Michigan State University
Michigan
No. 6 Field Hockey Falls To Michigan, 1-0
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 17, 2003
East Lansing, Mich. - MSU field hockey dropped its first Big Ten contest of the season Friday (Oct. 17) to in-state rival Michigan at the MSU Field Hockey Complex in East Lansing. With nearly 900 fans in attendance, the Spartans and Wolverines battled for victory, a point in the MSU vs. UM Pontiac Challenge Cup and bragging rights. Despite a substantial advantage in every statistical category, the Spartans fell to Michigan, 1-0.
With fifth-ranked Michigan facing No. 6 Michigan State, the rivalry lived up to its billing. While the statistics were on Michigan State's side, time was not as the game came down to a Spartan penalty corner with no time on the clock, but State could not capitalize. MSU had 17 shots to UM's six while Michigan State held the advantage in penalty corners, taking 14 of their own and allowing the Wolverines just two and not one set play in the second half.
"Our corners have been strong all season," said head coach Michele Madison. "This is the first time all year that has happened. We have to go back to the drawing board and figure out how their defense was able to stop us."
Michigan got the early lead just 8:16 into the contest as Jessica Blake found the back of the cage, tipping a high-bouncing rebound past MSU goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy. The teams went into halftime evenly matched with four shots each. When State came back from the half, they did not allow a shot from Michigan until nearly 15 minutes remained in the game.
The Spartans forced nine penalty corners in the second half alone, denying the Wolverines a chance for a penalty corner in the second stanza. The Wolverines were limited to just two shots, only one on goal.
With 9:20 remaining in the game with the Spartans dominating on offense, MSU found the back of the goal, but the referee's whistle called the goal off. After a timeout at the seven-minute mark, Michigan State continued to attack the goal, getting yet another goal disallowed with 3:25 remaining.
Annebet Beerman led the Spartans with seven shots, five on goal while Veerle Goudswaard had five shots, three on goal.
The loss marks the first time the Spartans have lost on their home turf in 18 tries and is the first loss for MSU field hockey at the MSU Field Hockey Complex.
Michigan State will host Hofstra Saturday, Oct. 18 at the MSU Field Hockey Complex for MSU's parent day. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
