Heyboer's Hat Trick, OT Heroics Sink Detroit, 4-3

Sept. 14, 2011

East Lansing, Mich. - Laura Heyboer completed her hat trick with 3:39 remaining in the second overtime to propel the MSU women's soccer team to a 4-3 victory over Detroit on Wednesday afternoon. The Spartans complete their eight-game non-conference schedule on an seven-game winning streak, its longest winning streak since starting the 2008 campaign 8-0-0.

Heyboer's game-winner, her third of the game, was an outstanding individual effort. She picked up the ball about 30 yards out, shook off a defender, and took a shot from 12 yards out. Keeper Nora Abolins made the outstanding save, but the rebound rolled out to her left four yards from the goal line. Heyboer pounced and put in the game-winner, her 11th goal of the season. It was her second hat trick, the first coming against Duquesne at the Michigan Invitational.

Heyboer's three goals moved her into sole possession of fifth place in the Big Ten career recordbook, while her 121 career points puts her in seventh place on that list. The senior's 11 goals is good for 10th all-time in the MSU annals for goals in a single season, and her current point total (27) is tied for 12th.

MSU held the lead three times during regulation, but never for more than five minutes before the Titans evened the score. MSU outshot Detroit 10-2 (7-3 on net) during the regulation period.

The Spartans were on the board before the game was even five minutes old, as Laura Heyboer potted her ninth goal of the season. Heyboer took the cross from Olivia Stander on the left side, and poked the ball past the keeper from about 10 yards out.

Detroit evened the game in the 38th minute. Alison Suschak took advantage of a wet ball slipping off the feet of an MSU defender and buried her shot from 15 yards.

Stander fed Heyboer again in the 52nd minute on a near-identical play to the one which led to their goal in the fourth minute. This time, Stander was on the right side and crossed it in to Heyboer, who got the goalie to commit and had a wide-open shot for her second of the game. The lead was short-lived, as the Titans countered two minutes later. Abby McCollum's shot was saved by Courtney Clem, but the ball slipped out of her hands.

Stander's go-ahead marker came in the 84th minute, when Hannah Peterson dribbled from the touchline to the left of the net, and pushed it out to Stander in front. Stander's shot was to the left side of the net, and goalie Nora Abolins got her hand on it, but the ball slipped through and into the right-side netting.

Alyssa Riley had the last-minute heroics for Detroit, collecting a loose ball on a Sarah Dzuris restart and sending it past the outstretched arms of Clem.

Abolins finished her afternoon with nine saves, while Clem had four for the Spartans.

MSU now turns its attention to Big Ten Conference play, opening on Sunday at Purdue. The Spartans return to DeMartin Stadium the following weekend, hosting Wisconsin and Minnesota (Sept. 23/25.)