Michigan State University
Indiana
Spartans Down Hoosiers, 3-2
10/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Overview:
The Michigan State field hockey team defeated the Hoosiers of Indiana in a Big Ten match Sunday afternoon, 3-2, in Bloomington.
The scene was rainy, cold and windy at the IU Field Hockey Complex with both teams playing a highly aggressive game.
The Spartans improve to 8-8 on the season and 2-4 in Big Ten play, while the Hoosiers fall to 6-10 and 0-6 in the conference.
Senior goalkeeper Katie Miller spent all 70 minutes in net for the Green and White, tallying two saves on the afternoon.
MSU played very aggressively, outshooting the Hoosiers 27-11, including a shots on goal differential of 13-4.
The Spartans earned nine corners on the day compared to just four from IU.
How it Happened:
In the third minute senior forward Sophie Macadré had a huge scoring opportunity on a breakaway. The senior drew the goalkeeper out and slid it past her, but a Hoosier defender came away with a monster defensive save at the last second, hitting the ball out of play just before it crossed the goal-line.
At 14:28, freshman midfielder Cara Bonshak controlled the ball, dribbling it past an IU defender and shot it into the circle to redshirt senior midfielder Kendal Anderson, who found a slicing redshirt senior midfielder Lauren Bonness. Bonness cut into the left side of the goal and fired it past the goalkeeper, giving MSU a 1-0 lead.
In the 47th minute, the Spartans found themselves locked in front of the net with the Hoosiers. Anderson knocked the ball in, however, it would be called no goal due to the ball being kicked by a Spartan prior to Anderson netting it.
The Hoosiers tied the game at 1-all in the 49th minute after being awards a penalty stroke.
At 58:57, the Spartans scored their second goal of the day off a penalty corner. Redshirt senior back Simone Vagnoni found the back of the net from the left side of the circle, giving her team a 2-1 lead. Macadré and junior forward Madison O'Neill were credited with the assists off the penalty corner goal.
The third goal of the afternoon came from Bonshak. The freshman played the ball after it was deflected out of the upper left side of the circle. The Allentown, Pa. native played the ball back into the circle and fired it in low, giving MSU a two-goal lead with just under nine minutes to play.
The Hoosiers earned a penalty corner as time expired and played the corner when the clock hit zero. The Hoosiers would score on the penalty corner, making it a 3-2 final.
Key Performances:
Bonness scored the first goal of the game, giving her team the advantage early on in the contest. The goal was the senior's third goal of the season.
Vagnoni tallied the second goal for the Green and White. The captain added seven shots (3 SOG) on goal on the day. Vagnoni has six goals on the year.
Bonshak registered the third goal for the Spartans, marking her first career goal.
Macadré had an assist on the afternoon, her seventh of the season. She leads the team in assists and points, with 19.
O'Neill also earned an assist, her fourth of the season.
Quotable:
"We dominated the possession today and made improvements from Friday," said head coach Helen Knull. "I am pleased that we had more positive outcomes in the attacking 25, and it was great to see Cara and Lauren get goals. We need to clean up some mental errors on the defensive end, but I am pleased to get a road win."
Up Next:
The Spartans will host No. 22 Iowa on Friday for senior night. Friday marks the final regular season home game for the Green and White this season. That match is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
