Field hockey shoots down weekend foes

Michigan field hockey player Julie Flachs is good at causing problems for opposing teams.

Flachs presented Central Michigan with the same problem that many other teams have had against Michigan. And like the other teams that have failed to keep her from scoring, the Chippewas lost to No. 12 Michigan, 5-1.

Central Michigan (4-4) was the second team this weekend to be outscored by the senior midfielder, who recorded two goals in each of the Wolverines' games this weekend, against Louisville on Saturday and Central Michigan yesterday. The four weekend goals pushed her season total to 15, only six short of Michigan's season record. She also assisted on two goals, pushing her season point total to 32.

The Chippewas struck first yesterday, when Kari Labeta scored with 22:18 remaining in the first half. Flachs evened the score less than 10 minutes later on a penalty corner. She gave the Wolverines the lead for good with 23:10 remaining in the secon

FILE PHOTO The Michigan field hockey team made quick work of its opponents this weekend. The Wolverines knocked off Louisville on Saturday, 6-0, and beat Central Michigan yesterday, 5-1.

d half on the same penalty corner play. She was assisted on both goals by Erica Widder and Shelley Johnson.

After Flachs's second goal, Michigan (7-2) began to pull away with goals from Kelli Gannon, Loveita Wilkinson and freshman Courtney Reid. It was Wilkinson's second goal of the weekend.

The Wolverines never trailed against Louisville on Saturday, winning, 6-0. They jumped out to an early 1-0 lead just 1:35 into the game on Flachs's 12th goal. She scored again at 16:17.

Michigan outshot the Cardinals, 41-1. In fact, Louisville's only shot on goal was not even touched by goalie Kati Oakes, making her first start for the Wolverines since returning from Korea.

Michigan outcornered Louisville, 30-0, but converted on only two of them. This was one part of the team's problems, according to Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz.

"Although the score was 6-0, we did not have a good match today," Pankratz said. "We did not execute very well and our corners were extremely poor."

Yesterday, the Wolverines fared slightly better on their penalty corners, converting three of 18 attempts. Goalie Amy Helber recorded six saves.

The games against Louisville and Central Michigan gave Michigan an opportunity to work on its skills in preparation for the Big Ten schedule.

The Wolverines got a chance to both work on their penalty corner and to allow some of the younger players to gain some valuable game experience.

"We had to keep our skills up to our level," Reid said after Saturday's game. "We had a little trouble with that in the first half but by the end of the game, we were playing our game again.

"This game wasn't one of the best ones we've played and I'm sure in practice we'll have a lot to work on."

Michigan begins Big Ten play Friday when Iowa visits. The Hawkeyes have beaten the Wolverines in all 31 of the meetings between the two teams.

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