Women's Soccer Weekend Preview
10/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
East Lansing, Mich. - The Spartans will close out their regular season this weekend when they make the trip to Bloomington, Indiana to face the Hoosiers. MSU is coming off 2-0 loses to both Illinois and Northwestern this weekend. With the loses, the Spartans dropped to 3-8-1 in the Big Ten, and were officially eliminated from participating in the 2014 Big Ten Tournament. The game Friday night against Indiana will be the last game for four MSU seniors and two redshirt juniors. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Armstrong Field.
Last Time Out
Michigan State dropped its third straight Sunday afternoon, losing 2-0 to Northwestern. The Spartans were outshot by a count of 19-6.
After a scoreless first 44 minutes, Northwestern midfielder Maria Gryglesk snuck one past Clem to take the lead heading into half time. Michigan State was 1-5-0 when allowing the first goal entering the contest.
Northwestern padded their lead in the 63rd minute when Nandi Mehta netted her first goal of the season off of a set piece to make it 2-0.
The Spartans made a late push, forcing consecutive corner kicks, but were unable to put one past the Wildcats keeper.
Freshmen Contribution
Freshman forward Jamie Cheslik is currently in a tie with Michigan's Ani Sarkisian for the Big Ten lead in freshman scoring with eight goals and 20 points. The Northville, Michigan, native also leads the team in scoring and is tied for eighth overall in the BIg Ten in points, points per game, goals and goals per game.
Freshman Morgan McKerchie has also played a significant role for the Spartans this season. The Clio, Michigan, native has two assists and has started all 18 games.
Freshman Kristelle Yewah has also provided a spark to the Spartans front line, playing significant minutes in a back-up role to Paige Wester and Jamie Cheslik. Yewah has appeared in 15 games for MSU this season.
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 106, and is third in the conference in save percentage (.855).
Wester breaks through
Senior forward Paige Wester scored the game-winning goal Oct. 16 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 1-6-0 when the opposition scores first.
• Michigan State leads the Big Ten with 113 saves... The Spartans lead second place Purdue by 29 saves.
• The Spartans have outscored the opposition, 24-19 this season.
• 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 Hoosiers
Indiana is coming off their biggest win of the season, defeating Purdue 1-0, Saturday night on the road in West Lafayette. With the win the Hoosiers claimed the "Golden Boot" for the third straight year over in-state rival Purdue.
The Hoosiers are led by junior midfielder Jessie Bujouves, who has racked up five goals and 11 points in her 18 games this season.
Like the Spartans, the Hoosiers havebeen subject to close losses throughout the season, losing by just one goal five times.
The Hoosiers are coached by Amy Berbary, who was named the third head coach in Indiana Women's Soccer history on Feb. 6, 2013.
In her first season in Bloomington, she guided the Hoosiers to a 15-7-1 overall record and a 6-5 mark in Big Ten play, earning appearances in the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.
Indiana is 2-9-1 in the Big Ten entering the contest with the Spartans on Friday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium.
The Last Stand
Friday will be the final game for four seniors and two redshirt juniors on the Spartans roster.
Courtney Clem- The fifth-year senior captain has played 53 games in net for the Spartans over her career, making 241 saves and earning a liftetime save percentage of .810. Clem has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the week three times in her career and is currently leading the Big Ten in saves this season with 106. Off the field, Clem is a three time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Nicole Caruso-The Novi, Michigan, native has been a four-year starter for Michigan State at right-back. Caruso has started 59 games, scoring two goals and five assists in her career.
Megan Marsack- Has competed in 71 total games for the Spartans throughout her career. The midfielder from Macomb, Michigan has scored eight goals, including three game-winners, and registered 26 points in her four years. Marsack was voted Academic All-Big Ten last season.
Courtney Hammer- Hammer has appeared in eight games for the Spartans throughout her career. The Roswell, Georgia native is known as a versatile player who can fill in at any position on the field. Hammer was an Academic Big Ten selection in 2012, and 2013. She was also honored with the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar award in 2013.
Rachel Van Poppelen- The West Bloomfield, Michigan native has appeared in 50 games for Michigan State, recording five goals and 15 points. The forward has also collected two game-winning goals in her career.
Paige Wester- The forward has competed in 66 games in her career, recording five goals and 25 points. The Portage, Michigan native has played in at least 11 games each season.
