Field Hockey Prepares For Big Ten Tournament
11/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 1, 2000
THE MATCHUP
Teams: No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes (11-7, 3-3) vs. No. 6 Michigan State Spartans (11-8, 2-4)
Date: November 3
Time: Noon
Place: Phyllis Ocker Field, Ann Arbor, Mich.
THE COACH: Head Coach Michele Madison is in her eighth year at Michigan State. Madison's overall coaching record is 122-116-8 (.512), while her mark at MSU is 69-87-2 (.443). This is the third time in Madison's tenure in East Lansing that she has led her team to a winning record.
BIG TEN TOURAMENT: Michigan State is looking for its first Big Ten Tournament win since 1997 when it goes up against the No. 3 seed Iowa Hawkeyes. The Spartans defeated Iowa earlier in the season, 2-1, at the Duffy Daugherty Football Complex in East Lansing on October 13.
REGULAR SEASON RECAP: MSU completed its regular season with a 9-0 shutout victory over the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday, Oct. 29. Bridget Cooper led the offensive attack with her second career hat trick, while Jessica Wheeler and Maureen Halstead had two goals apiece. Michigan State finished the regular season with an 11-8 record, 2-4 in Big Ten play.
COOPER ON A ROLL: Junior forward Bridget Cooper is having her finest year as a Spartan, finishing the regular season with 31 points, good for 10th best in a MSU single season. Her 11 goals were 11th best in one year, and her seven assists set a new career high. Cooper recorded her second career hat trick against Indiana on Oct. 29 and tallied seven points for the game, also a new career high.
SOLID IN NET: Sophomore goalkeeper Mireille Evans has commanded the net for the Spartans this season, starting every game and accounting for 97% of the team's minutes. On Sept. 12 and Sept. 19 she was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, becoming the first Spartan to earn such honors in consecutive weeks. Evans is currently third in the Big Ten in saves with 98 and fourth in saves percentage (.721). Her three shutouts this season are a career high.
NEED HELP WITH THAT?: Sophomore back Jenny Sanders does not have a goal this season- she would rather assist her teammates in scoring. Sanders has eight assists to date, good for eighth best on the single season charts. During one stretch from Sept. 22 to Oct. 10, Sanders assisted in five consecutive games.
ACROSS THE BORDER: Sophomores Julia Adams and Cynthia Martin have more in common than their Canadian citzenship. Adams and Martin are both having breakout seasons at MSU, scoring 15 and 14 points this year, respectively. Adams is currently 16th in the Big Ten in scoring, while Martin stands at 18th.
FRIENDLY CONFINES: Michigan State compiled a 5-2 mark at home this season, while posting a 3-1 record at neutral sites. MSU was only 3-5 on the road this season.
STREAKS: After beginning the season 1-2, the Spartans held a five-game winning streak from Sept. 3 to Sept. 17, capped off with an upset victory over then No. 10 Northeastern, 2-1. MSU then lost four of its next five games before finishing the season's last six contests with a 4-2 mark.
BIG TEN LEADERS: Bridget Cooper finished the regular season tied for fourth in points (31), tied for fifth in goals (12) and tied for eighth in assists (seven). Sanders' eight assists were seventh best in the Big Ten. Cooper was also fourth in scoring in conference play with 11 points (5 goals, 1 assist).
SCOUTING REPORT: Iowa Hawkeyes
- MSU defeated Iowa earlier this season, 2-1. Theresa Pusateri's only goal of the season broke a 1-1 tie late in the second half to lead the Spartans to victory.
-Iowa finished the regular season with an 11-7 record, 3-3 in Big Ten play.
-The Hawks lead the overall series, 37-4-1.
-MSU's last Big Ten Tournament win came against Iowa in 1997.
-Tiffany Fodera leads the Hawkeye offense with 18 points (nine goals).
