Women's Soccer To Battle Wisconsin Under The Lights
11/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 6, 2002
Michigan Statevs. WisconsinNov. 7, 20026 p.m.
Michigan State Notes
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TOP STORY: With the most wins by a Michigan State team since 2000, MSU enters this year's Big Ten Tournament with high hopes. A good showing in the conference tournament for State could result in the school's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
HEAD COACH TOM SAXTON: MSU head coach Tom Saxton is in his 12th season directing the women's soccer program. His career record currently stands at 114-103-19. Saxton has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year twice in his tenure, in 1994 and 2000. In his first year with the program, 1991, he led MSU to 14 wins, which remains a single-season high.
LASKOWSKI MAKING MARK: With nine goals this season, not only is junior Tiffany Laskowski the team leader, but it is the most goals scored by any Spartan since 1998 when Jessica Moorman scored 10. Laskowski's 23 points are the most by a Spartan since 1994 when Karen Winslow registered 26 and Kristin Lester notched 28.
HELLER NEARS SHUTOUT MARK: Goalkeeper Stacy Heller has matched her shutout total of last season with seven, giving her a career total of 15.5 - just one shy of Sara Kloosterman (1997-00) on the MSU career list. With one more shutout she will also tie the single-season mark of eight set by Erin O'Connell in 1984. The NCAA, however, has not given credit for combined shutouts for the last two years. If it continued to recognize half shutouts, Heller would have 17.5 shutouts for her career.
WIN TOTALS RISING: With 12 wins this season, it marks the second time in the past three seasons State has reached that mark. It is also the third-consecutive season State has reached double-digits in victories.
NIGHT LIGHT: For the first time in its 17 year history, Michigan State will play a home game under the lights when it hosts Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. MSU is 2-2 at night away from home this season.
TOURNEY TIME: Michigan State is hosting the Big Ten Tournament for the first time in its history. MSU will look to home-field advantage to improve its 1-7 record in conference tournament play.
OLD COLLEGE ADVANTAGE: State posts an impressive 7-1-1 record at Old College Field this season. The Spartans' first six home games all were wins and the only defeat came at the hands of then No. 13 Penn State. In its nine home games, MSU has outscored its opponents, 30-6.
BIG VICTORIES: The Spartans recorded two big road wins over ranked opponents this season. MSU upset then No. 19 Kentucky (Sept. 13) behind an 11-save performance from Stacy Heller. On Oct. 13, Andrea Sied score in the 89th minute to lift State over then No. 20 Purdue, 2-1.
CLASS EQUALITY: With eight of its 10 top scorers returning next season, MSU looks to be on pace for another fine season next year. The team's top five scorers -Tiffany Laskowski (23 points), Michelle Perun (16 points), Emma Harris (16 points), Erin Konheim (13 points) and Abby Shepherd (12 points)-will all be returning next season. In fact, State's freshmen and sophomores have accounted for over 46 percent of the Spartans' total points.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Two Spartans were recognized by the Big Ten Conference earlier this season for their defensive efforts. Junior Andrea Sied earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week (9/2) honors after helping the Green and White defeat Bowling Green, 4-0, in its season opener. The defensive anchor helped hold the Falcons to just two shots and added an assist. Goalkeeper Stacy Heller also garnered Co-Defensive Player of the Week (9/23) honors after recording back-to-back shutouts in wins over Illinois and Iowa.
BIG TEN SUCCESS IN 2002: State's 5-3-2 conference mark is its best since 1994 when it went 5-1-1. Though MSU won five Big Ten matches in 2000, it also lost four, giving the 2002 squad a higher winning percentage.
DEFENSIVE MINDED: Due to one of the toughest defenses in the Big Ten and one of the league's best goalkeepers, the Spartans have allowed just 14 goals through 19 regular-season games this season. In fact, 10 of the Spartans' 12 wins have come in the form of shutouts with the Green and White outscoring its opponents, 29-0, in those wins. It is the most shutouts for MSU since 1994 and the most shutout-wins since 1987.
NEW FACE: Abby Shepherd has had an immediate impact on the team this season after transferring from Connecticut at the end of last year. She has started all 19 games in the midfield, while contributing 12 points (four goals and four assists).
AGAINST RANKED FOES: Four MSU opponents this season have been ranked in the NSCAA Top 25 Poll when they took on the Spartans. MSU defeated then No. 19 Kentucky, 2-0, (Sep. 13) and then No. 20 Purdue, 2-1 (Oct. 13). Both victories came on the road. At home, the Spartans tied then No. 21 Michigan, 1-1 (Oct. 25), and fell to then No. 13 Penn State, 3-0 (Oct. 6).
