'M' field hockey makes first ever trip to NCAA tourney this weekend

After winning the Big Ten Tournament and receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the Michigan field hockey team will migrate south to face Duke at Wake Forest. The Wolverines will knock sticks Saturday at 1:30 in the Kentner Center in Winston-Salem, N.C..

16 teams made postseason play, an increase from the eight-team tournament last year. This is the first time in Michigan history that it will tango in the NCAA's.

The four teams playing in Wake Forest this weekend are the fifth-ranked Wolverines, No. 3 Wake Forest, No. 11 Duke, and No. 9 James Madison. If the Wolverines beat Duke, they will play the Wake Forest-James Madison winner. Should the Wolverines win

ALEX WOLK/Daily The Michigan field hockey team is coming off a four-game win streak over top opponents to face Duke this weekend in its first ever NCAA appearance.

both games, they will head to Boston next weekend for the NCAA final four.

Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz looks forward to playing Duke on Saturday. Even though they are ranked below Michigan, Pankratz said that no games in the NCAA Tournament will be easy to win.

"We're pretty happy with the draw. They're a formidable opponent.

They're 11th and we're fifth. But if you make the tournament, you're automatically in the sweet sixteen. So no matter who you play, they're going to be tough."

Duke plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) where they are only 1-4. But since its high level of competition parallels the Big Ten, the Blue Devils should be ready for Michigan

"Duke plays a tough schedule so we know they're chiseled and ready to play us," said Pankratz.

The Blue Devils hold a 13-7 record and have lost two games in a row, both to Virginia. The Blue Devils lost in a 2-0 shutout Nov. 4 and in a 3-2 tubthumper Oct. 31. The match-up will be a powerful Duke offense versus an unforgiving Michigan defense.

The Blue Devils are led by senior offensive powerhouse Corey Ceccolini, who has tallied a mind-boggling 19 goals this season and has nabbed four assists. Ceccolini was an all-ACC and National Field Hockey Coaches Association Regional all-America selection last year and was selected to participate in the NFHCA North/South All-Star Game.

Though Ceccolini has very strong statistics, her numbers might not show how good she actually is during field play.

"Most of her goals have been on penalty corners," Pankratz said. "We're going to have to do all we can not to give any (penalty corners) up."

Senior Michigan defenders Ashley Reichenbach and Erica Widder, NFHCA All Star Game selection themselves, will try to avoid making mistakes inside the arc that might give penalty corner specialist Ceccolini a shot on goal.

Another Blue Devil star is Jekkyl and Hyde goalkeeper Jenn Robb. Before Duke's losses to Virginia, Robb was a brick wall. She allowed just five goals in six games, leading her squad to consecutive victories. But the Wolverines hope she plays like the sieve she was against Virginia, when she allowed five goals in two games.

The two teams will be coming from two different directions into the tournament. Michigan has won four games in a row, including victories over top 10 opponents Iowa and Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament.

"Our team is on a role. We're ready to play," Pankratz said.

Duke is trying to shake off its consecutive losses.

"Our preparation is coming off two losses against Virginia," Tchou said. "Against Michigan, we want to play our game. We know that they're coming off three big wins."

11-11-99