MSU on Road for Pair of Big Ten Contests

EAST LANSING, Mich. -

This Weekend's Action

Opponent	Date	Location	Live Video	Live Stats
No. 17 Rutgers	Friday, Sept. 21, 2018	Piscataway, N.J.	BTN2Go	Live Stats
No. 6 Penn State	Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018	State College, Pa.	LionVision	Live Stats
Social Media	Facebook	Twitter	Instagram

Last Time Out

The Spartans out-shot the Chippewas 17-4 overall and 9-1 in shots on goal. MSU held a 12-2 shot advantage in the second half. Teams were even on penalty corners at six apiece. Michigan State held Central Michigan to just one shot on goal, which came on the Chippewas lone goal of the contest.

Michigan State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard following a scoreless first half as senior Madison O'Neill scored in the 37th minute with an assist to fellow senior Bailey Higgins. O'Neill's goal was the second of her career and first since her freshman season.

Central Michigan knotted the game up at one following a penalty corner of their own however. Kady Gurtis, Georgina Minta, and Alli Huddleson connected to score in the 39th minute.

Freshman Daphne Voorman found the back of the cage for the first time in her career in the 58 minute with an assist to O'Neill. O'Neill finished the afternoon with a career-high three points.

Scouting the Spartans

Isa van der Weij leads the team with eight points on the year (3g - 2a). Aisha Osinga has two goals and two assists. Madison O'Neill is third on the team in points with four. O'Neill earned three of those points against Central Michigan as she had a hand in both goals. Kelsey Keener has three points after recording an assist against Maryland. Maddie McDonough, Amanda Robinson, Makenzie Brown, and Daphne Voorman each have one goal in 2018. Lia Sinisi, Maggie Cole, Bailey Higgins, and Cara Bonshak each have an assist.

Robinson leads the team with two defensive saves and McDonough has one. The Spartans rank No. 15 in the nation in defensive saves.

Freshman goalkeeper Jade Arundell owns a 2.06 goals against average and a .706 save percentage through nine games. Arundell's 5.25 saves per game ranks No. 27 in all of Division I.

Michigan State is coached by Helen Knull, who in her eighth season holds an overall record of 66-84.

Scouting the Scarlet Knights

Rutgers is 6-1 this season, but dropped their Big Ten opener to Michigan by a final tally of 3-1. The Scarlet Knights bounced back by besting Longwood by a 5-0 mark prior to meeting the Spartans. Rutgers has defeated a pair of ranked teams thus far in No. 6 Princeton and No. 18 Saint Joseph's.

Daphne Groothuis leads the team in scoring with 16 points on five goals and six assists. Groothius was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4 and ranks No. 4 nationally in assists per game (0.86).

Goalkeeper Gianna Glatz was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the week on Sept. 10 and ranks top five in the country for save percentage and goals against average. Glatz owns a .821 save percentage and allows just .80 goals per game. With her in cage, Rutgers have allowed five goals in seven games while scoring 22.

The Scarlet Knights are coached by Meredith Civico, who holds an overall record of 58-59 in her seventh season at the helm.

Scouting the Nittany Lions

Penn St. is 5-2 in 2018 with ranked wins over Virginia, Ohio State and Boston. The Nittany Lions will face Michigan prior to the Spartans coming to town on Sunday.

Anna Simon and Aurelia Meijer are tied for the team leads in points with nine apiece. Simon has four goals and one assist with Meijer has three goals and three assists. Alexis Horst is tied for the team lead in goals with four.

Jenny Rizzo leads the team in goal with a .800 save percentage that ranks ninth in the country. Rizzo's 1.20 goals against average ranks No. 11 in Division I. Rizzo and the rest of the Nittany Lion back line have earned four shutouts in their first seven games.

The Nittany Lions are led by long-time head coach Charlene Morett-Curitss who owns a career record of 522-206-17 over 35 seasons.