Michigan field hockey scores early in 11-0 win over CMU

With the salutatory goal coming just 59 seconds into the game, the Michigan field hockey team expected, and was in position, to beat its less-talented opponent. And just two and a half minutes after the first, a second early goal came for the Wolverines and Central Michigan’s defeat became a foregone conclusion. 

All went according to plan for No. 10 Michigan (5-1) on Sunday as it took care of business in the shutout victory. The Wolverines flexed their ability in the first quarter and never looked back, strolling past the Chippewas (3-4), 11-0.

“It was a crisp performance by our team,” Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said. “I thought we came out sharp and ready to play, and it was evident in us being able to finish a lot of early opportunities.”

With their starters on the field, the Wolverines were primed to take advantage of the talent differential. 

Immediately off the opening, they worked the ball down the right side. Redshirt junior midfielder Abby Tamer collected a pass along the backline then fired a pass to graduate forward Kate McLaughlin in front of the net. McLaughlin backed down her defender, turned, and gave Michigan its first shot and first goal of the day — stat categories in which Central Michigan went 60 minutes without recording a tally in.

It was an unsurprising start from the usual suspects. Tamer, who leads the Wolverines’ in assists, found McLaughlin, who leads the team in goals.

Michigan’s starters continued to be as “sharp” as Pankratz could ask for. Tamer once again found herself with possession in the circle, drawing a penalty corner 3:26 into the game. In turn, the Wolverines go-to scorer on penalty corners, graduate midfielder Erin Reilly, lived up to her billing. She fired her first of three goals — all on penalty corners — from the top of the circle into the back of the net.

“We’ve started to emphasize starting the game on fire, starting the game strong,” Reilly said. “Because in the first couple exhibition games, we didn’t really start strong. So just getting the goals quick just sets the tone from the beginning, and that’s what we did today.”

The tone was set from the onset and sustained throughout, and the Chippewas appeared incapable of changing it. Any possession was marred by quick turnovers, with the ball almost exclusively in Central Michigan’s half throughout the game. 

And with its own opportunities, Michigan continued to convert at an impressive clip. Reilly buried her second penalty corner goal in her second attempt, Tamer notched two goals of her own at the end of the first quarter, and with 45 minutes to play and a 6-0 lead, the Wolverines just needed to stroll to the final whistle.

The final three quarters were a carousel of Michigan reaching into its bench and experimenting in an already-decided contest. Of the 26 players on the roster, 21 recorded minutes. The Wolverines goal scorers ranged from McLaughlin adding to her pile of nine goals this season to freshman forward Cami Wiseman scoring her first career goal.

But neither of those goals nor the five scored after the first quarter significantly changed anything. It was a one-sided affair, decided by Michigan’s dominance in the opening minutes.

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