Soccer Looks To Bounce Back Vs. Detroit
9/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 20, 2005
The Michigan State women's soccer team will play host to the University of Detroit, in a rare midweek contest, at 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at Old College Field. The Spartans will look to get back on track after suffering their first home loss of the season, Sunday, Sept. 18, to visiting Western Michigan. Wednesday's game marks the final non-conference match-up of the season for the Green and White, who will turn their attention to Ohio State and Big Ten play beginning Sunday, Sept. 25.
Michigan State currently sits 4-2-2 in 2005, thanks in large part to a stifling defense anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Galas (Sterling Heights, Mich.). The Spartans have allowed just three goals in eight games this season, their best start defensively since 2002 when MSU surrendered just one goal in its first eight contests.
The Titans head into Wednesday afternoon's contest 3-3-1, following a pair of losses at the Colorado Soccer Classic in Boulder, Colo. Detroit dropped the first game, to host Colorado, 3-0, before falling to the University of Denver, 4-2, on Sunday, Sept. 18. Junior forward Mary Parker has paced the UDM attack, scoring three goals to lead the team this season. Freshman forwards Emily Kiely and Rachel Stesney have adjusted well to the college game; Kiely has tallied one goal and boasts a team leading two assists, while Stesney has posted a goal and an assist in six games this season. A third freshman, goalkeeper Katie Fortenberry, has logged all 648:32 in the Detroit net this season, making 32 saves and allowing 10 goals, good for a .762 save percentage. The two teams have met 11 times, with the Spartans holding a 10-1-0 series advantage.
The game signifies the halfway point of the 2005 campaign and the end of non-conference play; beginning Sunday with Ohio State, the Spartans will have ten regular-season games remaining, all against Big Ten opponents.
