The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/178977
Fifth-year senior field hockey goalkeeper Haley Jones, who is a team co-captain, ranked second in the Big Ten in saves with 34, helping Michigan to a 4-4 record, as of Sept. 23, against a very tough schedule. photo courtesy michigan athletic media relations over No. 16 Louisville. But the real focus is the Big Ten season. In Pankratz's first run as Michigan's coach (1996-2004), the Wolverines won the Big Ten regular season, tournament title or both in six of her nine years at the helm. In 2010, Michigan won its first Big Ten title since 2005, taking both the regular season and tournament championships, and followed that up with a first-place finish in the regular season in 2011. Last year, the team finished second. "The Big Ten is a great conference, top to bottom," Pankratz said. "And with the addition of Rutgers and Mary- land next year, it will be the premier conference in the nation. Every team is tough. Michigan State is a great rival; Ohio State has an outstanding team; Northwestern is on the rise; Iowa is always talented; and of course, Penn State, the defending Big Ten champs, is fast and experienced." The Wolverines are led this season by senior forward Rachael Mack and fifth-year senior goalkeeper Haley Jones, the team's captains. Through Sept. 23, Mack led the Big Ten with nine goals and 21 points, and Jones was second in the conference with 34 saves. In the early season, Jones' goals-against average (2.5) was