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When an offense is unable to capitalize, the defense’s top priority is to stop the opponent from reaching the scoreboard. If the defense crumbles, then winning could be more out of reach. On Sunday, the No. 7 Michigan field hockey team proved that challenge as Indiana’s offense was able to break through its defense.
The Wolverines (11-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) were hoping their defense would pull through to turn around their recent losses against conference opponents. But the Hoosiers (8-8, 3-4) didn’t go away as quietly as Michigan hoped, beating the Wolverines 2-1.
In the first quarter, Michigan’s defense garnered a rhythm with Indiana’s offense, snatching the ball away during attempted passes or forcing it out of bounds. This gave the Wolverines’ offense more possessions, leading to more scoring opportunities. Though none of the opportunities converted to goals, Michigan’s defense was hushing Indiana’s offense. In the eighth minute, the Hoosiers fired off their lone shot of the quarter, but it was not a serious offensive threat as it was blocked before it could reach the goalkeeper.
“(The defense was) really staying tightly marked and making sure that we have our free player underneath the ball to be able to double team,” redshirt junior midfielder Claire Taylor said.
This type of defensive performance is vital for securing wins, especially with an offense that isn’t firing on all cylinders, as was the case on Sunday.
But, the second quarter told a different story. That’s when Indiana figured out how to sneak past Michigan’s defense. In the 21st minute, Hoosiers back Yip van Wonderen carried the ball into the circle and fired it just inside the left post for the first goal of the game.
Coming out of halftime, the Wolverines’ defense knew it needed to step up and ensure the Hoosiers didn’t score again. Michigan immediately executed that game plan and quickly stole the ball from Indiana’s possession.
Unlike the first quarter, the Wolverines’ offense converted on the opportunity given to it by the defense. Just 18 seconds in, graduate forward Kate McLaughlin fired the ball toward the back of the net, erasing the deficit.
“We really emphasize our tactics,” Taylor said. “We changed it halfway through. It was more in response to how we were positioning ourselves on defense when they were taking free hits as opposed to the goal itself.”
As the offense evened the scoreboard, Michigan’s defense tried to hold off the Hoosiers once again, but failed to do so through the entirety of the third quarter. In the 41st minute, Indiana scored its second goal, breaking the tie. This not only pressured the Wolverines’ defense to stop Michigan’s deficit from expanding, but it also pressured its offense to close up the gap.
While the Wolverines’ defense was able to shush the Hoosiers’ offense entirely in the fourth quarter, not even allowing a shot, it was too late. Michigan’s offense, while taking multiple shots in the early minutes — largely thanks to the defense tearing apart Indiana’s offensive plays — failed to convert its many wide shots.
“Our game plan was to win the game,” Wolverines coach Marcia Pankratz said. “And Indiana played really well today.”
A team can’t win without a scoring offense, but more so without a staunch defense. And on Sunday, while Michigan’s offense couldn’t capitalize on its shots, the Wolverines’ defense couldn’t consistently hush the Hoosiers’ offense throughout all 60 minutes.
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