Field Hockey Earns Season Opening Victory at Ohio

Friday, August 28

Athens, Ohio

1 PM

Michigan State University

(1-0, 0-0)

Ohio

(0-1, 0-0)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Michigan St.	0	1	1	1	3
Ohio	0	0	1	0	1

Bianca Pizano hits the ball against Ohio University

Photo by: Alaina Dackermann, Ohio Athletics

8/28/2026 3:33:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - Michigan State field hockey opened its 2026 season with a 3-1 road victory over Ohio at Pruitt Field on Friday afternoon, securing the first career coaching win for head coach Tamara Durante.

MSU got goals from senior Bianca Pizano, junior Mora Cavazza and sophomore Nina Angeli, while out-shooting Ohio 20-7 overall and 14-4 in shots on goal. The Spartans held an 8-2 advantage in penalty corner opportunities in the contest. Junior goalkeeper Lola Munoz de Verger made three saves in her Spartan debut. Junior Lilian Knorr tallied the lone assists of the afternoon for Michigan State.

The Spartans established early offensive pressure on Friday, generating four shots and a penalty corner in the opening period. Junior Caro Schaefer nearly put MSU ahead in the fourth minute, striking the post with a shot at the 3:54 mark. Freshman Aiden Weinmann and junior Carmen Maudlin also had chances on goal in the first.

Ohio generated its first offensive threat early in the second period, earning a penalty corner in the 16th minute. Munoz de Verger turned away back-to-back shot attempts from the Bobcats to keep things level at 0-0.

Pizano converted a penalty stroke in the 24th minute to provide Michigan State with a 1-0 lead at the halftime break.

Looking back on Bianca Pizano's penalty stroke goal that gave us a 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/9arunolpTQ
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) August 28, 2026

MSU doubled its lead five minutes into the third when Cavazza gained possession in the attacking zone, dribbled past a multitude of Ohio defenders and drove a bouncing strike past Bobcat goalkeeper Molly Schreiner in the 36th minute. Ohio cut the deficit to 2-1 with just two seconds remaining in the third period when Deborah James found the back of the cage off a penalty corner opportunity.

Mora Cavazza makes a nifty move to make it 2-0 Spartans in the third period! pic.twitter.com/LSuzlueBgO
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) August 28, 2026

Waiting for an opportunity in front of the Ohio goal, Angeli netted an insurance goal for Michigan State in the 56th minute, marking the first goal of her collegiate career. Knorr centered a pass for Angeli who beat a defender and the Ohio goalkeeper to give MSU a 3-1 advantage late in the contest.

Here's a look at Nina Angeli's insurance goal in the fourth period! pic.twitter.com/hkPnt6PBJJ
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) August 28, 2026