Tensions were high at Deborah Tobias Field as the clock wound toward zero and Michigan pulled its goalkeeper for an extra attacker. Indiana was playing a player down because of a yellow card minutes before, but the Hoosiers’ defense held firm to preserve the shutout.
No. 18 Indiana field hockey defeated No. 13 Michigan 1-0 Saturday in Bloomington, improving to 6-3 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play.
Michigan came out with early pressure in the first quarter, forcing Indiana into uncharacteristic mistakes. The Wolverines earned a penalty corner at the 10:14 mark after an Indiana turnover, but Indiana junior goalkeeper Sadie Canelli made the save to keep the game scoreless.
“We knew they were going to come out really hard at us, so kind of keeping that composure, playing our game,” sophomore forward/midfielder Molly Stutte said postgame. ”It kind of took us a second to figure it out, but once we did, we were connecting really well.”
Michigan earned another penalty corner less than a minute later, but Canelli kept the game scoreless again.
Soon after, Indiana started to find some opportunities in the transition game. Sophomore forward Celia Arroyo Cabezudo had a chance after a quick Indiana attack, but Michigan redshirt junior goalkeeper Hala Silverstein came out of goal to make the save.
Silverstein made another save later in the quarter, but Indiana continued to create opportunities as the quarter continued. The Wolverines earned a penalty corner with eight seconds left in the quarter, but Indiana blocked the ensuing shot.
The second period was quieter, with both teams struggling to create opportunities.
Indiana began to settle into the game and found more space in Michigan’s defensive circle, but neither team could capitalize.
Indiana earned its first penalty corner with 7.9 seconds left in the half. Freshman midfielder Gabriela Garayo Aranceta put a shot on goal off the corner, but Silverstein made the save.
Indiana held a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal at halftime.
Unlike the first two quarters, the start of the third was not slow for the Hoosiers. Indiana earned a penalty corner with 14:14 remaining, and senior forward/midfielder Therssa Ricci found the back of the cage 11 seconds later to give Indiana a 1-0 lead. Stutte assisted on the goal. It was Ricci’s third goal of the season and Stutte’s seventh assist.
“We like to be fluid, and, you know, Molly (Stutte) just did her thing, and I happen to be on the back post, but we just like to play a team game, for sure,” Ricci said.
The goal was the latest example of Indiana's improved connections in the circle.
“We’ve been working a lot on, like, the small connections within the circle, so, like, being able to find each other on the back post, or at stroke, or wherever anybody is,” Stutte said. “It’s really been showing in our gameplay, the past few games, so it’s really nice.”
The Hoosiers continued to pressure Michigan after taking the lead, forcing turnovers and creating more chances inside the circle. The Wolverines began to respond late in the third quarter, but Canelli was able to keep them off the scoreboard.
Michigan continued that aggressiveness in the fourth quarter, earning a penalty corner with 6:50 remaining. Indiana blocked the shot.
The Wolverines earned another corner with 5:34 remaining, but Canelli made another save to keep Michigan from tying the game.
Michigan pulled Silverstein with 2:30 remaining, adding an extra attacker as it searched for an equalizer. Indiana was playing a player down, but the Hoosiers continued to defend their lead.
Michigan had a shot blocked late in the game, but the play was sent to review. The call on the field stood, giving Indiana possession with only 45 seconds remaining.
The Hoosiers held on from there.
“I think that our team did a really good job today, keeping composure on a lot of pressure and a lot of balls hitting,” Indiana head coach Kayla Bashore said. “And I think we did a really good job at the end when we were playing two players down, just to have that piece where we’re communicating and we’re actually executing to come up with a ball”
Indiana had 12 shots compared to Michigan’s eight, with seven of the Hoosiers’ shots on goal compared to four for the Wolverines.
This is the second top 15 team the Hoosiers have beaten in the past eight days. They previously beat No. 5 Iowa on the road.
Indiana hits the road again Friday, Oct. 2, to play Michigan State at Ralph Young Field in East Lansing. The game will be streamed on Big Ten+.
Follow reporter Jack Davis (@JackDavis0006 and jjd5@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana field hockey season.
