Sept. 14, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - -
The Michigan State women's soccer team (3-1-2) will look to capture its first road victory of the year vs. the University of Akron Friday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The Spartans will return home on Sunday, Sept. 18th, to face Western Michigan at Old College Field. Sunday's contest will wrap up a stretch of four straight non-conference games against MAC opponents. MSU currently boasts an all-time record of 27-3-3 against Mid-American Conference opponents.
Last weekend, the Green and White dispatched Bowling Green, 1-0, on Friday, Sept. 9, before finally finding consistency on offense in a 4-0 win over Toledo. Senior forward Emma Harris (Portage, Mich.) led the attack with three goals and an assist in the two games. Junior Jenee Witherspoon (Midland, Mich.) tied a single-game school recorded with three assists vs. Toledo, and four other Spartans registered points over the weekend.
Akron enters the weekend with a record of 2-3-1 after a 3-2 loss at Niagara University on Sunday. Friday night's contest will be just the third road game of the season for the Michigan State women, who are 0-1-1 away from Old College Field. The Zips' offense runs through juniors Jacque Pitchford (2-0-4) and Leslie Bullen (1-1-3), while the goaltending duties rest with sophomore Kristin Wilson who has posted a 1.43 GAA and a .680 save percentage in six games. Michigan State won the only other meeting between the two schools, a 3-0 win last October.
The Broncos are off to a slow start in 2005, managing just one win in their first five contests. WMU sits at 1-3-1 heading into the weekend and will play Michigan prior to Sunday's contest at Old College Field. Western Michigan is led offensively by Chelsea McNally and Stephanie Johnson; each with a pair of goals thus far. Kate Perz has logged all 470:00 minutes in the Bronco net this season and has allowed just seven goals in five games, while making 22 saves. The Spartans boast a 6-1-0 all-time series lead over WMU.
After this weekend's play, Michigan State will have just one non-conference game remaining, MSU plays Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 21, before opening up Big Ten play vs. Ohio State on Sunday. Sept. 25.
