Spartans Snap Hawkeyes' Winning Streak

Sept. 18, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. -

Friday afternoon's 2-1 win over the University of Iowa (6-2-0, 0-0-0) at DeMartin Stadium symbolized many things for Michigan State (5-1-2, 1-0-0).

The first thing it signified is that the Spartans are not last year's team. Grabbing its first conference win in the league opener, Michigan State head coach Tom Saxton and his squad sent a messageâ€" they're here to compete, undeterred from last year's history in conference competition.

Today's win broke Iowa's winning streak at DeMartin and in the series, as the Spartans had been without a win at home against the Hawkeyes since 2008. It also avenged last year's difficult 1-0 loss.

With results still coming in from late games, MSU joins Penn State and Minnesota with 3 points in the Big Ten.

The second thing Saxton's squad showed was a dominantly offensive first half, something which the Spartans have lacked in recent games or struggled to capitalize on. The intensity in which MSU came out kicking surprised Iowa, and the Spartans may have even surprised themselves.

"I'm really, really pleased," Saxton said. "The way we came out in terms of our possession and decision-making was way better. Best first half of the season in that respect."

Freshman Lexy Warner wasted no time in showing that she was serious about giving her team the upper hand, as she scored within the second minute of the game. Warner put the deadly finish off a pass from the right side of the field and hit the left corner. She was not without help, however, as sophomore Jamie Cheslik orchestrated the pass after being fed by junior Marisa Oleksiak. Cheslik and Oleksiak registered the assist.

One would not be enough for Warner. In a rapid pin-ball motion, Warner scored again off a rebound in the box after the Spartan offense had multiple attempts to thwart the Hawkeye backline. Senior Kirsten Evans and sophomore Kristelle Yewah, both with the assist, played a critical role in swarming the upper-third of the field.

The final goal of the first half came off a crafty play by Iowa's sophomore Karly Stuenkel found teammate freshman Alina Magruder in order for her to slip the ball past Spartan senior goalkeeper Gabrielle Gauruder.

Gauruder would rally the win, finishing with 3 saves.

While the second half did not produce as did the first, it still featured an even-keeled battle for ball possession. MSU's Cheslik, Yewah, and senior Allyson Krause each had looks at the goal but couldn't quite capitalize on their opportunities. On the defensive end, seniors Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz and Alexandra Gjnoaj along with junior Jessica Kjellstrom were critical on limiting Iowa's quick players in the Spartans' backhalf.

Saxton said that while the second half was more "sporadic" there were still good playmaking decisions, "especially in the first two-thirds."

Today's win signified the team's endearment of their season's mantra, according to Yewah, who holds the team record with three assists.

"Last year, it's not that we did badly, but at the end we struggled and [often] lost in the last second," she said. "This year our new mentality is SPF 90â€" Spartans play for ninetyâ€" so we know we need to play the full game out. Never taking breaks and getting that grind in especially."

Saxton is "never satisfied" and will look to continue to fine-tune his team for their upcoming challenges.

With only a day's turnaround, the Spartans will look to face league opponent Nebraska on Sunday at home with kickoff at 1 p.m.

Saxton said that he expects to face "a great defensive team" in regards to their organization and credits Nebraska's head coach John Walker as "one of the best soccer minds in the women's game."

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Team Stats

Lexy Warner

Jamie Cheslik

Kirsten Evans

Kristelle Yewah

Players Mentioned

Jamie Cheslik

Kirsten Evans

Mary Fiebernitz

Gabrielle Gauruder

Jessica Kjellstrom

Allyson Krause

Marisa Oleksiak

Lexy Warner

Kristelle Yewah