Spartans Host First Big Ten Weekend
9/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 22, 2011
The Particulars
Michigan State looks to extend its eight-game win streak, its longest since 2008, when it hosts Wisconsin (6-3-0) Friday at DeMartin Stadium and Minnesota (3-5-1) on Sunday. It is MSU's first home weekend of the Big Ten season.
Listen to the Spartan Sports Podcast: Head Coach Tom
A Look Back
The Spartan's stretched its win streak to eight with a 2-1 victory at Purdue in the opening Big Ten contest for both schools. Laura Heyboer netted both goals in the victory while Jill Flietstra had three saves in her first game back in action. Heyboer's game-wining goal came in the 82nd minute when teammate Olivia Stander launched a cross to the far post in the direction of Heyboer, she was able to finish it with a header to seal the game for the Spartans.
Big Ten Honors
The Big Ten announced on Monday (Sept. 19) that standout senior forward Laura Heyboer was named to Big Ten Offensive co-Player of the Week. Heyboer scored five of MSU's goals last week in contests against Detroit and Purdue. Against Detroit Heyboer netted the game-winner in double-overtime, she also recorded her second hat trick of the season against the Titans. In the Big Ten opener against the Boilermakers, Heyboer's second goal of the game came with just over eight minutes remaining to give the Spartans a 2-1 victory. A MSU player has earned a weekly award in four of the five eligible weeks.
More Accolades
The Big Ten was not the only entity to recognize Heyboer's performance against Detroit and Purdue. Soccer America named Heyboer to its Team of the Week, while Top Drawer Soccer named the senior tri-captain it's national Player of the Week.
Top Drawer Soccer does a top-20 ranking of players in each of the conferences nationally, and in the Big Ten, Laura Heyboer is the No. 2-ranked player, (behind Penn State's Christine Nairn), while Olivia Stander is ranked eighth.
Scouting Wisconsin
Wisconsin heads to East Lansing with a 6-3-0 record, with a close loss to Central Michigan 2-1 and a victory over No. 21 Penn State by the same score at home in Madison. Senior forward Laurie Nosbusch has a 4-3-11 scoring line, is the team's points leader and shares the team lead in goals with freshman Cara Walls. The Badgers goalkeeping duties fall on the shoulders of senior Michele Dalton. She has started all nine games for Wisconsin and boasts a 0.99 GAA, .820 save percentage and three shutouts.
A Look at the Gophers
Minnesota comes to town with a 3-5-1 record and is coming off a 1-1 tie with Ohio State in their Big Ten opener. The Gophers are led by freshman Taylor Uhl who leads the team in both goals and points. Uhl has a 5-1-11 scoring line and has contributed with three game-winners for Minnesota. Junior goalkeeper Cat Parkhill has started all nine games for Minnesota and has a 1.00 GAA, .769 save percentage and has three shutouts.
National Accolades
Two Spartans are scattered throughout many individual categories in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Rankings. Laura Heyboer and Olivia Stander have both started the season extremely well and rank in the top 25 in six different statistical categories. Heyboer is the national leader in points per game, total goals, total points and game winning goals. She also comes in second in goals per game and is tied for 22nd in total assists. Stander is tied for 12th in points per game, tied for 14th in goals per game, tied for 22nd in total assists, tied for 12th in total goals, tied for eighth in total points and tied for 16th in game-winning goals.
Big Ten Rankings
Michigan State leads the conference in shutouts with five and is the only team that hasn't been issued a yellow card. The Spartans have the second longest unbeaten streak in the conference behind only Iowa. Jill Fliestra leads the conference in shutouts (4) and shutouts per game (.67). She ranks second in the conference in goals against average (.67) and third in save percentage (.826).
Next Up
MSU travels for its first Big Ten road weekend, and the first stop will be in Lincoln, Neb. to face the Huskers on Sept. 30. The Spartans will then play at Iowa next Sunday.
