Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State Travels to Ann Arbor To Face UConn
10/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 7, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey team (8-5) hopes to rebound from recent tough conference losses against Iowa and Michigan when it travels to Ann Arbor to take on Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 8 at noon. MSU and Connecticut have not met since 1996, with the Huskies beating State, 2-0.
"The loss to Michigan was hard," stated head coach Michele Madison. "Maybe the team is mad enough now to dig even deeper. All the games have been close, we just have to find a way to win."
UConn won't be a walk in the park for the Spartans. The 8-3 Huskies were ranked 15th in the nation in this week's STX/NFHCA Coaches' Poll and were the preseason Big East favorite. A disciplined Connecticut defense, under six-time Big East Coach of the Year Nancy Stevens, has allowed just 59 shots this year and senior goalie Melissa Bostwick has only given up 13 goals in 11 games, posting three shutouts. The offense however, has totaled 165 shots, led by Lizzy Peijs (So.), Kristin Galuski (So.) and Rebecca Helwig (Sr.) with eight goals apiece. Senior Laura Puddle paces the Huskies with a team-high nine assists.
"They bring a strong midfield, so we are going to have to continue with the type of pressure that we put on Michigan," said Madison. "We are getting better everyday and I believe it is going to break."
