Indiana Upsets No. 12 Michigan, 1-0

Friday, October 14

Ann Arbor, MI

7 PM

Indiana University

(8-7, 3-2B1G)

Michigan

(8-6, 3-3B1G)

Indiana

Michigan

10/14/2016 10:49:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Quotes

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Hoosiers held the line for a 1-0 upset victory over No. 12 Michigan at Ocker Field. Kate Barber slotted a penalty stroke in the 19^th minute to lift Indiana (8-7, 3-2) to their first road win over a top-15 Big Ten team since 2006, and their first win over the Wolverines (8-6, 3-3) since 2009.

"The team brought such good energy today, and our defense really held strong," said Indiana head coach Amanda Janney. "To get a shutout against such a talented, well-coached team shows how strong our defense is."

Noëlle Rother and the defensive backline of Malia Fujisawa, Elle Hempt, and Nora Aucker secured their third shutout of the season while facing 19 shots. Rother tallied seven saves in her sixth career shutout, and Indiana's defensive corner unit halted all of Michigan's 12 penalty corner chances.

"We practice our defensive corners a lot, and today was a great day for our defense because we had not only our regular corner unit, but others in there as well," Janney said. "Taylor Swope made a huge stop for us early in the first half, and Taylor Pearson helped on defensive corners as well. To know that we're so strong and so hard to score on from corners is such an advantage for us."

In addition to assisting on defensive corners, Pearson provided the decisive spark on the attack. In her first return to the starting lineup since the Hoosiers' game against Iowa, Pearson drew Barber's penalty stroke chance on a first half fast break.

"She has such a presence on the field that calms all of us down, so we can settle and play with confidence," said Barber of Pearson's play. "Her first touch is phenomenal, and her ability to get us that penalty stroke was crucial for us."

The unsung hero of the Hoosiers' second win over a top-15 team in seven days was Mollie Getzfread, who played all-out in the Indiana midfield. It seemed that, whenever the Wolverines began to build their attack, Getzfread disrupted the move. She had, as Barber put it, one of "those" games.

"She was phenomenal, she played out of her mind today," Barber said of her fellow senior captain. "Throughout warm-up and our pregame today, we were all getting really excited. She was ready to go, and her energy and confidence resonated all over the field. We're so lucky to have her on our team, and I know she gives credit to everyone else, but I don't think she gives herself enough credit for everything she's accomplished."

Rother followed last weekend's performances, for which she was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, with her third shutout of the season. The tally is a new season high for Rother, and she earned it with a handful of highlight-worthy deflections.

"She really builds up our confidence in the backfield," Barber said. "She takes charge back there, and she's saved us on many occasions. We really look to her throughout our defense."

Barber's goal did more than give Indiana their first Big Ten away win of the season; it also snapped her four-game skid on the score line. After opening the year with 15 goals in 10 games, the best rate in the country, Barber hadn't converted a goal in two weekends. The successful penalty stroke, her second in three attempts this year, busted a slump and pushed Barber one goal closer to Indiana's single-season record.

"It was amazing to see the ball go into the back of the net," Janney said. "When I pointed to her to let her know she was taking the stroke, I had such confidence in her as an athlete to be able to make those big shots. Strokes aren't easy, but we know she's going to put those away for us. It's awesome that we can go to our senior captain and she can make those big plays for us."

Up Next: Indiana (8-7, 3-2 Big Ten) at Michigan State (6-8, 2-3 Big Ten)
Sunday, October 16 • 1:00 p.m. ET • Live Stats • Watch: BTN2Go.com
Ralph Young Field • East Lansing, Mich.

Indiana aims to shift the momentum from Friday's win to a tough Sunday matchup, a trip to East Lansing to face Michigan State. Against the Spartans, the Hoosiers have only emerged victorious once in the last four games, and they've never beaten Michigan State on their turf.

The Hoosiers know the importance of their upcoming game, as following a big Friday win with a positive Sunday result is the hallmark of a successful postseason team.

"All year, we've talked about having momentum going into Sunday, because championship games are won on Sundays," Barber said. "That's the mentality we've had throughout the season, what AJ has instilled in us. Getting this win gives us momentum going into Sunday, but it's going to be another tough game so we have to come out even harder."