Michigan State University
Dayton
0-4-0, 0-0-0 (A-10)
Spartans Top Flyers in Home Opener
8/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
In an exciting home opener, the Spartan women's soccer team held off the University of Dayton Flyers, 2-1 at DeMartin Stadium Sunday, Aug. 30.
The Spartans would be the first to make their mark on the scoreboard as freshman Alexis Warner scored her first collegiate career goal in the 29th minute with assists from sophomores Kristelle Yewah and Morgan McKerchie.
"This is a Spartan family, and every time we get out on this pitch we play for each other," Warner said. "We play for our coach. We play for our team and the team name on the jersey. I was just really excited to put one in for the Spartans. It means a lot."
Going into the second half, the Flyers would capitalize on a Spartan defensive blunder as senior Ashley Campbell would slip the ball past MSU goalkeeper senior Gabrielle Gauruder to score the equalizer for Dayton.
Gauruder finished with the win and two saves, putting her up to 12 for the season.
Minutes later senior Kirsten Evans would take matters into her own hands as she blasted the ball into the back of the Dayton net for her second goal of the season. Warner and sophomore Jamie Cheslik registered the assists.
Michigan State head coach Tom Saxton said that he was pleased with his team's resilience in pulling out the win.
"Jamie Cheslik has been working so hard and Kirsten Evans finished that [shot] very composed so that was nice to see," Saxton said. "We had a couple [shots] in the first half that really could have given us a lift that we left out there, so it was nice to see a composed finish."
The Spartans had several other scoring opportunities throughout the second half that they were unable to capitalize on. Both teams kept a hardy momentum with an intense aggression.
Dayton's junior Meghan Blank would receive a yellow card in the 81st minute.
Saxton credited Dayton's offense for being "outstanding," saying that their record is not a true indication of the team's capability.
Taking a much needed recovery week, the Spartans (3-0-1) will return to their home pitch next Sunday, Sept. 6 against University of Notre Dame.
Team Stats
Warner, Lexy (1)
Assisted By: Yewah, Kristelle , McKerchie, Morgan
Took pass from 10 yds out and beat keepe
28:37
CAMPBELL, Ashley (1)
stole the ball at top 18 box and juked b
55:26
Evans, Kirsten (2)
Assisted By: Cheslik, Jamie , Warner, Lexy
played in by 15 to 20 middle field from
56:05
