The way the season has gone so far for the Michigan field hockey team, it might be a good bet that the Wolverines will win their next two matches against Central Michigan today at 4 p.m. and Michigan State on Oct. 20.
It isn't because the matches are against pushovers - the Chippewas and the 11th-ranked Spartans are hardly cream puffs - but rather, because of what the Wolverines have done the past four weeks.
In the past eight matches, the Wolverines have managed to alternate two-match winning and losing streaks.
Following a pair of impressive victories over Michigan State and New Hampshire at home, the Wolverines (1-4 Big Ten, 5-6 overall) hit the road and dropped matches against conference foes Iowa and Northwestern this past weekend.
The unusual streak is not a product of an ancient curse or a paranormal phenomena but, lately, a lack of consistent performance from the Wolverines.
"We need to be consistent in how we play," senior attacker Michelle Smulders said. "We know we can play well. We just have to figure out how to trigger it."
Against No. 2 Iowa (5-0, 12-1), the Wolverines played well but were unable to generate any goals and lost, 6-1.
Michigan was outshot, 21-9, but had solid scoring chances.
"We had scoring opportunities against Iowa, but we didn't capitalize on them," junior attacker Julie Flachs said. "We worked on that."
Iowa took a quick 3-0 lead before Michigan got on the board with a goal by Smulders with a little over seven minutes left to cut the deficit to two goals.
The Hawkeyes put the game away with three unanswered goals, however, and shut Michigan out in the second half.
Against No. 12 Northwestern (2-3, 7-6), the Wolverines took a 2-1 lead behind a pair of goals from Smulders, who scored on both her chances in the first half.
But Michigan's offense stalled again, and the Wolverines again gave up three unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 defeat.
Overall, the Wildcats outshot the Wolverines, 21-11, and outcornered them, 12-4.
Smulders' three-goal weekend gives her five on the season, good enough for second behind attacker Julie Flachs' seven for the Wolverines.
In the long histories of the two series, Michigan is 2-27-0 against the Wildcats and has never beaten the Hawkeyes in 30 meetings. The Wolverines have one more chance to improve the records against both teams this season.
Today's match against Central Michigan gives the Wolverines a chance to work on their play before entering the conference stretch-run. It is the last non-conference match before the Wolverines close out conference play.
The importance of this match is amplified by the Wolverines current 1-4 conference record. Strong play in the last five matches would strengthen Michigan's chances of getting to the NCAA regionals. A win today would be a step in that direction.
"We need to play as a team," Smulders said. "We need a team win. We need this to be a spark for the final five games."
A victory would even Michigan's record at 6-6, and continue its dominance of non-conference opponents. Against non-Big Ten foes this season, Michigan is 4-2. With only one match left out of conference, the Wolverines are assured of a winning non-conference record. After today, the focus will shift to improving Michigan's Big Ten mark.
Today will be the final tune-up before the Wolverines start the crucial five-game set. The players know what they will have to do to finish the season on a high note.
"We need to finish in the circle," Smulders said. "You don't get many opportunities to score, and those you do, you have to convert on.
"We also have to make sure the other team doesn't get those opportunities."
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Michigan midfield/defenderSandra Cabrera and the rest of the Wolverines take on Central Michigan today at 4 p.m. at Ocker Field.