Field Hockey Hosts Penn State For Saturday Contest

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Oct. 7, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - After posting a convincing victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas on Tuesday, Oct. 5, No. 3 Michigan State (12-1; 2-0 Big Ten) prepares to face its third Big Ten opponent of the season. The Spartans will host conference opponent Penn State (8-5; 2-0 Big Ten) at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 for MSU field hockey's alumni weekend game.

MOST RECENTLY
MSU posted an 8-2 win over Central Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Senior forward Veerle Goudswaard notched four goals, marking her third hat trick performance of the season. Juniors Jessica Miller and Breanna Harpstead each picked up two assists and Miller recorded two goals as well. Junior Annebet Beerman also posted two goals to help the Spartans take the win.

UNDEFEATED IN THE BIG TEN
Michigan State joins Michigan and Penn State as the teams that are undefeated in the Big Ten thus far in 2004. Penn State defeated Ohio State and Indiana to establish a perfect conference record, while U-M downed Indiana and Northwestern for its pair of Big Ten wins. Michigan State will face Penn State this weekend in East Lansing and travels to Ann Arbor to meet the Wolverines on Oct. 16.

UNDEFEATED ON THE ROAD
While the intimidation factor of playing an opponent on its home field may be present, the Spartans seem to be unphased by it. MSU boasts a perfect 7-0 record on the road, 8-0 if one neutral site game is included.

ON TOP OF HER GAME AND ON TOP OF THE NATION
One cannot attend a Michigan State field hockey game without noticing senior forward Veerle Goudswaard. In East Lansing, the crowd gets noticably louder when Goudswaard take control of the ball because MSU fans are well aware of the Houten, Netherlands-native's ability to anticipate scoring opportunties and to capitalize on them, over and over again.

Goudswaard has already posted 23 goals this season; that's five more than her goals total of 18 last year. And, with 23, Goudswaard doesn't just lead her team and the Big Ten in scoring, she leads the nation.

BREAKING RECORDS
As it stands, Goudswaard ranks third in single-season goals in program history, but it seems likely that she will move into, at least, the number two spot. In 1978, Nance Lyons posted 26 goals in a 13-game season and in 1977, Lyons recorded 30 goals in 15 games.

Junior Jessica Miller's nine assists so far this season make her one assist away from breaking onto the all-time best list. Junior Breanna Harpstead, with eight, is just two assists away from securing a spot in the records book.

PRETTY TRICKY
The Spartans have cited their ability to score as the team's greatest strength this season. Team members have proved that scoring often means that individuals are posting more than one goal per game and, in many cases, more than two.

Veerle Goudswaard posted her third hat trick performance of the season on Oct. 5 in a Spartan victory over Central Michigan. Annebet Beerman has enjoyed two hat trick performances this season.

GREEN AND WHITE ON THE ATTACK
With 12 wins under their belts, the Spartans are nearly unstoppable on the attack. MSU has posted 40 goals on 175 scoring attempts, while opponents' have netted just 11 of 91 shots taken. Senior forward Veerle Goudswaard has had a particularly impressive start in 2004-05, scoring 17 goals in just 11 games, including two hat tricks and two game-winning goals. As it stands, Goudswaard is just one goal away from her goals total from last season.

DEFENSIVE POWERHOUSE
In addition to a stellar goaltender in junior Christina Kirkaldy, Spartan defense is solid, quick and effective. With seasoned defenders like seniors Jacqueline Ahinga and Michelle Carstens in the backfield, MSU is able to take its attack to the highest possible level and to embark on more scoring risks throughout the game.

NETMINDING
Junior Christina Kirkaldy returns as the Spartans' starting goaltender after recording 1359:45 minutes and posting a goals-against average of 1.34 last season. She also boasts 11 career shutouts, five of which occurred in 2003.

Kirkaldy earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors on Aug. 30 and again on Sept. 27, marking the seventh time she has earned the award in her career. She was also selected for womensfieldhockey.com honor roll distinction this season.

Kirkaldy has posted four shut out performances so far in 2004.

FRESHMEN TALENT
The newest class of Spartan field hockey athletes is aggressive, enthusiastic and extremely talented. Unquestionably, this high-level group of rookies has already contributed to State's undefeated season thus far.

Freshman forward Kathryn Elenz-Martin has already scored three times, including one game-winner for her efforts. Freshman forward Michelle Ciliberti scored two goals in two consecutive contests, contributing to MSU victories over James Madison and Virginia.

SCOUTING PENN STATE
Current record: 8-5 (2-0 Big Ten)
2003 Record: 17-7-1 (3-3 Big Ten)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 7/3
Head Coach: Charlene Morett is in her 18th season leading the Nittany Lions.
MSU All-Time vs. Central: 6-19-0

Last Year:
MSU defeated the Nittany Lions twice in 2003. First, the Spartans posted a 4-2 regular season win at University Park, followed by a 5-3 Green and White victory over PSU at the Big Ten Tournament.

Last Few Years: While PSU leads the all-time record against Michigan State by an impressive 6-19-0, the Spartans have captured a win in four of the past five meetings.

Scouting Report: Penn State joins Michigan State as one of just three Big Ten field hockey programs who remain undefeated this season. Most recently, the Nittany Lions shut out West Chester, 3-0, on Oct. 3. Before that PSU downed Indiana, 1-0, on Oct. 2. The Lions have posted six shutouts this season.

Watch out for...
Senior forward Karin Grap leads PSU in scoring with seven goals this season. Grap has played in 11 games, starting nine.

Senior midfielder Michele Rigby ties for third on her team in scoring this season, posting five goals and one assist. Rigby has been critical to Penn State's recent success, scoring at least one goal in three of the Nittany Lions' four past contests.

CHECKING OUT MICHIGAN STATE
2004 INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
#00 Christina Kirkaldy
Posted second consecutive shutout and the 15th of her career against Northwestern (9/26)... Recorded her third shut out of the season and the 14th of her career against Ohio (9/24)... Posted six saves against Wake Forest (9/19)... Recorded 13th career shutout against Rutgers (9/9/04) ...Earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for the sixth time in her collegiate career on Aug. 30... Selected for womensfieldhockey.com honor roll distinction on Aug. 30... Posted 12th career shut out against Delaware (8/28/04).

#6 Becky Manning
Posted her first career goal to aid MSU in a 4-2 win over Sacred Heart (9/12)

#7 Breanna Harpstead
Posted two assists against Central Michigan (10/5)... Recorded an assist against Ohio State (10/2)... Posted four assists in just five games... Notched first career goal in a victory over Virginia (9/5).

#8 Ashley Pernicano
Recorded a goal and an assist against Ohio (9/24)... Posted the game-winner over Kent State (9/17), allowing MSU to maintain an undefeated, 7-0, record. Netted her first goal of the season against Sacred Heart (9/12)... Recorded an assist to contribute to a Spartan victory over Rutgers (9/9/04)... Posted an assist in a 4-0 shut out over Rutgers (9/9).

#9 Michelle Carstens
Posted a defensive save against Central Michigan (10/5)... Recorded an assist for the second-straight game against Wake Forest (9/19)... Drew an assist, contributing to a 2-1 Spartan victory against Kent State (9/17)... Put the Spartans on the board with her first goal of the season, contributing to a 2-1 OT win over Hofstra (9/11)

#10 Michelle Huynh-Ba
Recorded an assist against Ohio (9/24)... Posted a stellar performance in the midfield, inciting several Wake Forest turnovers (9/19)... Netted her first goal of the season to put MSU on the board in a victory over Rutgers (9/9/04).

#11 Kathryn Elenz-Martin
Netted her third career goal against Sacred Heart (9/12), contributing to a 4-2 MSU victory... Notched a goal against Virginia, aiding her team in its 6-2 victory (9/5/04)... Scored first career goal to win the Spartans' season-opener, 1-0 (9/28/04).

#13 Jessica Miller
Recorded two assists against Central Michigan (10/5) Notched two goals against Central Michigan (10/5)... Recorded seventh assist of the season against Ohio State (10/2)... Posted an assist for the second-straight game against Wake Forest (9/19)... Recorded an assist against Kent State (9/17), contributing to a 2-1 Spartan victory... Notched her first goal of the season in a 4-1 Spartan victory over Duke (8/29/04)

#14 Annebet Beerman
Posted two goals against Central Michigan (10/5)... Notched a goal against Ohio State (10/2)... Posted the game-winner over Northwestern, her second consecutive game-winning goal (9/26)... Fired off 13 shots, 10 on-goal, against and recorded a the third hat trick of her career, in a 7-0 victory over Ohio (9/24)... For the second consecutive game, made a defensive save against Wake Forest (9/19)... Made a defensive save against Kent State (9/17)... Scored a goal against Kent State (9/17) to put MSU on the board... Posted four assists in first seven games of the season... Registered a goal against Virginia (9/5)... Netted her third goal of the season in a 6-1 Spartan victory over James Madison (9/5/04)... Scored her first goal of the season on a penalty shot against Duke (8/29/04).

#15 Michelle Ciliberti
Notched her third career goal against Ohio (9/24)... Scored against Virginia, marking the second straight game in which she scored (9/5/04)... Notched her first collegiate goal against James Madison, contributing to a 6-1 Spartan victory (9/4/05).

#19 Veerle Goudswaard
Notched a hat trick, scoring four goals against Central Michigan (10/5)... Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (10/4)... Scored two goals against Ohio State (10/2), including the game-winner... Drew an assist against Ohio State (10/2)... Notched a goal against Northwestern (9/26)... Posted two goals and two assists against Ohio (9/24)... Notched two goals against defending NCAA Champion Wake Forest (9/19)t; the only Spartan to score during that game... Received womensfieldhockey.com honor roll distinction (9/13)... Named Spartan Athlete of the Week (9/13)... Fired off 21 shots, including 15 on-goal, in three games... Scored a goal and posted an assist in a 4-2 win over Sacred Heart (9/12)... Netted the game-winner in a close 2-1 OT victory over Hofstra (9/11)... Scored 10 goals in the first five games of the season... Recorded a true hat trick, scoring three consecutive goals to help MSU to a 4-0 victory over Rutgers (9/9/04)... Netted one goal to aid MSU in defeating Virginia (9/5/04)... Notched four goals against James Madison, contributing to a 6-2 Spartan victory (9/4/04)... Scored two goals against Duke, both successful, unassisted breakaway attempts (9/5/04).