Michigan State University
Michigan - NCAA Tournament
Field Hockey Falls In Second Round Of NCAA Tournament
11/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 16, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Although the Michigan State field hockey team sustained offensive pressure throughout the second half, the breaks went Michigan's way in a 2-1 Wolverine victory Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans concluded their 2003 season with a 17-5 record while UM moved on the NCAA semifinals, posting a 17-5 mark as well.
"I wish that we could have won it," said head coach Michele Madison. "I think that it was a valiant effort from our team. I believe that getting down two goals early to Michigan was trouble."
Michigan's defense was stellar in the first half, knocking down almost every ball that State shot in towards the net. But sophomore Jessica Miller managed a scoring opportunity early in the game as she gained possession near the left side of UM goalkeeper Beth Riley as her shot went just wide. Miller's shot was one of only three Spartan shots taken during the opening half, unfortunately none found their way on goal.
Just minutes after Miller's opportunity, Michigan's Adrienne Hortillosa was set up on a penalty corner by Laura Woitkewitsch and Jessica Blake at 11:40 and sent a shot just over Spartan goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy for a 1-0 Wolverine lead. At 14:39, Blake got on the scoresheet again and put Michigan up 2-0 with a shot that sailed just past Kirkaldy.
MSU's offense came to life in the second half as it gained control of the game's momentum with a goal at 38:38. After receiving a pass from Miller, junior Veerle Goudswaard flew past a Michigan defender and put a shot into the back right-corner of the net to cut the UM lead to 2-1.
Luck would be on Michigan's side, however, after the Spartan goal. At approximately the 52:00 mark, sophomore Michelle Huynh-Ba sent a shot past Riley towards an open right side and caught just enough of the post to keep the ball in play. Freshman Jennifer Beeuwkes captured the rebound and fired it on goal, but Riley made the save. Michigan State also saw three penalty corner attempts come and go with under 20 minutes remaining as Michigan held on for the 2-1 victory.
"I felt that we really closed the hole the end of the second half," said Goudswaard. "We did have a lot more shots right after we scored and it was a boost of intensity. But I felt the whole end of the second half we were really close, but we just couldn't get it in."
State outshot Michigan 12-3 in the contest and earned three penalty corners to the Wolverines' one. Kirkaldy completed the game with one save. The loss was MSU's second of the season on home turf, both at the hands of Michigan.
"When we look back and think about what a season we've had and what great players we have and what a great senior class this has been, we'll know that we ended up with two championships. The team really started to pull together and rally at the end of the year. I am extremely proud of my team."
