Spartans Drop 3-2 Heartbreaker, In Double OT

Sept. 24, 2005

East Lansing, Mich. - In a true shoot out, Indiana and Michigan State combined for 52 shots, but Indiana always seemed one up on State, as the No. 11 Hoosiers upset the sixth-ranked Spartan field hockey team, 3-2 in double overtime, in Bloomington on Saturday afternoon.

Indiana's Kayla Bashore gave the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead that held through the first half, scoring in the 24th minute. Spartan sophomore forward Gwen Riley tied it at one all, at the beginning of the second period, firing one past IU's Haley Exner on a penalty corner at 39:06. Freshman Inge Kaars Sijpestijn was credited with the assist.

The Hoosiers managed to regain a one goal advantage, going up, 2-1, on a Lydia Schrott score, at 52:12. State evened the slate less than two minutes later, at 54:08, when junior forward Ashley Pernicano found the back of the net on senior midfielder Jessica Miller's assist.

The score remained knotted 2-2 at the end of regulation, forcing overtime. The extra period wouldn't be enough to settle the score and the game was pushed into a second overtime. Indiana's Kate O'Connell finally broke the stalemate at 75:49, giving the Hoosiers the victory and the upset.

Senior goalie Christina Kirkaldy stopped nine shots on the day and Sijpestijn led the Spartan offense with eight shots. The conference opening loss dropped State's record to 7-3 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten.

MSU will look to rebound from the loss at home, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, when they host in state rival Central Michigan at 4 p.m.