Spartans Begin Three-Game Road Stretch
10/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
After an evenly fought match with Northwestern on Sunday, the Spartan women's soccer team (6-3-4, 2-2-2 B1G) will head on the road for two of the next three games. On Thursday, the Spartans will visit Big Ten leader Minnesota, which is ranked 11th in the Oct. 13 NSCAA poll. Sunday will feature a matchup between the Spartans and the Wisconsin Badgers.
The Golden Gophers (11-2-2, 6-1-0 B1G) are the only Big Ten team to defeat last year's regular season champion, No. 9 Penn State. The Spartans are deadlocked in an 11-11-2 all-time series record with Minnesota, with MSU winning four of the last seven games. The meeting proves to be an exciting one, as five of the past seven games featured the winners posting a shutout. Saxton's squad has even more to play for, as his seniors will be looking to avenge last year's 1-0 loss in overtime.
Looking at common competitors of the two teams, both programs defeated Iowa and New Mexico with similar outcomes. Both schools scored twice against the Hawkeyes and once against the Lobos. Minnesota has shut out seven opponents this season while riding a two-game winning streak. Kickoff between the Spartans and Gophers is slated for 8 p.m. E.T.
With a quick turnaround, MSU travels to play Wisconsin on Sunday at 2 p.m. E.T. The Badgers are in a three-way tie for second with Penn State and Michigan, as all three have 16 points and 5-1-1 conference records. MSU will not face the Nittany Lions during its regular season, but dealt the Wolverines a 3-0 shutout at DeMartin Stadium, Sept. 25 behind the offensive prowess of freshman Lexy Warner and sophomore Jamie Cheslik, who both tallied a career-high two assists in the game.
Coming off a tough 1-0 loss and 1-1 draw last week, the Spartans will use what senior Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz calls "a chip on their shoulder" going into the week's matches.
"To be blunt, we're sick and tired of people underestimating us," the senior captain said. "We have a chip on our shoulder and that's what makes us competitors. We don't want to be looked at as being okay with losing."
The Spartans have only lost to ranked teams this season, suffering a 2-0 loss to No. 14 Notre Dame before a pair of narrow, 1-0, defeats to No. 25 Rutgers and No. 24 Northwestern, which featured several near goals for the Spartans.
Senior goalkeeper Gabrielle Gauruder, who is currently fourth in the Big Ten in saves (62) and saves per game (4.77), believes that picking up a win this week could be a vital turning point for the team.
"I think that if we can put this game underneath us and get some momentum going, we can come out with the most fire that we possibly can against Minnesota," she said. "I think it could be a turning point for the rest of our season."
If the MSU offense can find its element and form, the Spartans potentially could challenge for a spot in the Big Ten Tournament for their first trip to the postseason since 2011.
Head coach Tom Saxton believes his team has what it takes to make it in the Big Ten Tournament, which is slated to begin Nov. 1.
"We belong," Saxton said of his team. "We just need to go out there, fight and find a way."
