Michigan State University
6-5-1, 0-5-1B1G
Iowa
9-3-0, 4-2-0B1G
Women's Soccer falls to Hawkeyes, 1-0
10/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's soccer team fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 1-0, in front of 300 fans at DeMartin Stadium Thursday afternoon in East Lansing. With the loss the Spartans fall to 0-5-1 in the Big Ten and 6-5-1 overall.
"You have to give it to Iowa's defense today," said MSU head coach Tom Saxton. "They defended us well. We haven't capitalized on our chances as of late, but we're still a dangerous team."
The Spartans had a quality scoring opportunity just over 17 minutes into the first half when Nicole Caruso sent a well-placed cross from the right side to a sliding Morgan McKerchie, but the ball was just out of McKerchie's reach.
Iowa maintained pressure on the Spartans from the start of the second half and took a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute by converting on a corner kick. Corey Burns delivered the ball from the right corner where Melanie Pickert headed the ball toward the net. Spartan goalkeeper Courtney Clem got her hand on the shot, but not enough to keep it from going in the net.
The Spartans had the chance to tie the game with just over 15 minutes to play when Iowa goalkeeper Hannah Clark came out to play a bouncing ball near the top of the box with MSU forward Jamie Cheslik bearing down. The ball took a hop away from Clark, but she recovered and grabbed the ball before Cheslik could get her foot on it.
Trailing 1-0 in the final minute, the Spartans put together a pair of high-quality scoring chances. A free kick by Mary Katheryn Fiebernitz just outside the box was sent whistling just outside the bar.
With 15 seconds left the Spartans sent one last push forward when a ball was played into the six-yard box for Allyson Krause, who got a foot on it but was stoned by the Hawkeyes' keeper.
Michigan State has now lost five Big Ten games all by just one goal each.
The Spartans will look to get back on the winning-track Sunday, when they welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-4-2, 1-2-2 B1G) into town. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
Team Stats
Pickert, Melanie (5)
Assisted By: Burns, Corey
Header off a corner kic, top left corner
51:50
