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US head coach Tracey Belbin and assistant Tess Ellis look on through the downpour as the USA defeated Michigan, 1-0.

US Women's Field Hockey Team Splashes Past Michigan, 1-0, in Collegiate Challenge

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey team splashed and sloshed its way through a heavy downpour to defeat defending NCAA champion Univ. of Michigan, 1-0, in the opening game of the Collegiate Challenge.

                U.S. national team member and Univ. of Michigan alumnae Kelli Gannon scored the only goal against her former team in the 13^th minute to give the USA the victory. U.S. goalkeepers Peggy Storrar and Jill Dedman combined for the shutout.

            “I had a great pass from Carla (Tagliente), and she just hit it past the keeper and I just tipped it in to finish it,” said Gannon who was a two-time All-America selection with the Wolverines in 1999 and 2000. “If felt great to get a chance to play against people I had been playing with for a while,” added Gannon on facing her former teammates. “Especially Kristi, my sister.”

 The Gannon sisters drew marking assignments against each other throughout the game, but the heavy rain and standing water on the turf quickly became the biggest obstacle for both teams attempting an offensive attack.

“It was difficult,” said U.S. coach Tracey Belbin on the weather and water-saturated field. “You couldn’t get any flow, so both teams really struggled.  I thought that with the skill that both teams have, and the speed that Michigan has, it would have been a much better game had the weather allowed.”

“I was disappointed in the weather,” agreed Michigan coach Marica Pankratz. “It’s too bad. It really took away from the fans being able to see the great skills of the national team, and I’m sorry for that. Other than that it was great. Our team was just thrilled and honored to be on the same field and playing with the national team, so it was a good day.

The U.S. continues the Collegiate Challenge on Sunday at the Univ. of Maryland before taking on Wake Forest Univ. on Sept. 4 and Princeton Univ. on Sept. 7.

Friday, August 23 at Ann Arbor, Mich.

USA 1,  Univ. of Michigan 0

USA: Kelli Gannon (fg, 13:00)

USA Starters: Mimi Smith, Kristen McCann, Peggy Storrar (gk), Melanie Meerschwam, Kelli Gannon, Tracey Fuchs, Katie Beach, Carla Tagliente, Jill Reeve, Carrie Lingo, Kate Barber

Subs: Kim Miller, Tara Jelley, Tracey Larson, Keli Smith, Jill Dedman (gk)

Michigan Starters: Molly Maloney (gk), Lori Hillman, Jessica Rose, Kristi Gannon, Katy Moyneur, Krista Meekley, Laura Woitkwitsch, Molly Powers, Stephanie Johnson, Adrienne Hermosillo

Subs: Kate Dillon, Jen Zangara, Erica Banuelos, Jessica Blake

Cards: USA: Kristen McCann (G, 67), MICH: Stephanie Johnson (G, 54)

Umpires: Gus Soteriales, Carissa April