Heyboer's Pair Helps Spartan To Win Over Purdue

Sept. 18, 2011

West Lafayette, Indiana - Michigan State ran its winning streak to eight games - its longest such streak since 2008 - with a 2-1 win over Purdue in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Laura Heyboer scored both goals for the Spartans and Jill Flietstra made three saves in her first game back in action.

"This was a hard-fought game against two pretty evenly-matched teams, and I thought it was physical and competitive - exactly what we need to prepare ourselves for in Big Ten games," said head coach Tom Saxton. "I thought that we responded really well when Purdue got their goal so quickly after we scored in the second half. It was a good win for us to start our Big Ten season."

The teams were scoreless at the intermission, and Heyboer gave her team a lead in the 58th minute. Hannah Peterson set up Heyboer at the top of the box, and the senior won a one-on-one battle with the defender and sent her shot into the lower left corner.

Alex Hairston countered for the home team in the 68th minute, when she headed a right-to-left cross from Mollie Kuramoto into the back of the net. The goal snapped Flietstra's personal shutout streak of 627:46, dating back to the beginning of the season.

Heyboer came up with her second game-winning goal of the week when she potted her second goal of the game in the 82nd minute. Olivia Stander had the ball on the right side and drew the defenders, and then crossed the ball to Heyboer at the far post. Heyboer's header found it's mark for the game-winner.

Heyboer's two goals gave her five on the week. She had a hat trick in the midweek non-conference finale against Detroit, with her third goal standing as the overtime game-winner. Heyboer now sits alone in fifth place in the Big Ten career annals in both goals (52) and total points (125).

The Spartans prepare for a pair of Big Ten contests at DeMartin Stadium next weekend. MSU will host Wisconsin on Friday and Minnesota on Sunday.