Women's Soccer Ready to Meet Michigan on Saturday Night
9/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Last Time Out
After playing 88 minutes of scoreless soccer Friday night in Piscataway, N.J., Rutgers midfielder Samantha Valiant netted a free kick in the 89th minute, just outside of the box to make it 1-0. MSU could not find a goal in the last minute and dropped a 1-0 decision to the Scarlet Knights.
Michigan State returned to action Sunday afternoon in College Park, Maryland, for its first ever meeting against the Terps. The Spartans once again got terrific goalkeeping from fifth-year senior goalkeeper Courtney Clem, who faced 23 shots and made six saves to earn her fourth shutout of the season. The Spartans tied Maryland, 0-0, to pick up their first Big Ten points of the season.
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 (55), save percentage (.887), saves per game (5.50) and shutouts (4).
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-10 in nearly all offensive statistical categories in the Big Ten, including being tied for fifth in game-winning goals (2) and tied for eighth in goals (5).
More on the Spartans
• The Spartans have participated in four overtime sessions (1-2-1), the most of any Big Ten team.
• MSU has now allowed just eight goals through 10 games... The Spartans have outscored the opposition, 18-8, this season.
• Seven different Spartans have combined to score this season... 29 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.
Spartans at a Glance
Michigan State returns nine starters and 26 total letterwinners from a year ago. The senior class is led by fifth-year goalkeeper Courtney Clem, who has already been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the week twice this year.
The Spartan defense has been strong as well, adopting the nickname the, "no-goal-zone". The group is led by redshirt junior Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz, who also poses as an offensive threat on set-pieces and corner kicks. The junior defender led the team in goals a year ago and has already tallied three goals this season. The defensive group is rounded out by sophomore Jessica Kjellstrom at center back and, senior Nicole Caruso and junior Alexandra Gjonaj on the wings.
The midfield also consists of key returning players. Senior Megan Marsack, and juniors Allyson Krause and Sarah Kovan have all controlled the game well for MSU, while also adding a scoring punch. Krause leads the team in assists with four, while holding midfielder Sarah Kovan recorded her first career goal against IPFW on Friday, Sept. 2.
Up front, junior Rachel Van Poppelen and senior Paige Wester have both contributed with points of their own and have fit in nicely with true freshman Jamie Cheslik.
About Michigan
Michigan State will head to Ann Arbor Saturday looking to avenge a 2-1 loss to the Wolverines last year in East Lansing.
Last time the rivals met, Michigan got out to an early 2-0 lead. The Spartans came out strong in the second half, with a 78th minute goal, but couldn't find an equalizer.
The Wolverines are coming off their first Big ten loss of the season last Sunday at Rutgers. Michigan dropped a 1-0 decision to the Scarlet Knights which pushed the Wolverines into a three-way tie for first in the Big Ten standings with nine points.
