1st conference win, home win come in 2-1 defeat of Michigan

With two goals in the second half and a defensive effort not seen in previous Big Ten conference games, the IU field hockey team defeated Michigan 2-1 Sunday afternoon in Bloomington.

Junior midfielder Meg O’Connell deflected a shot from senior back Dani Castro into the goal midway through the second half to tie the game 1-1. Junior forward Alina Valenti added a goal with eight minutes remaining in the game to give IU (7-6, 1-3) a lead it would not relinquish.

“We fought and scratched and clawed our way in that game, and we never gave up,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “The key element today was our communication. It was really strong on defense and on attack. It was just a full team effort.”

The Hoosiers’ defensive effort energized the entire team. After allowing five goals in a loss to Ohio State on Friday and 20 total goals in its first three conference games, the Hoosiers shut out Michigan in the second half.

“I think when we have the best communication, we hold our composure and achieve our goals,” junior back Lucy Ireland said. “Our goals are to allow (goalkeeper Alex Mann) to have the easiest game and not to have so many shots.”

The Hoosiers accomplished both goals Sunday. IU out-shot its opponent for the first time since Sept. 20 against Ball State, with nine shots compared to Michigan’s eight. Mann only saw two shots on goal.

Michigan’s lone goal came in the ninth minute from midfielder Meredith Way on a penalty corner.

“For the first time, we didn’t put pressure on ourselves,” sophomore defender Mutsa Mutembwa said. “We just played the way we were supposed to play. We had a game plan – communication, composure and control – and we did that.”

O’Connell’s goal, her team-high seventh of the season, came on a penalty corner in the 53rd minute. Mutembwa stopped the entry from the sideline and passed it to Castro. Her shot from inside the circle was sent into a crowd of players. O’Connell got her stick on the ball and sent it past the Michigan goalkeeper.

Mutembwa, who ran over to the home crowd and threw her arms triumphantly in the air after the goal, said, “I knew that once we scored our first goal, the floodgates were going to open. We don’t usually score when we’re down, and we did. That’s what I was relieved about.”

IU will play its third consecutive home game 3 p.m. Friday against Miami (Ohio).