Host Kent State set out to give this year's Division I Field Hockey Championship a Midwestern feel, and Michigan finished the job with a 2-0 win over Maryland November 18 for its first title.

The championship final had never been farther east than Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before settling in Kent, Ohio, this year. And Michigan is the first Midwestern champion since Iowa in 1986.

"I'm very proud of our team," said head coach Marcia Pankratz. "Maryland has such tremendous talent and they're a wonderful team, and to go out and play them for the national championship and be victorious has me thrilled. Our team effort included everybody, and that's how it's been all year. We don't have any superstars, we just have a team that plays hard and plays well together."

Two-time national champion Maryland was down, 1-0, at the half after Adrienne Hortillosa scored off a corner with just 2:13 remaining in the period. The Wolverines managed a second score on their only shot on goal in the second half. Junior Jessica Rose took an assist from Kristi Gannon to extend the lead with 29:30 remaining in the game.

It was defense that had helped Michigan advance to the championship -- one that had held opponents to an average of six shots per game on the season -- and it was the difference in the title game, too. Behind senior goalkeeper Maureen Tasch, the Wolverines staved off 20 shots on goal during the game, including 11 in the second half.

"At this level, so late in the season, I thought it wasn't going to happen any more and I was done with those," Pankratz said about the shut-out effort. "They put an awful lot of pressure on and were very skilled, but we were relentless back there with the defenders tackling back."

The Wolverines avenged a loss in their only other national championship game appearance to Maryland in 1999.

Michigan (18-5) advanced to the championship game with a 4-2 win over Princeton, while Maryland (20-4) downed Wake Forest, 3-2, in double overtime.

Tasch was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Hortillosa, Gannon, Stephanie Johnson and April Fronzoni. Maryland's Dina Rizzo, Autumn Welsch, Colleen Barbieri and Caroline Walter were honored along with Kelly Doton and Heather Aughinbaugh of Wake Forest.

Semifinals

First half: P -- Emily Townsend (unassisted), 25:02. M -- Jessica Rose (unassisted), 13:29.

Second half: P -- Cory Picketts (Ilvy Friebe), 29:59. M -- Molly Powers (Jessica Blake), 29:16. M -- April Fronzoni (unassisted), 25:15. M -- Stephanie Johnson (penalty shot), 5:57.

Shots: Michigan 19, Princeton 8. Goalkeeper saves: Michigan (Maureen Tasch) 5, Princeton (Kelly Baril) 8. Penalty corners: Michigan 11, Princeton 3.

First half: WF -- Maria Whitehead (unassisted), 28:43. M -- Rachel Hiskins (unassisted), 17:55. WF -- Kelly Doton (Heather Aughinbaugh, Whitehead), 16:54.

Second half: M -- Colleen Barbieri (Dina Rizzo), 6:38.

Overtime: M -- Barbieri (Rizzo), :50.

Shots: Wake Forest 14, Maryland 7. Goalkeeper saves: Wake Forest (Katie Ridd) 2, Maryland (Ashley Hohnstine) 9. Penalty corners: Wake Forest 9, Maryland 3.

Championship

First half: M -- Adrienne Hortillosa (Kristi Gannon), 2:13.

Second half: M -- Jessica Rose (Gannon), 29:30.

Shots: Michigan 6, Maryland 20. Goalkeeper saves: Michigan (Maureen Tasch) 11, Maryland (Ashley Hohnstine) 2. Penalty corners: Michigan 4, Maryland 10.