FH: Michigan beats Rutgers 3-0, advances to B1G Tournament Semis (update)

#12 Michigan Field Hockey's (13-6) game just concluded on BTN Plus. The 2-seed Wolverines knocked out 7-seed Rutgers, 3-0 in the B1G Tournament First Round.

Not only is this the B1G Tournament, but Michigan is hosting the B1G Tournament at Ocker Field. The game wasn't pretty in the first half. Very sloppy play with Michigan's only scoring chances coming on 4 penalty corners, most of which Michigan botched due to the slippery Blue turf. This caused problems for most teams that played today so far.

In the second half, it was the star 5th year senior Leslie Smith who FINALLY broke the 0-0 tie off of a penalty corner with 22 minutes to play in the game.

Immediately after, goalkeeper Sam Swenson made two huge diving saves to prevent Rutgers from knotting the game at 1-1. Michigan then took the ball down the field into the Rutgers zone and was awarded a rare penalty stroke due to a push after a play by a Scarlet Knight player.

Leslie Smith took the penalty stroke for an easy goal, top shelf, to put Michigan up 2-0 just two minutes after her first goal. As penalty strokes usually do, that killed any energy that Rutgers built up as they gave up a breakaway goal to Courtney Enge to give Michigan a 3-0 lead and the game about 8 minutes later.

Michigan completely turned the game around after halftime. Much like their first meeting with Rutgers, they did not play too well early on. But finally, the Wolverines showed their strength and sent Rutgers home packing, ending RU's season.

Tomorrow, they will face either 3 Northwestern or 6 Iowa at 3:15pm on BTN in the B1G Tournament Semifinals. Northwestern and Iowa will play in a couple of hours in the nightcap.

The other B1G Tournament results today were 1 Maryland easily disposing of last place 8 Ohio State, 5-0 in the first game. In the second game, 4 Penn State barely squeaked by 5 Michigan State, 1-0. 

UPDATE: Northwestern just edged Iowa 2-1. 2 Michigan will take on 3 Northwestern, tomorrow at 3:45pm on BTN in the B1G Tournament Semifinals. NU is ranked #10. 

Michigan upset them at the site they will play tomorrow--Ocker Field--2-1 a little under a month ago when NU was #9 and undefeated in the B1G. 

#25 Michigan Women's Soccer (12-5-3) made another disappointing early exit from the B1G Tournament First Round, losing to 6 seeded Minnesota, 1-0 in 2OT last night in West Lafayette. They were just 90 seconds from taking the game to penalty kicks before giving up a header that could've been easily prevented. The Michigan Women will learn their inevitable NCAA Tournament placement on Monday, 11/10, when the NCAA selection show airs.

Michigan Men's Soccer (6-8-3) was covered earlier today by skurnie. Check his thread out below for the news on their result last night.

And for some minor news...

Michigan Women's Swimming & Diving (4-1, 3-0 B1G) has zoomed up the CSCAA rankings from #17 to #6. Mike Bottom, who is also the head coach for the #1 ranked Men's program, is really turning things around. He's the coach of two top-10 programs.

Schedule for the weekend....

Tomorrow, Friday, 11/7
#12 Field Hockey: vs 3 Northwestern (3:45pm/BTN)
#1 M Swimming & Diving: at #18 Penn State, Virginia (6pm)
#6 W Swimming & Diving: at #14 Penn State, VIrginia (6pm)
Volleyball: vs #4 Wisconsin (7pm)

Saturday, 11/8
#1 M Swimming & Diving: at #18 Penn State, Virginia (11am)
#6 W Swimming & Diving: at #14 Penn State, VIrginia (11am)
Volleyball: vs Minnesota (7pm)

Sunday, 11/9
M Soccer: at 2 Ohio State (1pm/BTN Plus)
#12 Field Hockey: vs B1G Tournament Championship (1pm/BTN)