Michigan State University
7-5-1, 1-5-1B1G
Nebraska
5-6-2, 1-4-2B1G
Women's Soccer Drops Nebraska, 3-1
10/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's soccer picked up their first Big Ten win of season Sunday afternoon, taking down Nebraska, 3-1. After going scoreless in two of their last three matches the Spartans broke out for three goals, the largest offensive output they've had since Oct. 18, 2013.
"I feel relieved for the players because they kept working hard," said MSU head coach Tom Saxton. "This game is so close sometimes and you feel that if you can just flip one switch things will start to go your way. The team that scores first wins the majority of the time in soccer, so it made a huge difference to get on the board early. It's been a tough stretch but now we're in the final third of the season and that was a good start."
Nebraska came out firing with an early chance in the box in the fourth minute. Sophomore Jaycie Johnson forced a turnover and blasted one from ten yards but was stoned by Spartans keeper Courtney Clem.
The Spartans added pressure of their own, when Jamie Cheslik was taken down in the box in the 28th minute, earning a penalty shot. Junior Mary Katheryn Fiebernitz stepped up to take the kick and buried it to take the early lead. Fiebernitz has now scored on all four of her penalty shots this season.
Nebraska nearly tied it in the 34th minute when Huskers forward Mayme Conroy headed a ball bottom right corner off of a corner kick, beating Clem, but cleared off the goal line by Spartans midfeielder Sarah Kovan.
Michigan State struck again in the 36th minute when Jamie Cheslik played a through ball to a streaking Megan Marsack who beat the Nebraska keeper with a left-footed strike, for her second of the year, making it 2-0.
The Spartans padded their lead in the second half when Jamie Cheslik, sniped a shot from 15 yards out, beating the Nebraska keeper to the top-left corner. Cheslik now has seven goals, the most on the team and the most among all freshman in the Big Ten.
The Huskers broke the shutout with eight minutes left in regulation when Jaycie Johnson beat Clem on a penalty shot to make it 3-1.
Clem made ten saves to pick up her seventh win of the year. The Spartans keeper now has 75 total saves on the year, the most in the Big Ten.
Michigan State will look to make it two in a row when they travel to West Lafayette next Saturday to take on Purdue. Game time is set for 7 p.m., at Boilermaker Soccer Complex.
Team Stats
Fiebernitz, Mary-Kat (4)
MSU Fiebernitz, Mary-Kat PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 4 for season.
28:19
Marsack, Megan (2)
Assisted By: Cheslik, Jamie , Fiebernitz, Mary-Kat
GOAL by MSU Marsack, Megan, Assist by Cheslik, Jamie and Fiebernitz, Mary-Kat, goal number 2 for season.
35:07
Cheslik, Jamie (7)
Assisted By: Wester, Paige
GOAL by MSU Cheslik, Jamie, Assist by Wester, Paige, goal number 7 for season.
59:33
Johnson, Jaycie (8)
NEB Johnson, Jaycie PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 8 for season.
82:37
