Michigan State University
New Hampshire
Field Hockey Stopped by No. 10 New Hampshire, 5-3
10/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 2, 2011
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EAST LANSING, Mich.The Michigan State field hockey team (5-8, 0-2 Big Ten) was topped at home by No. 10 New Hampshire, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon. Freshman forward Abby Barker staged a possible Spartan comeback in the second half by scoring back-to-back goals, but the MSU could not climb all the way back. Redshirt sophomore goaltender Molly Cassidy notched nine total saves against the Wildcats.
"I think the biggest the difference at the end of the game is the tiny, small details which we have talked about since the beginning of preseason," said head coach Helen Knull. "It's the details that count and make a difference. You don't feel it with stats today in terms of shots and corners. We were up there with UNH, but it came down to the small details."
The Spartans started off the contest with most of the momentum on offense. They earned the game's first corner play, but redshirt senior back Angie Lucik's shot went wide of the cage. It wasn't until 16:02 into the first half that either team could find the scoreboard; Whitney Frates got the Wildcats on the board first after she connected on her shot along the baseline.
UNH was awarded two penalty corners within minutes of each other. Cassidy had a diving save that stopped the Wildcats on their first attempt. On the second corner, Kyle Lyons found the back of the cage with her shot, putting the visiting team up 2-0.
The Spartans broke up the shutout going into halftime. With less than two minutes left in the first half of play, MSU lined up for its second corner of the game. Freshman forward Allie Ahern rocketed off a shot past goaltender Katherine Nagengast for her third goal of the season. Holly Sherman and Katherine Jamieson were credited with the assists.
New Hampshire didn't waste time getting back on the board once play resumed; Forty-nine seconds into the period, Emma Erler dribbled onto the center of the circle and chipped the ball into the net. Roughly eight minutes later, Hayley Raush received a pass from Frates in the center of the circle off of a breakaway and she deposited the ball high into the left corner of the cage.
The Wildcats' lead was extended to four goals once Mary Quill flicked the ball into the left side of the net during play inside the circle.
The Spartans did counter with an offensive attack, as Barker received the ball and sprinted down the field on a breakaway. She was met by Nagengast at the top of the circle, who cleared the ball. Less than a minute later, Barker had another breakaway, this time capitalizing on her shot and pulling the Spartans within three.
Forty-two seconds later, Barker received another opportunity to score. The forward notched her second goal of the game making a diving shot off of a pass from freshman Becky Stiles. Barker now leads the team in scoring with five goals and one assist.
Neither team scored in the remaining ten minutes of play. Shots were close, with New Hampshire edging Michigan State, 16-14. The Wildcats were awarded six penalty corners to the Spartans' five.
MSU returns to the road next weekend, traveling to Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 8th and Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 9th. The match at Indiana will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
