Michigan State University
Iowa
Iowa Squeezes By State, 3-2
10/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 1, 2005
East Lansing, Mich. - After watching Iowa go on top 2-0, the Spartan field hockey team attepted to piece together a comeback, but would fall just short in a, 3-2, loss, in Iowa City, on Saturday. For the first time since 2000, Michigan State has opened Big Ten play 0-2.
"We got behind early on their turf, Iowa is a good team and that makes it hard to come back," remarked head coach Michele Madison.
The Hawkeyes' Kadi Sickley gave Iowa that 2-0 start, scoring both goals unassisted. Her first strike came in the 21st minute and she netted the second off a corner rebound at 44:52.
Junior forward Ashley Pernicano cut the deficit in half a few mintues later, on freshman forward Gwen Riley's assist at 47:04. Senior forward Michelle Huynh-Ba gave the Spartans new life, when she slammed home her seventh goal of the season, capitalizing on one of just four penalty corners on the day, evening the score at 51:17. Senior midfielder Jessica Miller notched the assist.
Caitlin McCurdy put a stop to the late Michigan State rally, scoring the game winner for the Hawkeyes at 63:24.
"Overall we played a good game, we were close and took advantage of the scoring opportunites that we had, but we still aren't playing our best," Madison commented.
Iowa out shot MSU 14-10; senior goalie Christina Kirkaldy recorded five saves for the Green and White.
Michigan State (8-4, 0-2) hopes to rebound from the loss on Thursday, Oct. 6, when it hosts archrival Michigan at the MSU Field Hockey Complex at 4 p.m.
