Soccer To Face Minnesota, Penn State In Final Homestand

Oct. 20, 2005

East Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan State women's soccer team (9-3-4, 5-1-1) wraps up the 2005 home schedule this weekend when Minnesota and Penn State invade East Lansing. The Spartans enter the weekend third in the Big Ten standings and have clinched a spot in the conference tournament; the undefeated Nittany Lions (15-0-0, 7-0-0) sit alone atop the Big Ten, while the Golden Gophers (8-5-2, 5-2-0) are fourth, just one point behind MSU.

Prior to Sunday's contest with Penn State, Michigan State will honor seniors Shannon Collar (Plano, Texas), Anna Hagel (Gaylord), Emma Harris (Portage), Erin Konheim (West Bloomfield), Nina Mastracci (Troy), Katherine Peters (Troy), Dana Voorheis (Saginaw) and Emily Wiegand (Portage). The senior class represents one of the most successful classes ever for the MSU soccer program, combining (as of Oct. 21) to play in 375 games, produce 51 goals and 63 assists for 165 points, and an overall record of 45-25-7 during their four years in Green and White. The group also produced the only NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, a feat they hope to replicate this season.

The Golden Gophers dropped to 5-2-0 in Big Ten action, on Sunday, with a 1-0 double overtime loss at Ohio State. Minnesota surrendered the game-winning goal to Buckeye Lisa Collison with just 31 seconds remaining in the match. Still, with an 8-5-2 overall record, the Gophers have been one of the more highly regarded teams in the conference this season. Up front, Minnesota is led by freshmen Lindsey Schwartz and Claire Grimwood and senior Becky Dellaria. The duo of Schwartz (5) and Dellaria (4) has combined for nine goals this season, while Grimwood has handled the playmaking duties with a team-leading seven assists. Senior Molly Schneider has started 33 consecutive games for the Gophers, including all 15 this season. In 2005, the Rochester, Minn., native has posted a 0.87 GAA and a .864 save percentage.

Penn State will enter a Friday night contest at the University of Michigan as the nation's number one team with an unblemished 15-0-0 (7-0-0 Big Ten) record. The Nittany Lions have outscored their opponents, 45-11, this season, thanks in large part to 22-goal season by senior forward Tiffany Weimer (no other Lion has scored more than four). Weimer has scored in all 15 PSU matches this season, tying her with former US-National Brandi Chastain, who scored at least one goal in 15-straight matches while at Santa Clara. Weimer scored her team-leading eighth game-winning goal on Friday, a 1-0 victory over Ohio State. Senior Erin McLeod has started all 15 games at goalkeeper for Penn State this season, registering seven shutouts and posting a 0.73 GAA and a .800 save percentage.

After this weekend's action the Spartans will have one regular season game remaining, an Oct. 28 meeting with arch-rival Michigan. MSU will open up conference tournament action the following week in Ann Arbor.

Players Mentioned

Shannon Collar

Anna Hagel

Emma Harris

Erin Konheim

Nina Mastracci

Katherine Peters

Dana Voorheis

Emily Wiegand

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