Field Hockey Garners National Ranking

October 13, 1998

East Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey team is ranked No. 15 in this week's STX/NFHCA Division I National Poll, the first appearance in the national rankings for the Spartans since the 1996 campaign. MSU improved to 7-7 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten with 2-0 a win over No. 8 Ohio State on Sunday, Oct. 11.

While the Spartans gained recognition as a team, senior Deirdre McLinden was honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for her performances against No. 5 Penn State and Ohio State last weekend. A native of Flossmoor, Ill., McLinden helped limit the Lady Lions to just six corners, nine shots and a scoreless first half in a 2-1 setback against the Big Ten's first-place team.

In Sunday's win over Ohio State, MSU's first since 1987, the Spartan co-captain helped the Spartans pitch their first Big Ten shutout of the year.

The Spartans have won five of their last seven games and are currently tied with Ohio State for third place in the Big Ten. MSU will face a ranked opponent for the third-straight game when it hosts No. 11 Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m., at Spartan Stadium. The Wolverines are 11-3 overall and tied with Penn State for the Big Ten lead with a 4-1 mark.

1998 STX/NFHCA Division I National Poll
(Oct. 13)
	School (Record)       Points
1.	Old Dominion (12-2)	100
2.	Connecticut (12-1)	94
3.	Princeton (9-0)	        91
4.	North Carolina (9-3)	85
5.	Penn State (10-3)	78
6.	Virginia (9-3)	        77
7.	Maryland (8-5)	        64
8.	Delaware (11-2)	        62
9.	Duke (7-5)	        60
10.	Boston College (9-2)	58
11.	Michigan (11-3)	        55
12.	James Madison (9-6)	41
13.	Northeastern (6-6)	37
14.	Syracuse (8-4)	        34
15.	Michigan State (7-7)	25
16.	Ball State (8-4)	23
17.	Wake Forest (8-6)	17
18.	Boston University (8-4)	14
19.	Yale (7-2)	        12
20.	Ohio State (8-3)	11

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