ANN ARBOR, MI -- University of Michigan sophomore back Leslie Smith
recorded a hat trick to lead the 10th-ranked Wolverines to a 4-1 victory
over the University of Delaware field hockey team Saturday afternoon at
Phyllis Ocker Field.
After dropping its opening three games of the season in overtime,
Delaware lost its first contest in regulation while falling to 0-4 on
the campaign. Michigan, which opened its season with losses to ranked
opponents North Carolina and Wake Forest, improved to 1-2 on the year.
Smith, who entered the day with two career goals before notching three
against the Blue Hens, opened the scoring just 3:52 into the game when
she corralled a rebound off a penalty corner and delivered a sweeping
shot into the corner of the cage.
Wolverines freshman Aisling Naughton added another goal off a penalty
corner rebound with 8:29 left in the first half, and Michigan took a 2-0
lead into the break.
Smith scored her second goal of the day with 25:05 remaining in the game
when she took a pass from Rachael Mack off a penalty corner and found
the back of the cage, and completed her hat track less than eight
minutes later by converting a penalty stroke.
Playing their third ranked opponent of the season, the Blue Hens would
not quit and finally got on the board with 9:48 to play in the contest.
Delaware junior Kasey Prettyman rushed into the circle from the left
side before feeding a pass in front to senior Tory Sharpless, who buried
a shot to avoid the shutout. The goal was the first of the season and
seventh career marker for Sharpless, while Prettyman recorded her third
career assist.
Making her Blue Hen debut, freshman goalkeeper UD Mégane Simons made six
saves and allowed four goals while playing all 70 minutes in the
Delaware cage. Haley Jones and Adrianna Crovo split time in the Michigan
net, with neither goalkeeper stopping a shot.
The Wolverines held a 14-5 advantage in shots and a narrow 5-4 edge in
penalty corners.
The Blue Hens will look for their first win of the season on Wednesday
when Delaware opens a three-game homestand by hosting Saint Joseph's at
7 p.m.
AGATE
Delaware.......0.....1..... - 1
Michigan........2.....2..... - 4
Scoring Summary: First Half: UM - Smith (unassisted), 3:52; UM -
Naughton (unassisted), 26:31. 2nd Half: UM - Smith (Mack), 44:55; UM -
Smith (penalty stroke), 52:16; UD - Sharpless (Prettyman), 60:16. Shots:
UD 5, UM 14. Penalty Corners: UD 4, UM 5. Saves: UD 6 (Simons); UM 0
(Jones, Crovo). Attendance: 281.
