Michigan State University
Pacific
Spartans Fall in Last-Second Heartbreaker
10/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State fell to Pacific by a 3-2 score on Sunday, with UOP's game-winner coming on a penalty shot in the final second of regulation. The Spartans move to 4-8 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.
"I'm disappointed that we didn't put two halves together here today," said head coach Helen Knull. "We gave Pacific far too many chances and to lose 3-2 is really disappointing."
The Spartans were first to strike on a goal in the 35th minute from sophomore Sophie Macadre. The goal, assisted by senior Mallory Tyler, was Macadre's fourth on the weekend and sixth on the season. Tyler doubled the Spartan lead when she the back of the net in the 42nd minute on a goal off of a penalty corner, assisted by redshirt sophomore Simone Vagnoni and Macadre. The goal was Tyler's fourth on the season.
Pacific used a late rally to overcome the 2-0 Spartan lead. The first of the Tigers' three goals came from senior Kelsey Gulledge in the 57th minute off of a pass from sophomore Savannah Burns to make it a 2-1 game. Freshman Rylee Comeau tied it up in the 60th minute off of a pass from Burns.
The final Pacific goal of the day was converted off of a penalty stroke rewarded to the Tigers after a corner in the final second of play. With just that one second remaining on the clock, a violation on the Spartans was whistled on the Pacific penalty corner attempt, and the visitors were awarded a penalty stroke with no time remaining on the clock. Junior Ali Campos converted the opportunity, giving the road team the dramatic last-second win.
"Pacific came in and got a corner, and the official called a stroke," said Knull. "In field hockey, that means the ball hit our body first, not allowing it to go into the goal."
The Tigers held a 20-16 edge in shots over the Spartans, including a 6-5 advantage in penalty corner opportunities. Up next, the Spartans will play host to Indiana on Friday, Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. at Ralph Young Field. "Right now, we've really got to focus on our conference games," said Knull. "Friday, we're back at it against Indiana. We'll take a lesson from today that we've got to be the more proactive team and control the tempo."
