Following the Michigan field hockey team's 4-0 victory over Central Michigan yesterday, co-captain Michelle Smulders explained her team's disposition following two weekend losses to conference rivals Iowa and Northwestern.
"We had a meeting (Monday)," she said. "And we decided that the season is totally in our hands.
"We have to use building blocks to get from now to the Big Ten tournament."
After yesterday's stomping of the Chippewas, it looks like the Wolverines were prepared to make their climb out of the depths of the Big Ten. However, after having played the rest of the conference and coming out with a 1-4 record, the Wolverines look to have a long road ahead of them as they play the back end of a difficult Big Ten season.
"We didn't play particularly well against Iowa and Northwestern," Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said. "We had to really sit down and re-evaluate our goals for the rest of the season. We did that and put a positive twist on the weekend and tried to learn from it."
With only Big Ten foes looming on the Wolverines' schedule, Michigan had to begin its resurrection with a non-conference win. The team did just that yesterday and seems excited to continue forward rather than dwell on the past.
"We are definitely going to be fired up (in the future)," Smulders said. "We are looking to play great as a team. We have been passing the ball really well in the midfield, as well as pushing the ball (upfield)."
Despite her team's success against Central Michigan, Pankratz stills feels there is plenty of work to be done before the Wolverines head to East Lansing on Sunday to face Michigan State.
"I think first of all mentally, we need to stay focused for 70 minutes," she said. "We have lapses where we're not disciplined with our particular jobs."
Mental lapses go unnoticed against overmatched squads like Central Michigan, but Pankratz knows this is anything but the case against the likes of Michigan State, Iowa and the rest of the Big Ten.
"You make a mental error today, and you can kind of get away with it," she said. "If you make a mental error against Michigan State, you are going to pay."
So far this season, Michigan has given more than its share of dough to the rest of the conference, but Michigan State still seems to be waiting for payday. The Wolverines beat the Spartans in Ann Arbor earlier this season, 4-3.
The win was the first in the Big Ten for Michigan this year, and the Wolverines are prepared to make the Spartans their second as well.
"We have a (five-game) season now, and we just have to make the most of it," Helber said.
The Michigan field hockey team could swing freely yesterday against Central Michigan, but the Wolverines' future opponents won't be so cushy. Michigan - which only has one conference victory - plays its reamaining five games against Big Ten teams.
JOSH BIGGS/Daily