'M' stickers split games against top-10 opposition

No one can accuse the Michigan field hockey team of easing into the season.

The 11th-ranked Wolverines, coming off their first-ever Big Ten championship last season, opened this one by splitting two matches at the inaugural Big Ten/ACC Challenge this weekend in St. Louis.

The Wolverines ended the Challenge on a high note yesterday with a 2-1 victory over Wake Forest. The victory over the Demon Deacons helped soften the blow the Wolverines took Saturday, when they lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to sixth-ranked Maryland in double overtime.

"This was a big win for us," Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said. "We had a tough loss against Maryland on Saturday and we knew this was going to be a tough game. I think it was very important to rebound and come away with a win."

FILE PHOTO Loveita Wilkinson and the rest of the Michigan field hockey team rebounded from a 2-1, double overtime loss to Maryland this weekend when they beat Wake Forest by the same score yesterday.

The Wolverines were paced by Amy Philbrook, who scored her second and third goals in the first half versus Wake Forest. After taking the early lead, Michigan concentrated on defense, allowing only a goal from Lisa Andres.

Saturday against the Terrapins, the goalies dominated the action. Keli Smith opened the scoring for the Terrapins early in the first half. Kelli Gannon deadlocked the score at one by depositing her second goal of the season. After that, the goalies seemed inpenetrable.

Finally, Michigan goalie Kati Oakes flinched. After Smith was tripped from behind, Carla Tagliente used to the ensuing penalty stroke to beat Oakes for the game-winning goal.

Despite allowing the deciding goal, Oakes was superb in net, coming up with nine saves. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Maryland goalie Angela Platt was a little better, keeping 15 of Michigan's 16 shots out of goal.

"Hopefully, this will help us down the stretch because we really played well against a very good team," Pankratz said.

The Wolverines also played well in their opener against the Cardinals, outshooting Ball State 22-6. Gannon opened the scoring in the first half, as she was assisted by Courtney Reid and Catherine Foreman.

Ball State goalie Angela Del Russo kept things close for the Cardinals, turning away 18 shots, but she was beaten again by Amy Philbrook in the second half, putting the game out of reach.

"This was a great win for us," Pankratz said. "We played great defense, and if it weren't for their goalie, the score could have been even more one-sided."

The win, while big because it was the season opener, was sweeter because Ball State shut the Wolverines out, 4-0, last season.

This year, it was Oakes and the Wolverines doing the skunking, as Oakes turned away all six shots she faced.

09-08-98