Friday, September 12
Burlington, Vt.
2 PM
Michigan State University
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at
3
Vermont
(3-2)
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2
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4
F
Michigan State
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Vermont
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Field Hockey’s Late Comeback Falls Short
9/12/2025 4:58:00 PM | Field Hockey
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Michigan State field hockey found its offensive grove in the second half of Friday afternoon's game against Vermont but fell short in a 3-2 non-conference contest at Moulton Winder Field.
The Spartans move to 2-2 on the season and will look to finish the weekend on a high note against Merrimack on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
MSU out-shot the Catamounts 15-11, which included a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal. Michigan State posted 10 of its 15 shots and nine shots on goal in the second half. The Spartans held an 8-4 advantage in penalty corner attempts.
Graduate students Maddie Lawlor and Tatum Johnson, junior Brynn Shaffer and sophomore Caro Schafer paced Michigan State offensively with two shots on goal each. Schafer and Shaffer were the goal scorers for MSU, while sophomore Mora Cavazza and freshman Ellie Kendall tallied assists. Junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino made three saves.
Both sides started strong defensively in the first period taking a 0-0 tie into the second. Vermont gathered its offensive footing in the second frame with three shots on goal. The Catamounts struck first in the 24th minute after a deflection in front of the goal. Vermont extended its lead to 2-0 with a penalty stroke goal in the 29th minute.
The Spartan offense came to life after the halftime break, notching two goals over a four-minute stretch of the third period. MSU was aided by a Vermont yellow card in the 35th minute which forced the Catamounts to play down a player. Michigan State quickly took advantage, scoring off a penalty corner just 11 seconds later. Multiple Spartans fired shots near goal before Schafer hammered one home off an assist from Cavazza.
Michigan State kept its foot on the gas, tying the game at 2-2 with a second goal in the third period at the 38:19 mark. Following a penalty corner by Schafer, Kendall placed a shot on goal that was deflected in by Shaffer right in front of the Vermont goalkeeper. It's the first assist and point of Kendall's collegiate career and Shaffer's first goal of the season.
MSU continued to pepper the Vermont goalkeeper with shots in the fourth period, but it was the Catamounts that found the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute of action. The Spartan offense increased its pressure late in the fourth firing four shots, three of which were on goal, over the final four minutes of the game. Michigan State out-shot the Catamounts 6-1 in the fourth period.
Vermont goalkeeper Merle Vaandrager made eight saves, while the Catamounts got goals from Maddie Priestly, Consu De Castro and Alicia Battistelli.
The Spartans move to 2-2 on the season and will look to finish the weekend on a high note against Merrimack on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
MSU out-shot the Catamounts 15-11, which included a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal. Michigan State posted 10 of its 15 shots and nine shots on goal in the second half. The Spartans held an 8-4 advantage in penalty corner attempts.
Graduate students Maddie Lawlor and Tatum Johnson, junior Brynn Shaffer and sophomore Caro Schafer paced Michigan State offensively with two shots on goal each. Schafer and Shaffer were the goal scorers for MSU, while sophomore Mora Cavazza and freshman Ellie Kendall tallied assists. Junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino made three saves.
Both sides started strong defensively in the first period taking a 0-0 tie into the second. Vermont gathered its offensive footing in the second frame with three shots on goal. The Catamounts struck first in the 24th minute after a deflection in front of the goal. Vermont extended its lead to 2-0 with a penalty stroke goal in the 29th minute.
The Spartan offense came to life after the halftime break, notching two goals over a four-minute stretch of the third period. MSU was aided by a Vermont yellow card in the 35th minute which forced the Catamounts to play down a player. Michigan State quickly took advantage, scoring off a penalty corner just 11 seconds later. Multiple Spartans fired shots near goal before Schafer hammered one home off an assist from Cavazza.
P3 | VT 2 - MSU 1
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) September 12, 2025
Caro Schafer cuts the Catamount lead in half with her second goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/MzYYfCEjGB
Michigan State kept its foot on the gas, tying the game at 2-2 with a second goal in the third period at the 38:19 mark. Following a penalty corner by Schafer, Kendall placed a shot on goal that was deflected in by Shaffer right in front of the Vermont goalkeeper. It's the first assist and point of Kendall's collegiate career and Shaffer's first goal of the season.
P3 | MSU 2 - VT 2
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) September 12, 2025
We are tied! Brynn Shaffer scores off a deflection in front of the net to knot it up at 2-2! Caro Schafer and Ellie Kendall with the assists. pic.twitter.com/gnt2GoC971
MSU continued to pepper the Vermont goalkeeper with shots in the fourth period, but it was the Catamounts that found the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute of action. The Spartan offense increased its pressure late in the fourth firing four shots, three of which were on goal, over the final four minutes of the game. Michigan State out-shot the Catamounts 6-1 in the fourth period.
Vermont goalkeeper Merle Vaandrager made eight saves, while the Catamounts got goals from Maddie Priestly, Consu De Castro and Alicia Battistelli.
Team Stats
MSU
VERMONT
Goals
2
3
Shots
15
11
Shots on Goal
10
6
Saves
3
8
Corners
8
4
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Maddie Priestly
Assisted By: Ernandez De oliveira
GOAL by VERMONT Maddie Priestly (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Ernandez De oliveira.
23:23
Alicia Battistelli
VERMONT Alicia Battistelli PENALTY STROKE GOAL.
28:57
Caro Schafer
Assisted By: Mora Cavazza
GOAL by MSU Caro Schafer, Assist by Mora Cavazza.
35:05
Brynn Shaffer
Assisted By: Ellie Kendall
GOAL by MSU Brynn Shaffer, Assist by Ellie Kendall.
38:19
Consu De castro
GOAL by VERMONT Consu De castro.
52:06
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field HockeyM
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyB
/ Field HockeyF
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