Michigan State University
California
Field Hockey Tops No. 20 California In Overtime
9/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 27, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Rolf
Jeamie
The 10th-ranked field hockey team posted a 3-2 overtime win over No. 20 California on Saturday afternoon to improve to 9-1 overall. Freshman Chantae Miller (East Amherst, N.Y.) scored the game-winner in the 79th-minute. Junior Jeamie Deacon (Wexford, Ireland) lead the team with four points in the game, extending her point streak to six games.
California opened the game with a goal at 2:22 from Ashley Glosz, assisted by Carolina Bistue. The play started with a penalty corner for the Golden Bears, with Glosz finding the back of the net off a deflection. The Spartans responded at 15:38 with a goal from junior Floor Rijpma (Bunnik, Netherlands), her team-leading eighth of the season. Deacon took the initial shot from outside the circle, and Rijpma tipped the ball into the goal cage. With the goal, Rijpma extended her point streak to five games.
The Golden Bears tallied their second goal at 21:04 off a scramble in front of the net. Natalie Nurnberg recorded her third goal of the season, with the assist Erin Magill. Deacon tied the game at the 48th-minute off a penalty corner with assists to senior Gwen Riley (Louisville, Ky.) and Miller. The Spartans dominated in overtime, recording two shots and three penalty corners. Miller recorded the game-winner off a scramble in front after a penalty corner, with Deacon starting the play.
Michigan State outshot California 17-11, and recorded 13 penalty corners in the game, compared to seven for the Golden Bears.
"We faced a strong California team today," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "It's good to see we can rebound from a goal down, and we did twice today. We're fortunate to finish with a win, and we need to find a way to be better focused before our next game."
Junior Elissa Unger (Reading, Pa.) made four saves in goal, and Kelly Knoche made six saves for California.
The game was the second overtime contest of the season for Michigan State, both ending as 3-2 victories. The Spartans defeated Stanford on Sept. 3, with Jeamie Deacon getting the extra-period tally.
Michigan State hosts Indiana in a Big Ten game on Friday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.
