Spartans Blank Northwestern in Big Ten Opener, 4-0

Sept. 22, 2007

East Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey team opened its Big Ten season with a convincing 4-0 victory over visiting Northwestern on Saturday afternoon. The sixth-ranked Spartans improved to 8-1 overall on the season, and got a goal and an assist from Jeamie Deacon to lead the offense.

The Spartans, the top-scoring team both in the Big Ten and the nation (averaging 5.51 goals per game through their first eight contests), put four goals on the board against the Wildcats to avenge an overtime loss last season, but the teams played a scoreless opening stanza and were perhaps tentative over the opening 35 minutes.

"It was very much like our first game of the year against Louisville," admitted head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "I think we started and tried to feel it out a little bit, and see where we stacked up. In the second half, we executed our game plan, and the result was four goals. We're very happy to open up our Big Ten season with a win."

The Spartans held a 6-1 shot advantage at halftime, but exploded for a 16-3 edge in the second stanza. MSU put up a pair of goals in the opening five minutes of the second half, coming from Geraldine Raynor and Floor Rijpma. Becky Manning put the game out of reach at the 55:56 mark, as she tipped home Deacon's shot from the top of the arc. Deacon got on the board at 62:38 when she converted a penalty shot.

Elissa Unger made two saves to record her second shutout of the season and the team's third.

The team is back in action on Sunday when it hosts the University of New Hampshire in the first of four consecutive non-conference games. The Wildcats were 3-1 winners over New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon and enter the game with a 6-3 overall record.