MSU Heads on Road for First Conference Competition
10/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
The Michigan State women's soccer team will be hitting the road to take on Big Ten competitor Rutgers this weekend on Friday at 4 p.m.
Head coach Tom Saxton said that his seniors are prepared for the trip, as they know what will be asked of them, having made the same road trip last year.
Friday, Oct. 2 will pit Rutgers (8-2-0, 1-2-0 B1G), who prior to last week was undefeated, against the Spartans (6-1-3, 2-0-1 B1G). With Rutgers owning a 4-0-0 record at home this season and 2-0 advantage in the series, MSU will be looking to upset the Scarlet Knights to get its first win in the series. With a formidable offense, the Scarlet Knights' defense hasn't given any favor to opponents, shutting out eight of 10 thus far.
Sophomore Morgan McKerchie says that she doesn't mind coming in as the underdog.
"This year's team chemistry is something very different from last year," McKerchie said. "Everyone has a different mindset and wants to win. It doesn't bother me that we're the underdog. You just have to keep fighting no matter what."
McKerchie knows what it is to fight. After she lost her starting position at the beginning of the season, she worked harder than ever to regain her spot back, something Saxton commended her for regaining.
"When I lost [the starting position] it was the worst feeling ever," McKerchie said. "Then I realized getting sad about it would just make me play worse. I just needed to get back in it and fight. Finally, two weeks ago, I turned a switch in my head."
McKerchie has played an intricate part in the Spartan midfield, not only assisting on offense, but filling in on defense when called upon.
Saxton believes that coming off the Sept. 25 3-0 shutout of Michigan will "give us the confidence that we can go in against a very, very good Rutgers team and compete."
"That's a game that can be like a signature win because the RPI will be so high," Saxton said. "We'll be excited and ready. It will be a difficult task."
The Spartans have defied expectations this season already, coming into this weekend undefeated in league play while riding a five-game winning streak. Beating both Michigan and Iowa for the first time in years, the offense has ignited behind the likes of sophomore Jamie Cheslik and freshman Lexy Warner while backed up by the midfield prowess and solid Spartan senior backline.
Michigan featured a tie for the most points earned in a game (11) by the Spartans, a feat not accomplished since the 2014 3-0 win against Eastern Michigan.
Senior goalkeeper Gabrielle Gauruder will go into the weekend's contests with 39 total saves. She's made her mark in the conference, sitting fifth in saves per game (3.90), fourth in save percentage (.848) and tied for fourth in goals against average (0.65).
Due to the uncertainty of inclement weather, Sunday's game against Maryland will not be aired on BTN and has been postponed.
Live stats will be provided (link on the website) as well as live tweeting from @MSU_wsoccer for Friday's 4 p.m. game.
