Michigan State University
Northwestern
Spartans Drop Northwestern, 3-2
10/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 31, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - The No. 11 Michigan State field hockey team (14-4, 3-3 Big Ten) downed host Northwestern 3-2, in the final game of their regular season. Senior forward Jantine Steinmetz tallied her fourth game-winning goal of the year when she secured MSU's second victory this season over the Wildcats (11-8, 3-3 Big Ten).
Senior forward Sabine van den Assem made sure the Spartans got on the board first at 6:45 when she netted a goal off a pass from junior midfielder Angie Lucik. It was van den Assem's tenth goal of the season. The Spartans were up on the scoreboard going into halftime, but Northwestern edged them in shots 10-2.
The Wildcats tied up the game when Chelsea Armstrong opened up the second half with a goal at 35:59. Regan Mooney put NU in the lead when she scored on a one-on-one with freshman goaltender Molly Cassidy at 46:09 off of a pass from Kaylee Pohlmeyer.
It was then senior back Joelle van Ierland's turn to tie up the match. After gathering up a rebound, van Ierland deposited the ball on a penalty corner to record her third tally of the season. After battling back and forth, Steinmetz tallied her game-winner at 63:22 after she carried the ball from midfield and scored on a reverse shot from the left side of the field. It was the senior forwards tenth goal of the season.
Cassidy finished the match with a career-high 12 saves as she helped lead the Spartans to their third Big Ten win. The Wildcats out shot the Spartans 17-10 but MSU edged the Northwestern, 6-5, in penalty corners.
'Today we made it more complicated for ourselves but fortunately we found a way to turn things around and get the win," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "Looking back on the last couple of weeks, as a team we have grown and improved as well learned a lot about ourselves. The regular season has prepared us very well for the task at hand during the Big Ten Tournament next week."
The Spartans will return back to Northwestern on Nov. 4, to take part in the Big Ten Tournament.
