'M' wants Lion blood

By David Roth

Daily Sports Writer

It's fitting that the Battle of Gettysburg was fought in Pennsylvania, as the same state will host a field hockey match that will be as close as it gets to organized war.

Friday night, under the lights in State College, Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz will lead her troops to the year's most anticipated game - Penn State.

The teams mirror each other in more ways than just being Midwest powerhouses. Neither team has suffered a loss in the Big Ten - both are 4-0 in conference play. And Penn State (13-2) and Michigan (14-3) are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively.

Plus, neither team has a consistent starter in goal. Michigan will start either junior Maureen Tasch or freshman Molly Maloney, while Penn State will choose from Annie Zinkavich or Heidi Leuchte.

Last year, Penn State doubled up Michigan twice in the regular season before the Wolverines knocked the Nittany Lions out of the Big Ten Tournament in a double-overtime thriller. This year, the Wolverines want both the Big Ten regular season and tournament crowns, but to get them, they have to go through Penn State.

"In past years they have been our road block to the Big Ten regular season championship," West Chester, Pa. native Ashley Thomas said. "It should be a tough game but I think we'll be fired up."

In every Michigan-Penn State contest emotions and intensity run high. Especially for the five Wolverines returning to their home state, the game is as personal as it is competitive.

"I always want to beat them the most because I know a lot of the girls and have some pretty intense grudges," Lititz, Pa. native Jessica Rose said.

"My friends that go to Penn State always talk trash about Michigan, but I just laugh because they can't and won't ever beat us at anything because they suck."

In Pennsylvania, where field hockey

is life, many players choose to stay ome for college. But Michigan freshman April Fronzoni, who narrowed it down to Michigan and Penn State, is ready to prove that packing her bags was the right move.

"It means a great deal to me to be able to walk on the field wearing the block 'M,'" the Larksville, Pa. native said. "It's going to be the biggest rush for me to play in front of my family and friends who usually went to my high school games."

With each team playing only one more conference game after Friday's contest, the matchup will be crucial toward determining the seedings when Michigan hosts the Big Ten Tournament Nov. 3-5.

"I hope we show Penn State, as well as the rest of the teams in the Big Ten, who deserves to be on top," said Krista Meckley, a product of Hanover, Pa.

Penn State is coming into the game with an 11-game win streak, while Michigan will try to put two road losses against top-five teams last weekend out of its mind. But, Michigan did boast a 12-game winning streak before losing to ACC foes North Carolina and Wake Forest.

"Nothing would feel better than to beat them on their field in front of all their fans," Ephrata, Pa. native Ali Balmer said. "This is an extremely important game for us and I think that last weekend's experience against North Carolina will only make us come more prepared and ready for them."