Michigan State University
Eastern Michigan
Women's Soccer Blanks Eastern Michigan, 2-0
9/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 19, 2007
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Sophomore Lauren Hill and senior Maureen Pawlak scored goals and the Spartan defense held visiting Eastern Michigan to just three shots as the Michigan State women's soccer team defeated EMU, 2-0, Wednesday afternoon at Old College Field. Michigan State, which has won four of its last five, improves to 4-2 while Eastern Michigan falls to 2-3-1.
Neither team established itself in the opening minutes, as the two intrastate rivals combined for just two shots in the first 17 minutes of play. MSU got on track at the 20:17 mark when sophomore Lauren Sinacola sent a pass to Pawlak in the right corner. Pawlak sent a cross in the box to Hill, who scored from 10 yards out to give MSU a 1-0 lead. Hill now has four goals in the last three matches.
The trio got together for another tally at the 56:51 mark. Sinacola was again the catalyst, sending a pass in the far right corner to Hill, who worked around a pair of EMU defenders. Hill fired a cross to Pawlak in the box, where she fired a volley past EMU goalie Maggie Manville to give the Spartans a 2-0 advantage.
"They're really starting to come together," head coach Tom Saxton said of the trio of Hill, Pawlak and Sinacola. "That second goal was unbelievable."
The Spartans had a couple of point-blank chances to really break the match open, as senior Heather Riley fired a shot off the crossbar in the 42nd minute and junior Lauren Carter sent the rebound into the hands of Manville. The Eagle keeper also deflected a pair of Spartan shots in the second half and she made a diving stop on a hard shot by MSU freshman Cara Freeman. Manville ended the night with five saves.
"We really attacked well, and could've had three or four more goals," Saxton said. "Their goalie played great."
MSU's goalie, senior Nicole Galas, notched her second shutout of the season, stopping just one EMU shot as the Spartans controlled the ball throughout the match. Galas is two shutouts shy of the school record, held by current assistant coach Stacy Heller.
Eastern Michigan's best scoring chance came in the 63rd minute. Leading scorer Maggie Christensen broke away from the MSU defense and had a one-on-one with Galas, who came out on the attack. Christensen rolled a slow shot just wide of the left post, and the Eagles did not have another shot the rest of the match.
MSU continues its three-match week on Friday afternoon when it hosts Bowling Green at Old College Field. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
