Maryland eliminates Michigan in field hockey

Michigan's top-ranked defense cracked early and the women's field hockey team never recovered, falling to Maryland, 5-1, in the national semifinals Friday at Trager Stadium.

Michigan (21-3) had ridden a six-game shutout streak into the semifinals against its Big Ten rival, but Maryland (16-6) scored early and never relented.

Michigan was trying for its second national championship in field hockey.

Instead, Maryland will meet Connecticut (22-0) in Sunday's championship match. Connecticut beat North Carolina, 2-1, in a shootout in the other semifinal.

Maryland scored 4 minutes into the match, and added three goals in the second half.

Carly Bennett scored the goal for Michigan, on a deflection in front of the cage, in the second half.

Michigan's 21 wins are a program record, and the Wolverines won the Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships.

The loss was the first for the Wolverines since Sept. 8.

In the early meeting with Maryland, Michigan won, 3-2, in double-overtime.