Michigan State University
Ohio State
No. 5 Field Hockey Clinches Share of Big Ten Title
10/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 31, 2003
East Lansing, Mich. - The No. 5 Michigan State field hockey team ended its regular season Friday, clinching at least a share of the Big Ten title behind a three-goal, natural hat trick effort by junior Annebet Beerman. Michigan State defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes, 5-0, at the MSU Field Hockey Complex in East Lansing, Mich.
"I really think the team deserves the Big Ten title," said head coach Michele Madison. "They have played well in every Big Ten game. Hats off to Ohio State for a great game and their win against Michigan (2-1, Oct. 26). After we won at Penn State (4-2, Oct. 25), our girls mean business. They are proud of what they are doing. When you have that pride, you get performances like these."
The hungry Spartan team got on the board in the first 1:33 of the game as junior Veerle Goudswaard found the back of the cage on the first penalty corner of the contest for the game-winning goal. Breanna Harpstead anchored the set play as she and Jessica Miller notched assists on the game-winner.
Penalty corners proved to be the Spartans' strong suit all night as every goal came on, or because of, a penalty corner opportunity.
Beerman began her barrage of scoring, as she scored three straight goals for a natural hat trick. The first goal at 15:51 was Beerman's 13th goal of the season as freshman Jennifer Beeuwkes and senior co-captain Alexandra Kyser set up Beerman's goal.
She continued with her second tally at the 33:30 mark, capitalizing on the rebound off the penalty corner. Despite a 10-minute halftime break, Beerman came back and scored just 5:32 into the second stanza for her 15th goal of the season while Beeuwkes and Kyser again assisted on the goal.
Goudswaard added the final goal, sandwiching Beerman's natural hat trick, in the 56th minute. Miller and Harpstead again assisted on the penalty corner conversion.
Christina Kirkaldy made five saves in 62:39 in goal for MSU. Senior Lauren Hess completed the shutout - State's fifth of the year - making two saves in just over seven minutes in goal.
The Spartans outshot OSU 16-9, despite the Buckeyes forcing three more penalty corners than MSU.
Michigan State will find out tomorrow (Nov. 1) whether they will share the Big Ten title with No. 6 Michigan. If No. 7 Penn State wins against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich., MSU will be the sole owners of the regular season title. If U-M wins, the rivals will share the 2003 Big Ten title.
Michigan State now looks ahead to the Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Penn State in State College, Pa., Nov. 7-9.
