Spartans Open Big Ten Season in University Park
9/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2010
The Michigan State women's soccer team begins Big Ten competition when it faces Penn State on Sunday (Sept. 26). The teams kick off at 1 p.m. at Jeffrey Field in University Park, Pa.
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Scouting the Spartans
Michigan State enters Big Ten play with a 5-2-1 overall record. The Spartans won their only game last week, a 2-0 victory over Bowling Green on Friday (Sept. 17). Junior goalkeeper Jill Flietstra earned her sixth shutout in eight starts, which gives her a .72 GAA and .854 save percentage. The keeper leads the Big Ten in shutouts and is runner-up in the conference in saves (35). Laura Heyboer and Olivia Stander continue to dominate MSU and Big Ten, scoring with five goals each. Megan Pines and Annie Steinlage lead the Spartans in assists, owning three apiece.
A Look at the Nittany Lions
Penn State comes into Friday's matchup with an overall record of 2-6-1. Nittany Lions' offense is topped by Danielle Toney, who has tallied four goals this season, and Christine Nairn, who is posting three assists. Krissy Tribbett is Penn State's go-to keeper with 24 saves in nine games played. The red-shirt sophomore has a GAA of 1.64 and a save percentage of .615.
Climbing the Ladder
Junior Laura Heyboer continues to climb the all-time scoring charts. With her goal last Friday against Bowling Green, she currently sits in fourth place in career scoring with 84 points, and now stands alone in fourth with 34 career goals. She also has 16 career assists, tying Lauren Hill and Leah Hutko for 11th on the all-time list.
With another shutout and two saves against the Falcons last weekend, Jill Flietstra is currently in eighth for career saves with 118, and is tied in overall shutouts with 13. Friday's victory marked Flietstra's fifth win this season and 16 overall, which ties her for eighth in the Spartan career record books.
Head Coach Tom Saxton needs five wins to reach the 200-win plateau. He is in his 20th season as the head coach at Michigan State.
Big Ten Pundits
MSU was picked fourth in the 2010 Big Ten preseason poll of coaches. Penn State was selected as the league favorite for the eighth consecutive season, followed by Ohio State, Wisconsin, and the Spartans. Following MSU in the poll, in order, is Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Northwestern, and Iowa.
Players to Watch:
Spartan senior Cara Freeman and juniors Laura Heyboer and Jill Filetstra were named to the Big Ten's "Players to Watch" list. Three student-athletes were selected from each school.
A nod to the D
Junior Jill Flietstra has had shutouts in six of the Spartans' eight games this season, and gets help from a solid backfield - the core of Katelin Chaklos and seniors Samantha Cook and Courtney Shegos are together for a second straight season. The trio started 20 games together last year, and have put forth a staunch defensive effort in 2010 through eight games. MSU is allowing 0.72 goals per game.
The Spartan Staff
Michigan State head coach Tom Saxton is in his 20th season in command of the women's soccer program. He entered the season with a 190-157-34 record, and is coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009. He has Associate Head Coach Tammy Farnum returning for her 14th season and assistant Stacy Heller for her seventh, both after four-year careers in Green and White
