Michigan State University
Quinnipiac
Spartans Down Quinnipiac, 4-1
9/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey team defeated Quinnipiac, 4-1, on Monday afternoon in a Labor Day matchup. The Spartans scored four unanswered goals to come back and extend their winning streak to three games. MSU improves to 3-1 on the season, while Quinnipiac drops to 0-4.
"We came out strong in the first six minutes. We had three or four shots on goal and had a goal called back, but we were kind of soft going into the circle," said head coach Helen Knull. "We gave Quinnipiac an opportunity early and they scored, but we bounced back and regrouped and went back to what was working the first six minutes of the game. Early passing, simple passing up the field - and once we got back to our passing game, opportunities came out and it was great to see three us score four goals."
The Bobcats gained their only lead of the game in the 14th minute. After a ball played into the circle was elevated into the air, Quinnipiac's Savanna Reilly batted the ball past the keeper and into the net to make it 1-0.
MSU responded with four unanswered goals from three different players to turn the game in its favor. Sophie Macadré got things rolling for the Spartans by scoring two goals in less than three minutes to give Michigan State a 2-1 lead. The redshirt junior scored her third goal of the season by redirecting Kendal Anderson's shot in front, then gave the Spartans the lead bycarrying the ball into the circle down the left side and beating the keeper in front.
Starting the second half with a 2-1 lead, Kristin Matula wasted no time tacking on an insurance goal, sending home her fourth goal of the season less than three minutes into the half. Kendal Anderson scored her Big Ten-leading seventh goal of the season to make it 4-1 in the 53rd minute.
"Our opening game against Kent State was a wakeup call for us. We didn't play our own hockey and were very reactive," said Knull. "Since then, we have had a focus on proactive hockey and I am pleased to see that coming game-in and game-out.
"People have really taken scoring to heart and have taken it as their responsibility and it is working in our favor. It has been great, but we have to keep focusing on the other end of the ball. We are not giving up a ton of shots and corners, but we are conceding goals and we have to clean that up."
The Spartans outshot the Bobcats 18-7 for the game and generated eight corners while allowing only four. Goalkeeper Katie Miller registered three saves in the contest.
MSU continues its seven-game homestand on Friday vs. Columbia at 3 p.m. before welcoming Louisville on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
