Spartans Fall in Big Ten Home Opener
9/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 23, 2011
Spartan Sports Podcast: Tom Saxton
EAST LANSING, Mich.- The Spartans fought hard in a physical match in the Big Ten home opener against Wisconsin but fell 2-1 after a late Badger goal in the 84th minute. Senior forward Laura Heyboer tied the score for the Spartans, netting her 14th goal of season. Heyboer leads the nation in total goals scored.
"I think we had some good 50/50 chances early, I just think for whatever reason we were a little bit sluggish and you cant afford to do that against a fine Wisconsin team," said head coach Tom Saxton.
Wisconsin had the first quality chance of the match after a corner kick by Meghan Flannery led to a scramble in the box and a subsequent shot by Lindsey Johnson. Jill Flietstra dove to her left and made the save for MSU. The rebound deflected off of Flietstra and was cleared out by senior defender Katelin Chaklos, ending the Badger threat.
Wisconsin struck first, in the 23rd minute of the contest, with a goal by freshman Cara Walls, her team leading fifth of the season. Johnson sent a right-to-left cross towards Walls and it found its way into the back left corner of the net past the outstretched arms of Flietstra.
After the first half Wisconsin held the lone goal, leading 1-0 at the break. Heyboer had three shots heading into intermission but wasn't able to capitalize.
The Spartans countered with a goal of their own in the 59th minute. Junior forward Olivia Stander advanced the ball ahead to Heyboer, who lofted it perfectly over the head of goalkeeper Michele Dalton from 18 yards out. Heyboer scored her 14th goal of the season and leads the nation in total goals.
"They look for each other very well," Saxton said. "They have kind of a sixth sense together and they made a goal out of nothing on that one."
MSU kept the pressure on with a couple of scoring chances just following the Spartan goal. Stander sent a shot from the left side that was deflected out of bounds by goalkeeper Michele Dalton. After a corner kick, Kelsey Mullen sent a shot through the box, only to be stopped by a diving Dalton for the save.
The chances kept coming for the Spartans; Hannah Peterson shot a corner kick into the box that slipped through to Annie Steinlage. The ball was shot hard by Steinlage but struck Dalton in the chest for the save.
Flietstra had two big saves in the 81st minute of the game keep the score knotted at one. Cara Walls sent a header towards the net but Flietstra knocked it over the crossbar with an outstretched hand. Flietstra added a diving save in the same minute on a shot by Catie Sessions.
Wisconsin netted its second goal of the match in the 84th minute off a shot in front by Cara Walls, her second of the game. Both Sessions and Laurie Nosbusch assisted the goal.
The Spartans are back in action Sunday at DeMartin Stadium at 12 p.m. against Minnesota. The game will be available via live broadcast on bigtennetwork.com.
