Michigan State University
#25 Old Dominion
Spartans Fall to No. 25 Old Dominion in Final Seconds
9/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Final Stats | PDF Box Score: ODU 3, MSU 2
Overview:
Michigan State fell to No. 25-ranked Old Dominion 3-2, in a heartbreaker on a goal that came with 11 seconds to play in the game Friday night at L.R. Hill Sports Complex.
Senior forward Sophie Macadre had two huge scoring opportunities early in the game, the second coming in the 12th minute. The senior had a beautiful spin move, hooking a shot into the lower left corner of the goal, but a huge save from Old Dominion stopped the scoring drive.
In the 14th minute, redshirt senior back Simone Vagnoni found a wide open senior midfielder Kendal Anderson to the left the net and Anderson fired it in, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
Old Dominion tied the game at 1-all in the 26th minute.
A penalty corner from ODU in the 31st minute was saved by Miller to give her her fourth save of the evening.
As time expired in the first half, ODU was awarded a penalty corner. The Monarchs knocked at the door with a shot that went just wide of the Spartan goal but were unable to convert. MSU and ODU went into the half tied at 1-all.
The Green and White earned a penalty corner in the 39th minute and Hannah Ackers found the back of the next for her first goal of the season. Junior back Baily Higgins and Macadre earned assists for the Green and White on the goal.
With time winding down and the score tied at two apiece, the Monarchs played a rebound and sent the shot over Miller's head, claiming a 3-2 victory at 69:49 of the match.
Key Performances:
Kendal Anderson's first period goal was her fourth of the season. She leads the Green and White in total goals this season.
Hannah Ackers earned her first goal of 2017.
Katie Miller played all 70 minutes in net for the Spartans, tallying six saves on the evening.
Bailey Higgins and Simone Vagnoni each recorded an assist for MSU.
Quotable:
"At times today we controlled the pace of play and had excellent opportunities," said head coach Helen Knull. "However, we made the game difficult for ourselves by not possessing the last 25 minutes of the game, and Old Dominion executed on their opportunities. We will take advantage tomorrow to regroup and rebound for Virginia on Sunday."
Up Next:
The Spartans will face No. 10-ranked Virginia in a neutral site game on Sunday. The game will be played at L.R. Hill Sports Complex in Norfolk, Va., with an 11 a.m. start time.
