Women's Soccer Improves to 6-0

Sept. 12, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Freshman Laura Heyboer scored twice to lead the Michigan State women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Western Michigan on Friday at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans moved to 6-0 with the win, marking the second-best start in school history, and tying the best season-opening win streak.

The scoring started early, with MSU taking the lead in the 12th minute. Heyboer dribbled down the left side of the field, faked a pass across the top of the box, and snuck a dribbler past Western Michigan goalie Julia Francy to tally her first goal of the day.

Fellow freshman Hannah Peterson followed suit not long before the end of the first half, firing a curving shot past Francy which took a friendly bounce off the far post to net her first career goal.

The Spartans spent most of the first half in Bronco territory, with eight of their 13 shots coming before the break. Western Michigan had 10 shots in the game - four coming in the first half.

Heyboer scored again early in the second half on a pass near midfield from junior Lauren Hill that sent her past the defenders, allowing Heyboer to beat Francy one-on-one for her second goal of the game, and her eighth of the young season.

MSU head coach Tom Saxton said that coming out strong in the second half had everything to do with the Spartans taking home the win.

"2-0 is a dangerous score in soccer," he said. "If the opponent gets the next one, then you're in a dogfight, so getting that third goal was critical, and our kids recognized that. They did a good job of putting the game away in the second half."

Western Michigan scored their lone goal of the game on a shot from Kelsey Carmichael that was just past the reach of Spartan goalie Lindsey Wrege in the 87th minute. The goal ended Wrege's scoreless streak, which totaled 504 minutes and spanned over five games.

The Spartans will return to action Sunday at noon against Kent State at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.