Tuesday, October 14
East Lansing, Mich.
1 PM
Michigan State University
(4-9)
5
vs
1
Ball State
(3-12)
1
2
3
4
F
Ball State
0
1
0
0
1
Michigan State
0
1
1
3
5
Photo by: Jim Pivarnik - MSU
Spartans Cruise Past Ball State
10/14/2025 5:04:00 PM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State field hockey bounced back in a big way on Tuesday, winning an afternoon matinee against Ball State, 5-1, from Ralph Young Field.
MSU climbs to 4-9 and will remain in East Lansing for a conference showdown against No. 12-ranked Ohio State on Sunday, October 19. Pass back is set for 1:00 p.m.
Junior forward Bianca Pizano led the way with two goals in Tuesday's contest, increasing her season total to four to become the leading goal scorer on the season for the Spartans. Senior forward Gracie Burns and junior forward Brynn Shaffer each recorded their third goals of the season, while sophomore forward Lillan Knorr notched her first. Sophomore back Caro Schafer notched her team-leading fourth assist of the season, while graduate midfielder Maddie Lawlor also recorded an assist, increasing her season total to two. Junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino made five saves.
Michigan State out-shot Ball State 22-10 (11-6 shots on goal) and owned a large advantage in penalty corners (13-2) on Tuesday.
Ball State jumped out to a 1-0 lead off a penalty stroke goal early in the second period but MSU responded just moments later off a penalty corner. Schafer inserted the ball to Pizano, who dribbled past by a Cardinal defender and rifled a shot past the Ball State goalkeeper, tying the game at 1-1.
The Spartans exited the halftime break with new energy, earning five penalty corners in the first ten minutes of play in the third. Off MSU's fifth penalty corner attempt, graduate Tatum Johnson had a shot that was saved by the Cardinal goalkeeper, but Burns was there for the clean up as she dribbled the ball back into the zone and fired a shot over the Ball State goalkeeper, giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead with five minutes remaining in the period.
Michigan State did not let up to start the fourth, earning two penalty corner attempts in the first minute of action. Pizano had her shot blocked off the first penalty corner of the possession, but off the second attempt of the possession, the Spartans did not come away empty handed. Schafer centered a pass to Lawlor whose shot was saved, but Knorr was there for the diving rebound shot that beat the Cardinal goalkeeper to increase MSU's advantage to 3-1. Moments later the Spartans earned yet another penalty corner attempt. Schafer inserted to Pizano at top of the circle, before some back-and-forth passing between Pizano and Lawlor stumped the Ball State goalkeeper and led the Pizano's second goal of the day.
MSU's final goal of the day came with less than seven minutes to play in regulation when Johnson fired a shot that struck the left post and bounced back out to the nearby Brynn Shaffer. Shaffer got a stick on the ball as it trickled back into the field of play, poking it into the back of the goal for Michigan State's fifth.
MSU climbs to 4-9 and will remain in East Lansing for a conference showdown against No. 12-ranked Ohio State on Sunday, October 19. Pass back is set for 1:00 p.m.
Junior forward Bianca Pizano led the way with two goals in Tuesday's contest, increasing her season total to four to become the leading goal scorer on the season for the Spartans. Senior forward Gracie Burns and junior forward Brynn Shaffer each recorded their third goals of the season, while sophomore forward Lillan Knorr notched her first. Sophomore back Caro Schafer notched her team-leading fourth assist of the season, while graduate midfielder Maddie Lawlor also recorded an assist, increasing her season total to two. Junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino made five saves.
Michigan State out-shot Ball State 22-10 (11-6 shots on goal) and owned a large advantage in penalty corners (13-2) on Tuesday.
Spartans scored five to take down Ball State! pic.twitter.com/olJ7YazSBE
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) October 14, 2025
Ball State jumped out to a 1-0 lead off a penalty stroke goal early in the second period but MSU responded just moments later off a penalty corner. Schafer inserted the ball to Pizano, who dribbled past by a Cardinal defender and rifled a shot past the Ball State goalkeeper, tying the game at 1-1.
The Spartans exited the halftime break with new energy, earning five penalty corners in the first ten minutes of play in the third. Off MSU's fifth penalty corner attempt, graduate Tatum Johnson had a shot that was saved by the Cardinal goalkeeper, but Burns was there for the clean up as she dribbled the ball back into the zone and fired a shot over the Ball State goalkeeper, giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead with five minutes remaining in the period.
Michigan State did not let up to start the fourth, earning two penalty corner attempts in the first minute of action. Pizano had her shot blocked off the first penalty corner of the possession, but off the second attempt of the possession, the Spartans did not come away empty handed. Schafer centered a pass to Lawlor whose shot was saved, but Knorr was there for the diving rebound shot that beat the Cardinal goalkeeper to increase MSU's advantage to 3-1. Moments later the Spartans earned yet another penalty corner attempt. Schafer inserted to Pizano at top of the circle, before some back-and-forth passing between Pizano and Lawlor stumped the Ball State goalkeeper and led the Pizano's second goal of the day.
MSU's final goal of the day came with less than seven minutes to play in regulation when Johnson fired a shot that struck the left post and bounced back out to the nearby Brynn Shaffer. Shaffer got a stick on the ball as it trickled back into the field of play, poking it into the back of the goal for Michigan State's fifth.
Team Stats
BALLST-7
MSU
Goals
1
5
Shots
10
22
Shots on Goal
6
11
Saves
6
5
Corners
2
13
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Emma van Hal
BALLST-7 Emma van Hal PENALTY STROKE GOAL.
18:29
Bianca Pizano (3)
Assisted By: Caro Schafer
GOAL by MSU Bianca Pizano, Assist by Caro Schafer, goal number 3 for season.
21:34
Gracie Burns (3)
GOAL by MSU Gracie Burns, goal number 3 for season.
40:24
Lilian Knorr (1)
GOAL by MSU Lilian Knorr, goal number 1 for season.
45:44
Bianca Pizano (4)
Assisted By: Maddie Lawlor
GOAL by MSU Bianca Pizano, Assist by Maddie Lawlor, goal number 4 for season.
47:40
Brynn Shaffer (3)
GOAL by MSU Brynn Shaffer, goal number 3 for season.
53:45
Game Leaders
Shots
6
SOG
3
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field Hockey
B
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field HockeySpartans All-Access | Senior Reflections
Tuesday, November 12
Inspiring The Spartans | Spartans All-Access
Wednesday, September 18
Spartans All-Access | Making Each Other Better
Wednesday, August 21
Spartans All-Access: Ashley Harlock
Thursday, November 02