had four shot each in the second half, giving Michigan a 12-11 edge in the game. The Cardinals had five second half corners to finish the game with a 9-5 advantage.
Heller (3-4) collected five saves in the loss. Michigan's Paige Pickett (3-4) had three stops.
"I was disappointed in the way we came out to meet the speed and execution of skill that we know Michigan was going to bring," said U of L head coach Pam Bustin. "I thought we made some adjustments and had the momentum in our favor in the first half, but I was disappointed in our inability to finish when we had opportunities against a team of Michigan's caliber. After a breakdown of skill execution in the second half, we turned it on in the last ten minutes. Hopefully we'll carry that last momentum into our game against Vermon on Sunday."
The Wolverines (3-4) will face Vermont (6-1) in a neutral match Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Trager Stadium.
The Cardinals (3-4) will play Vermont Sunday at 2 p.m. at Trager Stadium.
