Oct. 2, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern pounced on Michigan early Friday, taking a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute on the sixth goal of the year by senior Elizabeth Dobbs, but the 17th-ranked 'Cats surrendered two goals in the first half and one more in the second in a 3-1 loss to the Wolverines at Lakeside Field. Dobbs, who led all players with five shots, helped NU score the game's first goal for the ninth time in 13 contests this season.
NU moves to 9-4 on the season and 0-2 in the Big Ten while Michigan improves to 4-7 overall with a 2-1 league record. The game marked the first meeting for NU head coach Tracey Fuchs with the school in Ann Arbor where she spent 12 seasons as an assistant and associate head coach.
Much of the first half Friday was spent playing in a driving rain, but Northwestern was not shaken by the elements and managed to control the majority of possession leading up to Dobbs' goal early on. Sophomore Chelsea Armstrong helped create Dobbs' chance when she dribbled around two defenders on the right side of the circle before dropping the ball off in the vicinity of Dobbs. The NU senior was dispossessed of the ball at first before regaining control and coolly slotting it past Michigan goalie Christi Barwick, who was appearing in just her second game this season.
The Wildcats outshot Michigan on the day 12-9 but Barwick made six saves in the game despite learning only shortly before gametime that she would stand in for an injured Paige Pickett.
On the opposite end of the field, Northwestern goalkeeper Katie Lynch denied multiple scoring opportunities for the Wolverines after Dobbs' goal before U of M's Meredith Way finally solved Lynch. Way made space for herself at the top of the circle and wound up for a big forehand that found its way through traffic and into the cage for her team-leading eighth goal of 2009.
Michigan added one more before the half off a penalty corner in the 31st minute. After receiving the corner push from right of the cage, Michigan's Bryn Bain put a hit to the opposite post where Alicia Mayer was waiting to settle the ball and tap it in to tie the score.
With the rain having moved out of the area in the second half, the Wolverines were able to make it 3-1 when a save off the pads of Lynch landed right on the stick of Mayer. The Wolverine scored her second goal of the game off the rebound with just over 21 minutes remaining.
NU's best scoring chance of the second half came soon after when Kaylee Pohlmeyer received the ball outside the arc and confidently dribbled inside the top edge. Her shot seemed destined for back of the cage until it ricocheted off the right post and rebounded clear of danger.
On Sunday, Northwestern returns to Lakeside Field to meet Saint Louis at 1 p.m. Admission and parking is free for all home Northwestern field hockey games.