Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Michigan (NCAA Tournament)
No. 7 Spartan Field Hockey Falls In NCAA Second Round
11/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 11, 2001
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The No. 7 Michigan State field hockey team's dream of making it to the NCAA Final Four were dashed Sunday afternoon (Nov. 11) as Michigan scored the game-winning goal in overtime to top the Spartans, 2-1, in NCAA second round action at Ocker Field on the U-M campus. MSU closes out its season with a 16-6 record, while Michigan (16-5) advances to the NCAA Final Four to face Princeton next weekend in Kent, Ohio.
Michigan's Catherine Foreman fired a shot past MSU goalkeeper Lauren Hess (So., Los Angeles, Calif.) just inside the circle five minutes into the overtime session for the game-winning score. The win marks the second time Michigan has beaten MSU in overtime this season, as the Wolverines defeated the Spartans 2-1, Oct. 4, in East Lansing.
"It was a fabulous game," said MSU coach Michele Madison. "It really showed what field hockey in the state of Michigan is all about. The game could have gone either way, but Michigan came out on top today."
The scored was tied at 1-1 for most of the contest. Michigan got on the board first, scoring seven minutes into the first half on a penalty stroke. On a UM breakaway, a MSU defender kicked the ball, which set up the free shot. UM's Stephanie Johnson got it past Hess in net to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
MSU bounced back with 14:07 left in the first on a penalty corner. Julia Adams (Jr., Vancouver, B.C.) started the corner by passing the ball to Lisa Mitchell (Sr., Toledo, Ohio), who set a perfect shot for Bridget Cooper (Sr., Winnetka, Ill). Cooper lifted the shot into the upper right side of the net to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was Cooper's 43rd of her career, which ties her for third place all-time at Michigan State.
Michigan carried the momentum at the beginning of the second half, but could not capitalize on several penalty corner attempts once MSU regrouped and called a timeout at the 19:26 mark.
After the timeout the Spartans took charge, and for the remainder of the half the ball was mostly in MSU's end. The Spartans appeared to score the go-ahead goal with 7:35 remaining on a tip-in, but the goal was disallowed. MSU missed several scoring opportunities, and the game headed into overtime.
MSU began overtime shorthanded after a yellow card was given to Annebet Beerman (Fr., Maarssen, Netherlands) late in the second half, but the Spartans held off the initial UM attack. Less than a minute after Beerman returned, Michigan scored the game-winning goal that ended MSU's season.
Michigan State's 16 wins are the second most in a season in school history, trailing the 1979 team by only one win. The Spartans were also the Big Ten regular season co-champions for the first time in program history. Madison was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, and Cooper was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Game Summary 1 2 10T FinalMSU (16-6) 1 0 0 1MICH (16-5) 1 0 1 2
Goals: Scorer (# this season) Assists TimeMICH Stephanie Johnson (1) Penalty Shot 27:53/1stMSU Bridget Cooper (16) Julia Adams, Lisa Mitchell 14:07/1stMICH Catherine Foreman (2) Kristi Gannon 9:54/OT
Shots: MSU-10, MICH-15Saves: MSU (Hess-5), MICH (Tasch-4)Penalty Corners:MSU-8, MICH-10
