The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OLYMPIC SPORTS have last year was Erin Finn and Shannon Osika, and they're both run- ning at a high level," McGuire said. "And then the quality of our depth has improved tremendously from last year — [redshirt sophomore] Gina Sereno is running her best ever, [fifth-year senior] Anna Pasternak, [redshirt sophomore] Sophie Linn is markedly improved from last year. "I could go on and on. We just have a good energy right now." FIELD HOCKEY Overall Record: 13-3 (through Oct. 20) Big Ten Record: 5-1 Projected Big Ten Finish: Michigan sits one game back of Maryland (6-0), but lost to the Terrapins 2-1 Sept. 25. The Maize and Blue are favored in their final two conference contests at Michigan State Oct. 25 and home ver- sus Ohio State Oct. 31, but will need the seventh-ranked Terps to falter for a co-conference crown. NCAA Prospects: Despite wins over three ranked opponents this year and a 13-3 overall mark (with their only losses to the No. 3, No. 6 and No. 7 teams in the country), the Wolverines sat 15th in the RPI Oct. 20 and are on the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament. They probably need to capture the Big Ten Tournament title Nov. 5-8 in Bloomington, Ind., and the automatic NCAA Champion- ships berth that comes with it. Coach Marcia Pankratz: "We knew in the preseason this was going to be a special year. We have great chem- istry, wonderful team dynamics and outstanding leadership. We're work- ing hard every day to get better and going through the process to im- prove on a daily basis, and so far, so good. "The Big Ten in field hockey is re- ally strong. Top to bottom it's very competitive, and I think every year, Michigan is battling to win that championship. Maryland is also a perennial power. Our game was a 2-1 nail-biter. There is a lot of hockey to be played to stay up there battling for the title." U-M's Best Players: Senior forward Shannon Scavelli led the team with career highs in goals (nine) and points (21) in 16 starts, and had three game-winning tallies … Fifth-year senior defender Mackenzie Ellis has contributed two goals and 10 assists, but is best at keeping teams at bay, helping to limit opponents to only 8.0 shots per game … Sophomore goalie Sam Swenson has posted an .825 save percentage and a 0.89 goals- against average. "Shannon has some real magical hands," Pankratz said. "She has a skill set that is outstanding for field hockey, and when she has the ball in the circle people need to watch out because she can finish and make things happen for us. "MacKenzie Ellis is experienced and is playing great defensively, and you can tell because we're shutting out some big-time opponents. "Sam is only a sophomore yet our team has enormous confidence in her ability; she has been keeping us in every single game."