In a dramatic swing yesterday, the No. 3 Michigan field hockey turned a seemingly certain defeat into a thrilling victory. Michigan's 2-1 overtime triumph over No. 12 Northeastern firmly reinforced why the Wolverines are the defending national champions.

Despite playing from behind most of the game, receiving questionable penalties and dealing with unseasonably chilly weather, Michigan still managed to prevail for its sixth consecutive victory.

"The mark of a true champion is to be able to overcome adversity, stay focused in what you're trying to do and always believe that you have a chance to win," Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said. "And that was evident today. I think it shows the character of this team."

Along with goalkeeper Emily Roy, Northeastern's defense stifled Michigan's potent scoring attack for most of the game, refusing to surrender a goal despite being bombarded with 15 shots. It took a lighting strike by Jessica Blake with 20 seconds remaining in regulation for the Wolverines to finally get on the board.

"They were a very good defensive team," Blake said. "They were really low and really strong. It took a lot of effort by us to get past them. We really showed that we were a good team by the end."

Quick Turnaround: Blake's game-tying goal at the end of regulation not only saved the day for Michigan, but it also provided some solace for the Australian native.

On Saturday against Temple, with the Wolverines rolling 7-0, Blake launched a penalty-corner shot that hit Owls' goalkeeper Emily Conroy square in the face. The game was delayed for nearly 40 minutes, and Conroy had to leave the field on a stretcher.

"I missed the goalie (against Temple), which was nice," a relieved Blake said. "Fortunately she was OK, so it turned out all right."

Tough Calls: Michigan's victory was even more impressive considering that two of its top players were hit with yellow cards and forced to sit for five minutes, leaving the Wolverines short-handed.

April Fronzoni, the team's leading scorer, got carded at the beginning of the second half after being tied up with a Huskies' forward, and Northeastern quickly took advantage by scoring its lone goal of the game. Adrienne Hortillosa was hit with her card in overtime, but Michigan was able to hold off several Husky charges before returning to full strength.

"(Northeastern) had a lot of breaks today," Pankratz said. "But it was good practice for us to play seven on six full field."

Daunting Defense: Northeastern had a fabulous defensive gameplan for Michigan's offensive juggernaut. With the Wolerines coming off their largest scoring output of the season against Temple, the Huskies stymied Michigan inside their circle and didn't allow a goal until the final minute of regulation.

"They're a good team," Pankratz said. "We knew that they were going to be very strong and we were ready for that. I think they clogged the middle a lot and made it difficult for us to move the ball quickly. They had a lot of people back because I think they were concerned about our speed. And they did neutralize it for most of the game, so they played a nice game. They're going to do well."