Women's Soccer Travels East to Rutgers, Maryland
9/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich.- For the first time in history, the Michigan State women's soccer team will take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Maryland Terrapins as Big Ten conference opponents. The two teams joined the conference in July, after making the move from the American Athletic Conference, and ACC, respectively.
The Spartans will travel to New Brunswick, New Jersey Friday to face Rutgers at 7 p.m., before heading to College Park, Maryland for a 1 p.m. match against the Terrapins on Sunday.
Last Time Out
After starting the season a perfect 6-0-0, the Michigan State women's soccer team suffered back-to-back overtime losses this past weekend at home against Wisconsin and Minnesota, respectively.
Against the Badgers, the Spartans competed hard for 90 minutes, but surrendered the game deciding goal off a corner kick in the first minute of overtime. Becca Harrison was the hero for the Badgers, scoring both goals in the win.
The Spartans were also neck-and-neck with Minnesota Sunday afternoon on alumni day at DeMartin stadium. Minnesota ended the game in the fourth minute of overtime when a loose ball at the top of the six-yard-box was poked in by sophomore Josee Stieve.
Clem Making Stops
Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Courtney Clem was named the starter before the first game of the season and hasn't looked back. Clem began the year shutting out three of the Spartans first four opponents, earning two Big Ten defensive player of the week honors in the process.
Clem currently ranks first in the Big Ten in saves (43), save percentage (.878), saves per game (5.38).
Freshman Phenom
Northville, Michigan native Jamie Cheslik has been superb for the Spartans in her first-year on campus. The freshman leads the team in scoring with five goals and 11 points. Cheslik is top-ten in nearly all offensive statistical categories in the Big Ten to this point.
Cheslik's is tied for second in the conference in game winning goals (2), tied for seventh in goals (5), tenth in the conference and points, tied for eighth in points per game, and sixth in shots.
More on the Spartans
• The Spartans have participated in three overtime sessions (1-2-0), the most of any Big Ten team.
• MSU has now allowed just seven goals through eight games... The Spartans have outscored the opposition, 18-7, this season.
• Seven different Spartans have combined to score this season... 28 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 Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights are led by first year head coach Mike O'Neil. O'Neil has been with the program at various roles for 14 years, but has now taken the helm as the team enters its inaugural Big Ten season.
Rutgers dropped its Big Ten opener, 0-2, at Maryland Friday Sept. 12, in College Park. The loss was the first for Maryland since Oct. 27 of last season.
The Scarlet Knights have been getting big contributions from their senior forwards Stephanie Shultz and Alex Pietrangelo who have each scored three goals in their first six games.
Rutgers has also been stout on defense, allowing only one goal this season. (Aug. 22 vs. Stoney Brook.)
The Spartans are 0-1-0 all-time against the Knights as non-conference opponents
Looking Ahead to Maryland
Maryland enters the match Sunday coming off their first ever Big Ten win, 2-0, against Rutgers, last Friday. The Terps are now 3-2-1 on the year, and have played one of the tougher schedules in the country.
The Terps scheduled the No. 1 UCLA Bruins in their first game of the season, losing, 0-3, in Los Angeles. Maryland dropped their next game in Malibu, Calif., at Pepperdine but responded with four straight victories heading into their matchup Friday at home, versus the Michigan Wolverines.
The Terps are led by third year head coach Jonathan Morgan. Morgan has been with the team for eight years but was promoted to the head coaching position in 2012, after helping the team to three-straight NCAA tournament appearances.
After giving up three goals in their first game of the year, the Terps have since only given up three in their last five games. Maryland is led at the back by junior Shannon Collins. Collins is currently T-7th in the conference with four assists, and has climbed into the top-20 in Terrapins history with 12 in her career.
The Spartans and the Terrapins have never met in women's soccer in the history of the two programs.
Stay Tuned
Fans can follow along all the MSU women's soccer games this season online on GameTracker at MSUSpartans.com, or on Twitter @MSU_wsoccer.
Friday's game at Rutgers will also be broadcasted online on BTNPlus.
