Women's Soccer Weekend Preview
10/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 23, 2014 East Lansing, Mich.-Michigan State hits the road this weekend for two games in the state of Illinois. The Spartans will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini Friday night at 8 p.m., EST, in Champaign, before making the short trip to Evanston Sunday for a clash with the Northwestern Wildcats at 2 p.m., EST. The Fighting Illini come into the game with a 4-5-1 Big Ten record and hold a three point lead over the Spartans in the Big Ten standings. The Wildcats enter the weekend with a 2-6-2 Big Ten record, two points behind the Spartans for 10th in the conference.
Last Time Out
Michigan State hung in tight with Big Ten frontrunners No.7 Penn State Sunday afternoon, but came up just short, losing 2-1 on senior day. The Spartans got out to the early lead but could not hold on as Penn State scored a late first half goal and an early second half goal to down the Spartans in front of 1,112 fans at DeMartin Stadium.
The Spartans opened the scoring in the 26th minute when forward Jamie Cheslik played a beautiful through ball into the box for a streaking Megan Marsack, who chipped it over the sprawled Penn State keeper, making it 1-0. It was Marsack's third goal of the season and eighth of her career.
Penn State tied it up just before half when senior Kori Chapic tapped in a rebound in front of goal off of a Haliegh Echard shot from 10 yards out.
The Spartans threatened to retake the lead when senior Paige Wester was sprung loose on a breakaway eight minutes into the second half. Wester beat the keeper on a shot to the near-post, but the ball was cleared off of the line by a Nittany Lion defender, keeping it 1-1.
Michigan State had another point-blank chance when Jamie Cheslik blasted one on net from 12 yards out that was stopped by a diving save by the Penn State keeper. Penn State broke the tie in the 69th minute when a redirection in front of goal was headed past Courtney Clem by forward Elizabeth Ball, making it 2-1.
MSU pressed at the end of the game but could not find an equalizer, dropping its first game since Oct. 2.
Freshman Phenom
Freshman forward Jamie Cheslik continues to lead the Big Ten in freshman scoring with eight goals and and 20 points. The Northville, Michigan native also leads the team in scoring and is seventh overall in the BIg Ten in points, points per game, goals and goals per game.
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 93, and is third in the conference in save percentage (.869).
Wester Breaks Through
Senior forward Paige Wester scored the game-winning goal Thursday against Ohio State with 30 seconds left in regulation. The Portage, Michigan native also picked up two assists during the two-game home stand this past weekend in East Lansing. With the two assists, Wester launched herself onto the Big Ten assists leaderboard, coming in at fifth with seven.
More on the Spartans
• The Spartans are now 8-1-0 when scoring first and 6-0-0 when leading at the half... They are 1-4-0 when the opposition scores first.
• Michigan State leads the Big Ten with 99 saves... The Spartans lead second place Purdue by 19 saves
• The Spartans have outscored the opposition, 24-15, this season and have allowed just 15 goals through 16 games
• Redshirt Junior defender Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz has converted on all three of her penalty kick attempts this season ... Fiebernitz was 3-for-3 last season and has scored on all six career attempts.
• Eight different Spartans have combined to score this season... 29 different players have played for the Spartans this season; including three freshman.
Meet the Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini enter the match Friday after going winless in their last five. Illinois picked up their first point since Sept. 26, tying Maryland in College Park on Sunday, 1-1.
The Fighting Illini are led by redshirt senior forward Janelle Flaws, who leads the league in nearly all offensive statsitcal categories. Flaws ranks first in the league in goals with 17, six more than second place Cara Walls of Wisconsin. Flaws also ranks first in the league in points with 36, 10 more than second place Nicky Waldeck of Michigan.
The Fighting Illini are currently three points ahead of Michigan State in the Big Ten standings with 13.
Kickoff in Champaign Friday will be at 8 p.m., EST.
Looking Ahead to the Wildcats
Northwestern will come into the game Sunday after taking on Michigan Friday in Evanston. The Wildcats currently boast a 6-7-3 record with three wins over top-25 teams.
NU is led by sophomore forward Addie Steiner who leads the team in goals with nine, and points with 19. Stiener also ranks second in the Big Ten with four game-winning goals.
Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Clem, who is the cousin of Spartan keeper Courtney Clem, has come up big for the Wildcats. Clem is currently fourth in the Big Ten in saves with 62.
Michigan State snuck by the Wildcats in last year's meeting with an 83rd minutgoal from Rachel Van Poppelen to give the Spartans a 2-1 victory in Evanston. Game time on Sunday is set for 2 p.m., EST.
Last Time Out
Michigan State hung in tight with Big Ten frontrunners No.7 Penn State Sunday afternoon, but came up just short, losing 2-1 on senior day. The Spartans got out to the early lead but could not hold on as Penn State scored a late first half goal and an early second half goal to down the Spartans in front of 1,112 fans at DeMartin Stadium.
The Spartans opened the scoring in the 26th minute when forward Jamie Cheslik played a beautiful through ball into the box for a streaking Megan Marsack, who chipped it over the sprawled Penn State keeper, making it 1-0. It was Marsack's third goal of the season and eighth of her career.
Penn State tied it up just before half when senior Kori Chapic tapped in a rebound in front of goal off of a Haliegh Echard shot from 10 yards out.
The Spartans threatened to retake the lead when senior Paige Wester was sprung loose on a breakaway eight minutes into the second half. Wester beat the keeper on a shot to the near-post, but the ball was cleared off of the line by a Nittany Lion defender, keeping it 1-1.
Michigan State had another point-blank chance when Jamie Cheslik blasted one on net from 12 yards out that was stopped by a diving save by the Penn State keeper. Penn State broke the tie in the 69th minute when a redirection in front of goal was headed past Courtney Clem by forward Elizabeth Ball, making it 2-1.
MSU pressed at the end of the game but could not find an equalizer, dropping its first game since Oct. 2.
Freshman Phenom
Freshman forward Jamie Cheslik continues to lead the Big Ten in freshman scoring with eight goals and and 20 points. The Northville, Michigan native also leads the team in scoring and is seventh overall in the BIg Ten in points, points per game, goals and goals per game.
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 93, and is third in the conference in save percentage (.869).
Wester Breaks Through
Senior forward Paige Wester scored the game-winning goal Thursday against Ohio State with 30 seconds left in regulation. The Portage, Michigan native also picked up two assists during the two-game home stand this past weekend in East Lansing. With the two assists, Wester launched herself onto the Big Ten assists leaderboard, coming in at fifth with seven.
More on the Spartans
• The Spartans are now 8-1-0 when scoring first and 6-0-0 when leading at the half... They are 1-4-0 when the opposition scores first.
• Michigan State leads the Big Ten with 99 saves... The Spartans lead second place Purdue by 19 saves
• The Spartans have outscored the opposition, 24-15, this season and have allowed just 15 goals through 16 games
• Redshirt Junior defender Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz has converted on all three of her penalty kick attempts this season ... Fiebernitz was 3-for-3 last season and has scored on all six career attempts.
• Eight different Spartans have combined to score this season... 29 different players have played for the Spartans this season; including three freshman.
Meet the Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini enter the match Friday after going winless in their last five. Illinois picked up their first point since Sept. 26, tying Maryland in College Park on Sunday, 1-1.
The Fighting Illini are led by redshirt senior forward Janelle Flaws, who leads the league in nearly all offensive statsitcal categories. Flaws ranks first in the league in goals with 17, six more than second place Cara Walls of Wisconsin. Flaws also ranks first in the league in points with 36, 10 more than second place Nicky Waldeck of Michigan.
The Fighting Illini are currently three points ahead of Michigan State in the Big Ten standings with 13.
Kickoff in Champaign Friday will be at 8 p.m., EST.
Looking Ahead to the Wildcats
Northwestern will come into the game Sunday after taking on Michigan Friday in Evanston. The Wildcats currently boast a 6-7-3 record with three wins over top-25 teams.
NU is led by sophomore forward Addie Steiner who leads the team in goals with nine, and points with 19. Stiener also ranks second in the Big Ten with four game-winning goals.
Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Clem, who is the cousin of Spartan keeper Courtney Clem, has come up big for the Wildcats. Clem is currently fourth in the Big Ten in saves with 62.
Michigan State snuck by the Wildcats in last year's meeting with an 83rd minutgoal from Rachel Van Poppelen to give the Spartans a 2-1 victory in Evanston. Game time on Sunday is set for 2 p.m., EST.
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