Oct. 23, 2005
Box Score
East Lansing, Mich. - The number one ranked Nittany Lions remained undefeated and untied with a 3-0 win, over the Michigan State women's soccer team, at Old College Field on Sunday, Oct. 23. The Spartans drop to 10-4-4 overall and 6-2-1 in Big Ten play; but the Green and White have clinched at worst a number three seed in the conference playoffs. After an evenly played first 65 minutes, Penn State scored twice in three minutes to put the game out of reach.
The Lions jumped out in front in the 33rd minute when Tiffany Weimer collected her 24th goal of the season; the senior striker has scored in every game this season for PSU. Spartan goalkeeper Nicole Galas (Sterling Heights) made the initial save, but Weimer corralled the rebound and buried a shot into an open net.
Michigan State nearly netted an equalizer when Emma Harris (Portage) found Dana Voorheis (Saginaw) with a perfectly slotted pass into the 18-yard box. Voorheis, in perfect shooting position, was hauled down by a Nittany Lion defender but no call was made on the play.
The Spartans had another great chance in the 57th minute, following a great run by Nina Mastracci (Troy) which ended in a Penn State foul. On the ensuing set piece Mastracci found Harris who turned and blistered a shot just wide of the right post.
"Penn State is a great team," said Spartan Head Coach Tom Saxton. "Still, for most of the game we we're right there with them. We had a few breakdowns as a team and they capitalized on them."
Nittany Lion Carmelina Moscato took advantage of a confused Michigan State defense when she converted on a direct kick from 25 yards out. Moscato's shot clanged off the far post and into the net, leaving a sprawling Galas virtually helpless. PSU defender Denay Riley netted the final goal of the day, heading home a corner served by Moscato in the 68th minute.
"The second goal was the key," Saxton said. "If we had managed to keep it at a one goal deficit I would have liked our chances. When we fell behind by two goals we made things very difficult for ourselves."
Prior to Sunday's match, the Michigan State women's soccer program honored its eight seniors, who were making their final career appearance at Old College Field. Forwards Harris, Shannon Collar (Plano, Texas) and Voorheis, midfielder Erin Konheim (West Bloomfield) and defenders Anna Hagel (Gaylord), Mastracci, Katherine Peters (Troy) and Emily Wiegand (Portage) represent one of the most successful classes in MSU history; combining for 52-69-173 in 383 games, posting a 46-16-7 overall record during their four seasons in East Lansing.
The Spartans return to action next Friday at 7:00 p.m., in their regular season finale, against the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The Green and White has already clinched a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, which begins on Nov. 3, and is also hosted by UM.
