Spartans Get Big Win Against No. 5 Hawkeyes

Oct. 27, 2007

IOWA CITY, Iowa. - The Michigan State field hockey team traveled to Iowa on Saturday for the last Big Ten matchup of the season. MSU's defense has been great all year, and came up big when it mattered most, as the Spartans defeated the Hawkeyes 1-0, at Dr. Christine H.B Grant Field in Iowa City. MSU is now 14-4 on the year and 6-1 in the Big Ten, and has locked up the #2 seed in next week's Big Ten Championship held in Columbus, Ohio.

MSU took the only lead of the contest in the 20th minute of the game, as sophomore Jeamie Deacon scored her 12th goal of the season, slapping a shot past Iowa goalkeeper Lissa Munley on a penalty corner. The Spartan defense would take it from there, as it shut down the No. 5 team in the nation, blanking its opponent for the second straight week.

"Both teams knew what was at stake today," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "After a slow start, we regrouped and started to execute our game plan resulting in some great opportunities, and eventually leading to the only goal we needed. The team played with great emotion today and did an excellent job on defense."

Michigan State goalkeeper Elissa Unger recorded her second straight shutout, and has been strong in the net for the Spartans all season and now has a total of six. She boasts a 14-3 record, a 1.26 goals against average and a .727 save percentage on the season.

MSU will face Kent State tomorrow in the last game of the regular-season at 2 p.m., in East Lansing.