What stands between an offense and the net is the opponent’s defense. A defense can propel a team to victory by silencing the opponent’s offense. And in its matchup against Indiana, defense was a crucial component for the Michigan field hockey team.
The ninth-ranked Wolverines (13-4 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) squared off against the 19th-ranked Hoosiers (9-9, 4-4) in the quarterfinal of the Big Ten Tournament, their second meeting in two weeks. Entering the game, No. 3 seed Michigan knew its defense needed to slow down Indiana’s offense to ensure a loss, and the Wolverines did just that, winning 2-1.
“Indiana’s got some really clever players,” Wolverines coach Marcia Pankratz said. “I was really proud of our defense and how we played them. We double teamed them the best that we could. We really held (and) played really solid defense throughout the whole game.”
And the solid defensive performance was seen from the get-go. Although the Hoosiers shot the ball first just two minutes into the first quarter, that was their only shot in that quarter as the Wolverines’ defense silenced them by intercepting passes and forcing balls out of bounds.
This defensive performance allowed Michigan more possession of the ball. The Wolverines’ defense giving their offense more time with the ball eventually paid off. In the 11th minute, graduate forward Kate McLaughlin fired the ball into the back of the net for the first goal of the game, giving Michigan a 1-0 lead as the first quarter wrapped up.
After the Wolverines’ multi-shot first quarter, the offense was quickly silenced by Indiana’s defense. Michigan’s lone shot of the second quarter came just two minutes in from redshirt junior Abby Tamer, but the shot went wide and posed no serious offensive threat. The lack of offensive action meant that the Wolverines’ defense needed to step up once again.
And Michigan’s defense once again stopped Indiana from having offensive opportunities. In the 27th minute, Indiana shot the ball again, but it was blocked by the Wolverines’ defense, keeping Michigan’s advantage at halftime.
Coming out of halftime, though, the Wolverines’ defense was not the same. Within the first four minutes, the Hoosiers took two shots. Although both shots failed to convert to goals, Indiana’s offense had already matched its first-half shot total. With the Hoosiers having a player advantage for a good portion of the quarter after two cards in five minutes, the Wolverines’ defense needed every player to stop Indiana’s powerful offense.
“As a defense, especially a man down, just staying tight, and being very communicative with each other, I think that really helped us through,” sophomore forward Esmee de Willigen said. “And obviously we didn’t get a goal against us, but I think after that, we really regrouped.”
But that regrouping didn’t happen immediately. In the 42nd minute, the Hoosiers fired an on-target shot, but redshirt freshman goalkeeper Hala Silverstein ultimately saved it.
“She’s a great player,” Pankratz said. “She made some really key saves on one of the breakaways, and we trust her back there.”
Silverstein, playing an important role as the last line in Michigan’s defense, shined once again as the Hoosiers shot the ball on target within the first minute of the fourth quarter. But, Silverstein saved it as Michigan continued to hold on to its slim lead. However, in the final two minutes, Indiana broke through the Wolverines’ defense with a goal of its own, sending the game into overtime.
Michigan’s defense started off the first few seconds in overtime a player down as a result of a yellow card on sophomore back Abby Burnett in the 55th minute. But the Wolverines’ defense got a lucky break with a yellow card issued to a Hoosier player. From then on, Michigan’s offense shone through, and in the 68th minute, de Willigen scored the game-winning goal.
While the saying goes defense wins championships, in the Wolverines case, the defense propelled them to the semifinal of the Big Ten Tournament — keeping their season alive.
The post Michigan defense stifles Indiana in 2-1 overtime win at Big Ten Tournament appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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