Michigan State University
6-1-3, 2-0-1B1G
Michigan
7-4-0, 2-1-0B1G
Spartans Shut Down Wolverines
9/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
The Michigan State women's soccer team got the best of rival Michigan at home in front of a packed DeMartin Stadium Friday afternoon, grinding out a 3-0 shutout win over the Wolverines (7-4-0, 2-1-0 B1G).
Michigan State (6-1-3, 2-0-1 B1G) got out to a fast start, scoring in the first minute as freshman Michaela Kovacs finished off a rebound in the box off a shot by fellow freshman Lexy Warner.
Kovacs said that she was "in shock," having looked back at the clock as she had scored a goal in a game that she said meant so much to the seniors on her team.
"I would consider myself kind of a grit player," Kovacs said. "When Lexy went into the box and I saw the ball pop out, I luckily stayed composed and went over the ball and got that scrappy goal. That's all that counts is a win in the back of the net, so we're happy at the end of the day."
The Spartans suffered a setback later in the half as a pair of seniors were forced to leave the game after a scary collision. Senior backline leaders Alexandra Gjonaj and Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz collided while both attempting to head the ball, sending both out of the game for the rest of the half.
Head coach Tom Saxton praised his team for responding after the injuries to the senior leaders, crediting senior Shauna Stadelmaier for filling in the void on the Spartan defense and junior Jessica Kjellstrom for assuming leadership.
Demonstrating both her character and strong-will, Fiebernitz returned to play a full 45 minutes in the second half and lead her team to the much sought after shutout after surviving several close calls.
"She's easily the toughest player I've ever coached," Saxton said of Fiebernitz. "She's just got that toughness, and plus she's a very good soccer player, so she was very poised in that second half and came away with balls that were scary around our box. She's all in for the team."
While the Spartan defense rose to the occasion of limiting the potent Michigan attackâ€" which coming into Friday's match led the league in goals, goals per game, shots, and assistsâ€" the MSU frontline showed the growth its made as they made the most of opportunities inside the box.
Despite Michigan owning the advantage in shots, 14-7, sophomore Jamie Cheslik rallied the MSU offense, frustrating the Wolverine back-third not once but twice more in the second half.
Cheslik would orchestrate a pass to Warner, who sent sophomore Kristelle Yewah on a break down the left side as she scored her first goal of the season by slamming the ball to the lower right corner of the net in the 61st minute. Six minutes later, senior Erica Goodenough came into the game and took Cheslik's redirected pass off a long goal kick from goalkeeper Gabrielle Gauruder to yet again find the back of the Michigan net.
Gauruder finished with two saves and her fourth shutout of the season.
The Spartans gained their first win against Michigan since 2011, as they haven't outscored the Wolverines by that margin since 1989 and now lead the all-time series 12-11-7.
Heading on the road next weekend against Rutgers, the Spartans' undefeated league record is their best since 2002 when they won three consecutive conference games to start league play.
Team Stats
Kovacs, Michaela (2)
Assisted By: Warner, Lexy
Scored off rebound in the box
0:46
Yewah, Kristelle (1)
Assisted By: Warner, Lexy , Cheslik, Jamie
GOAL by MSU Yewah, Kristelle, Assist by Warner, Lexy and Cheslik, Jamie, goal number 1 for season.
60:25
Goodenough, Erica (2)
Assisted By: Cheslik, Jamie , Gauruder, Gabrielle
Bounce off defender from the right side
66:33
