Michigan State University
Michigan
Spartans Fall in Exhibition, 3-2
8/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 21, 2010
Ann Arbor, Mich. - Michigan State and archrival Michigan met up on Saturday afternoon for an exhibition contest, giving both teams a look at their squads against external competition. The Wolverines held on, 3-2, after holding a 3-0 lead in the game. The teams played two regulation halves and an overtime period.
"This exhibition gave our staff a chance to see where our team is at in a number of areas," noted head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "I liked the intensity I saw at the end of the second half, and we carried it into a good overtime period for us. We now have a week to work on some things we noticed today before our opening tournamnet."
The first half ended with a 1-0 Michigan advantage, thanks to a Zara Saydjari goal less than 10 minutes into the half. The host Wolverines held an 8-1 shot advantage, and also had a slim 2-1 lead in penalty corners. MSU keeper Molly Cassidy made 4 saves in the half, including several clutch ones that kept the game close early in the frame.
The Wolverines added to their lead 9:17 into the second half, when Vanessa Sekhon connected on a penalty corner, beating Cassidy low into the bottom right corner of the cage. They increased their advantage to 3-0 with just under eight minutes remaining. Michigan took advantage of a turnover just outside the circle, drove inside and Michelle Roberts launched a shot sailed over a diving Cassidy.
Michigan State got on the board in the final two minutes. Senior Sabine van den Assern took the restart from the left side of the field, outworked a defender on the line, and fed classmate Camille Dagorn at the far post for the marker.
Michigan held a regulation edge of 13-9 in shots, but MSU outshot the Wolverines 8-5 in the second half. Each team took four penalty corners.
The teams played an overtime period as well, allowing extra work in game situations. Much of the extra period belonged to the Spartans - Angela Pagura brought MSU within a goal when she converted a penalty stroke 3:01 into the extra period. Pagura faked and forced the keeper to commit, and her shot went into the bottom left corner of the net.
The Spartans had a chance to tie the score with just under six remaining in the extra period. Joelle vonIerland fed Jantine Steinmetz with a long pass up the left side; Steinmetz outworked the defender deep, sprinted into the circle, and put a great pass across the top of the goalmouth to Amanda Huck. Huck bobbled the pass a bit, and her ensuing shot went just wide at the right post. Chantae Miller and Katherine Jamieson teamed up for a long run in the final minute; Jamieson deked around the keeper, and her backhanded swipe went just wide left of the cage.
On the afternoon, Michigan held a final 18-13 edge in shots and 8-4 edge in penalty corners.
Michigan State gets its first official action next weekend when it hosts the Champions Invitational Tournament at Ralph Young Field. Louisville and Duke, along with in-state rival Central Michigan, are in the field.
Players Mentioned
