ANN ARBOR, Mich. – UAlbany field hockey came all the way back from the brink of defeat to stun #4 Michigan 2-1 in overtime on Friday afternoon in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship First Round on Friday.
The victory is the first for #16 UAlbany in the NCAA Tournament since the Great Danes advanced to the NCAA Semifinals back in 2014. It’s the first NCAA victory for the America East since Stanford earned a win in the spring of 2021 against Miami (OH).
UAlbany goalkeeper Hannah Mangan was outstanding in victory, making eight saves, many of which were point blank to keep the Great Danes in the contest. UAlbany will face #6 Penn State on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Quarterfinals on the campus of Michigan.
The Great Danes played the Wolverines even through the first 29 minutes, but gave up a goal on a corner in the final 30 seconds of the half to trail 1-0. They kept Michigan off the board over the final 30 minutes of regulation and finally broke through with 2:59 left as Floor de Ruiter scored in front on a deflection.
In overtime it was back and forth until Elaina Burchell fed a long breakaway pass to Sophia Schoonmaker. She made a move past the goalkeeper and fired a shot on a tough angle into the back of the cage.
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