Wolverines Use Third-Quarter Surge in Shutout Win at UC Davis

» No. 7 Michigan earned two goals in the opening 3:21 of the third quarter in a 2-0 win at UC Davis.

» Esmee de Willigen scored the game-winner at the 31:37 mark, and Eva Bernardy converted a corner strike less than two minutes later; it was the first goal of the season for both.

» U-M held UC Davis to just six total shots and two on goal; Caylie McMahon stopped a penalty stroke late to preserve the Wolverines’ second straight shutout.

DAVIS, Calif. — The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team scored twice in the first 3:21 of the third quarter in its 2-0 win at UC Davis on Friday afternoon (Sept. 12) at the Aggie Field Hockey Facility. U-M also held UCD to just six total shots en route to its third straight win and second shutout.

After its hot start cooled in the first half, Michigan used another quick strike to break through with the game’s first goal just 97 seconds into the second half and added another less than two minutes later to down the Aggies (2-3).

Junior Esmée de Willigen tallied her first marker of the season — and earned the game-winner — at the 31:37 mark. Graduate student Abby Tamer drilled a hard shot toward the goal from near the top arc to set up the scoring chance. The ball went right to de Willigen’s stick in front of the cage; she flipped to her reverse and knocked it in left side past the UCD goalkeeper.

Sophomore Eva Bernardy also picked up her first goal this season on a corner attack at 33:21, nailing the direct shot from the top of the arc to the lower-right corner of the cage. Senior/junior Zoë Bormet and fifth-year senior Emmy Tran earned assists on the insert and stop, respectively.

The Wolverines (3-1) have now earned goals from 11 different players through four games — just three fewer than all of last season.

In all, Michigan outshot the Aggies 21-6 and outcornered them 9-4. Nearly all of UCD’s offensive stats came after the Wolverines had two players sent off with green cards within 30 seconds of each other and with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Graduate student goalkeeper Caylie McMahon kept the shutout intact with a penalty-stroke save at 56:17, getting her blocker on a shot high to the left.

Michigan turned away two corners in the final 71 seconds, blocking two shots before McMahon posted another save. She combined for the shutout with junior/sophomore Hala Silverstein, who did not face a shot on goal in the first half. UC Davis goalkeeper Addy Collingwood earned six saves.

Michigan will wrap up its weekend road trip against Stanford at noon PT on Sunday (Sept. 14) at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.