Women's Soccer Weekend Preview
10/1/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After coming off a tough loss to Michigan on Saturday evening, the Spartans return to East Lansing for a two-game home stretch this weekend. Michigan State begins the weekend by taking on Iowa (3-2-0, B1G) Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The Spartans will than come back Sunday afternoon for a game against Nebraska (1-2-2, B1G) at 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
The Michigan State women's soccer team gave up a goal in the final minute to lose a 2-1 heartbreaker to in-state rival Michigan, Saturday evening in Ann Arbor. "It was another great college soccer match," said MSU head coach Tom Saxton. "It was a fast-paced and hard-hitting game. We need to regroup and recognize that we're a good team, and try and find those inches to win."
Spartans Hanging Tight The Spartans have lost all four Big Ten games by just one goal. Two of the Spartans losses have come in overtime (Wisconsin, Minnesota), while the other two were lost in the final minute of regulation. (Rutgers, Michigan)
Freshman Phenom Freshman forward Jamie Cheslik scored the lone goal in the Spartans Saturday evening loss to the Wolverines. The goal was Cheslik's sixth of the year, which puts her tied for the Big Ten lead in freshman scoring. Cheslik also leads the Spartans in goals and points (13).
Clem Making Stops Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Courtney Clem continues to impress for the Spartans. The Williamston, Michigan native leads the Big Ten in saves with 59, and is second in the conference in save percentage (.868).
More on the Spartans
• The Spartans have participated in four overtime sessions (1-2-1), which is tied for the most of any Big Ten team.
• MSU has now allowed just ten goals through 11 games... The Spartans have outscored the opposition, 16-10, this season.
• Seven different Spartans have combined to score this season... 29 different players have played for the Spartans this season; including three freshman (Yehwah, Cheslik, McKerchie)
• Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz has converted on both of her penalty kick attempts this season ... Fiebernitz was 3-for-3 last season and has scored on all five career attempts.
• Prior to allowing a goal in the 67th minute against IPFW on Sept. 5, MSU had gone 351 minutes without surrendering a goal.
Meet the Hawkeyes The Iowa Hawkeyes are coming off two consecutive losses at home this past weekend and now sit at 8-3-0, and 3-2-0 in the Big Ten. Iowa entered the weekend tied for first in the Big Ten with nine points but dropped two 1-0, decisions to Big Ten newcomers Rutgers and Maryland, respectively. The Hawkeyes are led by senior forward Cloe Lacasse, who is currently tied for second in the conference in goals with seven. Lacasse also ranks third in the conference in points (18) and in shots (46). Iowa is coached by Dave DiIanni, who is in his first year with the program after spending 11 years at the helm of Grand Valley State's women's soccer team.
Looking Ahead to Nebraska Nebraska comes into East Lansing this weekend after picking up their first Big Ten win in overtime at home against Maryland on Sunday. Like Michigan State, Nebraska has played in four overtime games this season, going 1-1-2. The team is led by 20th year head coach John Walker. During his time in Lincoln, Walker has guided the Huskers to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. Most recently, Walker and the Huskers won the 2013 Big Ten title. Nebraska has gotten good offensive production out of a pair of sophomores, Jaycie Johnson and Caroline Flynn. Johnson is currently second in the Big Ten in goals with seven and fourth in the Big Ten in points with 17.
