Michigan State University
Michigan
MSU Drops Overtime Game To No. 6 Michigan, 2-1
10/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 5, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey team fell to 10-4 (1-1 Big Ten) on the year, as it lost to No. 6 Michigan in overtime, 2-1, at the MSU Field Hockey Complex in East Lansing, Mich. on Friday afternoon. For the Spartans, it's their second straight loss and third in the last four games. Michigan now leads the all-time series against MSU 34-22-7, and has won six out of the last eight meetings, and three straight.
The Spartans controlled the ball in the first half, as they took the first 14 shots of the game. In the 26th minute of the game, Floor Rijpma held the ball on the left side for MSU, passed it to the top of the circle where Michelle Ciliberti received it, quickly eluded her defender, and slapped it passed Michigan goalkeeper Paige Pickett. It was an unassisted goal for Ciliberti, who scored her fourth goal of the year. MSU stayed on the offensive as it recorded the next five shots against the Wolverines, but Michigan knotted the score at the end of the first half as sophomore Vanessa Sekhon scored on a penalty corner to tie it up with no time remaining.
The second half became a defensive battle between the two teams as they held each other scoreless on just three shots each, which sent the game into overtime. In the extra period, the Wolverines wasted little time and took advantage of a penalty corner. Michigan senior captain Lucia Belassi scored just 4:21 into overtime, her ninth goal of the year, off a pass from Michaela McDermott to end the game.
"I'm a very proud coach; these are a bunch of great players that showed a lot of character as we defended our field and showed that Spartan pride never dies," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "It's big compliment to everybody that prepared for this game. We grew as a team today."
MSU hosts another Big Ten rival on Sunday, Oct. 7. The Ohio State Buckeyes come into town for a 1 p.m. showdown with the Spartans.Ohio State leads the all-time series against MSU, capturing 32 out of the 49 meetings, but the Spartans have taken six of eight the past six seasons.
