Michigan State University
Michigan
MSU Battles Through Scoreless Tie at Michigan
10/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 9, 2010
Ann Arbor, Mich. - Michigan State battled archrival Michigan for 110 minutes through regulation and two overtimes, but neither team would find the back of the net and the squads had to settle on a 0-0 deadlock in Ann Arbor on Saturday evening. The Spartans are now 7-3-2 overall and 2-1-1 in the Big Ten; Michigan is now 5-2-4, 0-1-2 in Conference action.
For the fourth straight season, the annual meeting of these teams ended in a tie. Michigan State is now unbeaten in its last seven games against the Wolverines. The teams played to a scoreless tie in 2005 and 2009, and tied 1-1 in both 2007 and 2008. MSU earned a 1-0 victory in 2006, and won by a 2-1 margin in 2004. UM's last victory in the series came on Oct. 24, 2003, a 2-1 victory in Ann Arbor.
The last goal scored in this series came in the 2008 meeting, when then-freshman Laura Heyboer tied the score at 1-1 in the 64th minute. Neither team has scored a goal in the last two seasons.
"When we play Michigan, all the cliches that come into play about playing your rival - `Throwing out the records' - they all come into play," said Tom Saxton after the stalemate. " Tonight's result was indicative of the intensity that both teams brought into the game. I thought it was closely-fought, and the quality scoring chances were about even. Our defense played great again, and Jill [Flietstra] had a good presence. We have been so strong defensively - we can stay in games like this, where in the past, a little mistake might have cost us a game like this. We probably walked off the field a little dissatisfied, but I am very proud of our effort."
In Saturday night's contest, Michigan held a 20-14 edge in shots attempted and 5-4 edge in corners, but both teams had just three shots on net. Jill Flietstra's three saves produced her ninth shutout of the season, and third straight whitewash. Flietstra has just one goal allowed (on a penalty kick, in a 1-0 loss at Penn State) in the last seven games.
Flietstra entered the weekend as the Big Ten leader in saves per game (4.55), shutouts (8) and shutouts per game (.73). The junior was also second in the conference in saves with 50. She is currently in eighth in the MSU record book career saves with 136, and is in fourth in shutouts with 16. The junior now stands alone in seventh in career wins (20); seven of which have come in her 12 starts this season.
"Jill has made such improvements, and they come as a result of her experience," commented her head coach. "She'll call off the defense on a through ball, and she gets her hands on it, ending the play. Goalie coaches call it `making the save before you have to make the save'. She's a great athlete with a great pedigree, and she just continues to improve and be such a positive for our program. She thinks the game better, and sees it better. It's nice that the shutouts and the recognition are coming for her as validation of that growth and improvement."
Michigan State returns to action on Thursday when it plays a 4 p.m. game at Oakland. The Spartans will then take part in a men's-women's doubleheader on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium that will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
