Stickers get through adversity, injury for win

By Courtenay Basile

For the Daily

The Michigan field hockey team's win Saturday against Central Michigan was not your ordinary Michigan victories. True, the Wolverines did trample the Chippewas, 8-0, but it was hardly just another blowout.

The game began with a strong Michigan drive, three of the goals were scored within the first 10 minutes. After that, the goals started coming sporadically after missed penalty corners.

To make up for the lack of excitement on the field, plenty of distractions were provided on the sidelines.

Halfway through the second half, several of the sprinklers around Ocker Field suddenly began spouting water everywhere, completely drenching the Michigan bench. The field trainer forgot that there was a game scheduled for Saturday, so he accidentally programmed the sprinklers to go off during the game. The few sprinklers near the bleachers were soon shut off but the one near the Michigan bench flowed through the rest of the half. The players and coaches had to stifle the water with several ball buckets nearby, holding down the buckets over the sprinkler. Players on the field had to ignore the antics on the sidelines to focus on continuing the game.

"We just kept telling ourselves that it was only raining," freshman Molly Powers said.

Soon after the sprinklers went off it started to snow, startling to some, but not to others. Young children in the stands started cheering, everyone else started moaning.

Along with the groans and moans from the bleachers came a couple of injuries on the playing field. Freshman April Fronzoni got hit in the leg during a penalty corner and had to be helped off the field. And sophomore Krista Meckley was also injured during a penalty corner.

The most horrific injury, however, occurred to Central Michigan defender Katrina Wozneck during yet another penalty corner. She was struck in the head when a shot by Freshman Kristi Gannon deflected off a stick in the circle. She fell immediately and had to be carried off the field by her coach and trainer.

"I feel really awful about that horrible injury happening to the Central Michigan team," Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said. "It couldn't have come at a worse time either. They have endured many injuries already this season and their coach said to me before the game that if two more players were injured during this game, they would have to pack up and go back home because they wouldn't be able to field a team."