No. 9 Field Hockey Upsets No. 6 Iowa, 3-1

Oct. 11, 2003

IOWA CITY, Iowa - No. 9 Michigan State field hockey defeated No. 6 Iowa in Iowa City, 3-1, Saturday, Oct. 11, for one of the Spartans' biggest victories of the year. The Spartans improved their record to 10-3 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten while the Hawkeyes fell to 9-4, 1-2 in the conference.

The Spartans entered the game with a four-match winning streak, while the Hawkeyes were looking to rebound after losing to Michigan in their last Big Ten contest. Iowa's Sarah Dawson helped her team's cause by getting on the board 7:25 into the first half, tipping in a pass from Debbie Birrell past MSU goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy for a 1-0 advantage.

MSU tied the game with 1:01 remaining in the half. Veerle Goudswaard connected off a penalty corner with help from Alexandra Kyser for her 10th goal of the season. Goudswaard completed the game with seven shots, four on goal.

State controlled action in the second half, giving up only two shots, both saves for Kirkaldy, while placing five of 14 shots on Iowa's net. Fortunately for the Green and White, it scored the only two goals of the second half for the win. Michelle Huynh-Ba registered the eventual game-winner as well as her first goal on the year 49:29 into the game for a 2-1 lead. Kyser then earned a penalty shot attempt at 66:50 and picked up her team-leading 12th goal, as she secured the 3-1 victory.

Michigan State outshot Iowa 19-5 and earned 14 penalty corners to the Hawkeyes' three. Kirkaldy played all 70 minutes for the win. Meanwhile, Goudswaard (seven), Annebet Beerman (four) and Huynh-Ba (three) led State in total shots.

MSU returns home to face archrival and current No. 5 Michigan Friday, Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. at the MSU Field Hockey Complex.