Offense sends message with 4-goal flurry

The Michigan field hockey team's offense didn't need a bullhorn yesterday to send out a message.

Scoring on four of seven attempts against Stanford said it loud enough.

After a scoreless first half in their victory over Stanford yesterday, the Wolverines shut out the Cardinal with a concentrated passing game and two penalty corner conversions.

"It's tough to get the attack going at the beginning of the season," said Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz.

But with a crushing victory over Central Michigan earlier this weekend and the shutout against Stanford, the Wolverines seem to be on track.

After two missed attempts during the first half, sophomore forward Kelli Gannon earned Michigan's first goal on a penalty corner conversion with 32 minutes remaining in the second half.

A short 10 minutes later, Courtney Reid assisted Amy Philbrook to score her sixth goal of the season.

"We knew we just had to play our own game," the sophomore midfielder said. "We just picked it up a little," in the second half.

Reid ended the game with two assists and one goal, including an assist on Gannon's goal - which stood as the eventual game-winner.

Veith said "going around Stanford and not through them," is how Michigan started scoring goals in the second half.

"Our passes just started clicking," Veith said.

Reid scored her first goal of the season in the final 10 minutes of the game to seal the victory.

"Marcia's been trying to get me to go with the ball up the middle ... and to rush the goal more," Reid said.

The Michigan offense increased pressure on the Cardinal during the latter half of the game by focusing on its passing game more, Philbrook said.

"It's always hard to try to figure out what's missing," Philbrook said. "During the second half we brought back the passing game. We pretty much executed everything."

Earlier this weekend, the Wolverines trampled Central Michigan, 11-0, with nine Michigan players scoring.

The offensive breakthrough included multiple goals from sophomore forward Tamra Geryk, who scored three times during the second half.

"It definitely gave us the confidence that our team is going to score," Veith said. "We needed a game that picked up our team a lot more and it definitely did."

Reid said the victory over Central was a breakthrough for the Wolverines, who needed something positive to build their confidence.

"It was a good game for our heads," Reid said.

Philbrook, who scored two against the Chippewas, was one of three Wolverines to score multiple goals.

"Central was an amazing game, it was a complete team effort," Philbrook said.

Sophomore defender Ashley Thomas said the 11th-ranked Wolverines are improving their reputation this season.

"I really think we need to send a message, because Michigan doesn't get the respect it deserves because it's not an East coast school," Thomas said. "By scoring a lot and keeping out goals, we're sending that message."

09-14-98