Women's Soccer Hosts Ohio State in Home Finale
11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2009
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's soccer team will host No. 11 Ohio State at 3 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 6) at DeMartin Stadium in its final regular-season game of the year. For the Spartans (10-4-4, 3-4-2), it will be their most critical game of the season to this point, as a win would give them a great opportunity to earn a NCAA Tournament bid. Ohio State (14-2-2, 7-1-1) will be playing for a share of the Big Ten championship.
The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and will air on Sunday (Nov. 8) at 4 p.m.
The Last Time Out: MSU got a much-needed victory on Sunday, defeating Iowa, 3-2, in overtime. Cara Freeman got the game-winner off a corner kick just over three minutes into OT. Olivia Stander and Lauren Hill also scored for MSU.
Ohio State Series History: Michigan State trails the all-time series with the Buckeyes, 7-8. The two schools have split the last four meetings, with MSU winning last year's match, 5-1. After trailing, 1-0, the Spartans scored five-unanswered goals, keyed by a hat trick from Laura Heyboer.
10+ Wins Again: For the eighth time in the last 10 seasons, the Spartans have won 10 games. MSU last won at least 10 regular-season games in 2008 and 2005, making the NCAA Tournament in each season.
Thank You, Seniors: Six Spartans will be honored prior to Friday's game: Lauren Sinacola, Kate Rehor, Lauren Hill, Megan Brown, Kelsey Tait and Danielle Petri. This group of seniors won 39 games over their four years, including a 14-win season, which is tied for second-most in school history, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2008.
Hill Ranks Near the Top: Lauren Hill will leave her mark at MSU as one of the program's all-time great scorers. With 37 career goals, Hill currently stands alone in second place on the MSU all-time goals list behind Michele Wise (1986-89, 39 goals). Her 89 career points also put her in second on the all-time points chart behind Wise (99 points).
Nearly one-third of her career goals were game-winners (12) - tying her for the program best in that category with Tiffany Laskowski (2000-03).
MASH Unit: The Green and White has lost four players to season-ending injuries this season, including three starters. Senior Kate Rehor (knee), a key reserve midfielder, was the first to go down in September, followed by fellow senior captain and four-year starter, Lauren Sinacola (knee). MSU lost freshman midfield starter Jordan Mueller (knee) in mid-October and sophomore All-America and leading scorer, Laura Heyboer (leg), suffered a season-ending injury when she scored the game-winner against Minnesota.
OT Heros: MSU's 3-2 overtime win over Penn State was its first extra-session win in seven tries - since 2005 when it beat Texas A&M, 1-0. Last weekend's 3-2 triumph over Iowa in OT marked the first time the Spartans won two overtime games in the same season since defeating Minnesota and Iowa in 2000.
