College notes: Way's hat trick sees UM advance to NCAA field hockey semis

Emma Way netted three goals as Michigan blanked Big Ten-rival Northwestern in an NCAA Tournament field hockey quarterfinal match Sunday at Ocker Field in Ann Arbor.

The Wolverines (21-2) advance to the Final Four where they face Maryland (15-6) in the semifinal Friday at Trager Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Faceoff is 4:45 p.m.

UM made quick work of the Wildcats, striking early as graduate student Carly Bennett set up Way for a redirect in front for the opening goal at 8:10.

The junior forward collected her second goal on a tip off a pass by freshman Kayla Reed at 38:57. The goal was the Mechanicsberg, Pa. native's 12th of the season.

Way's 13th — and third of the contest — came on a diving effort inside the circle off a pass from sophomore Meg Dowthwaite at 50:55.

Sam Swenson made five saves to earn her second shutout in as many days.

SOCCER

Western Michigan lost, 3-1, to Akron in the Mid-American Conference championship game Sunday in Kalamazoo.

The Broncos, ranked No. 4 in the country, now await their placement in the NCAA Tournament. Selections are to be announced today.

Western Michigan (16-3-1) beat West Virginia, 1-0, in the semifinals to make the final.

Big Ten regular-season champion Michigan (12-5-2), ranked No. 10 in the country, lost in the semifinals of its conference tournament, 4-0, to Wisconsin on Saturday, and also should be heading to the NCAAs.

FOOTBALL

Ferris State made its fourth consecutive appearance in the Division II playoffs and will host Ouachita Baptist from Arkansas in Big Rapids next Saturday. Kickoff is noon.

Ferris State (9-1) closed the regular season out with a 49-7 victory over Michigan Tech on Saturday.

Ferris State is the lone team to make the 28-team field; four teams received opening-round byes. This will be the Bulldogs’ ninth appearance in the playoffs, with the other five coming from 1992-96. They made the semifinals last season.

Ouachita Baptist is 9-2.

CROSS COUNTRY

Michigan and Michigan State men’s teams made the NCAA cross-country championships, while Michigan, Michigan State and Eastern Michigan made it from the women’s side.

Also, there were some individual qualifiers for the championships, next Saturday in Louisville, including Eastern Michigan’s Hlynur Andresson on the men’s side, and Western Michigan’s Hanne Christensen on the women’s side.