Honda Award candidate Fronzoni leads U-M win at Kelly/Shorts
Amanda PapkeMichigan’s April Fronzoni made a push for the Honda Award with a goal and assist in a 4-0 win Monday against CMU at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The annual award goes to the nation’s best field hockey player. It was Fronzoni’s team-high 14th goal of the season.
The Chippewas concluded their non-conference schedule at 4-9 overall, while No. 5 Michigan improved to 11-3.
“I thought we came out strong mentally,” said coach Cristy Freese. “Michigan is a very good team, and it was a good test for our defense. We played much better in the second half.”
The Wolverines outshot CMU 18-3, and freshman Alicia Balanesi was the only CMU player to get a shot on goal. Michigan’s Beth Riley picked up her fourth shutout.
Stephanie Johnson scored first for Michigan at 20:05 with her sixth goal of the season. Adrienne Hortillosa scored less than five minutes later on a penalty stroke.
Forty-four seconds later, Katy Moyneur scored her first goal of the season, with the assist from Fronzoni. Fronzoni finished the scoring with a goal at the 56:49 mark.
“It took so much energy just to get the ball back from Michigan, so when we did, we couldn’t execute very well,” Freese said. “I think it was good for our kids to come out and play tough.”
Junior Amy Kauffman made three defensive saves, giving her 11 on the year. Quinnipiac’s Eileen Gallagher leads the nation with 12 defensive saves.
Freshman goalkeeper Danielle Frank made six saves and allowed three goals. She was replaced at 27:55 by senior Laura Plese. Plese gave up one goal and stopped three shots.
“Laura is always good off the bench, and I like her coming off the bench,” Freese said. “It is a whole different dimension for us because she is a totally different goalkeeper, and I give her a lot of credit for always being ready.”
Plese is doing what she can to enjoy her last season playing field hockey at CMU.
“It could be easy to get down on yourself, but I just try to come in and do my job,” Plese said. “It is my senior year, and if I don’t start, but I get to play, then that’s great.”
Plese said the beginning of Saturday’s Ball State game is how CMU should play all the time.
“The first 20 minutes, we came out and did everything right,” she said. “We need to have that intensity all the time.”
The Chippewas are off until 2 p.m. Friday, when they host Louisville.
