Field Hockey Hosts Hawkeyes
10/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 24, 2008
Spartan Sports Podcasts:
Joelle
Gwen
Rolf
This Week
Michigan State hosts Iowa on Saturday in a Big Ten Conference game.
Series History
Iowa leads the all-time series 42-9-1, with the two teams meeting twice in 2007. The Spartans defeated the Hawkeyes, 1-0, in the regular season off a goal from Jeamie Deacon, and Iowa recorded a 3-2 overtime win in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament, eventually claiming the tournament title. Floor Rijpma and Gwen Riley tallied the goals in that game for the Spartans.
Last Week's Action
The Spartans posted a 1-1 record. On Friday, MSU suffered its first Big Ten loss, falling to Michigan, 1-0. Senior Gwen Riley led the team with three shots and junior Elissa Unger made four saves in goal. Michigan State snapped a two-game losing streak on Saturday with a 2-1 double overtime win over Ohio University. Freshman Chantae Miller recorded both goals for the Spartans and tallied her second multi-goal game of the season.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten) is coming off a 2-0 loss to Ohio State on Sunday. It was the first time the Hawkeyes have been shutout this season. Senior Lauren Pfeiffer led the team with four shots and classmate Lissa Munley made three saves in goal.
Senior Caitlin McCurdy leads the team in goals (13) and points (30), while Pfeiffer is second in goals (12) and points (27). Junior Tricia Dean and sophomore Sarah Pergine are tied for the team-lead in assists (10). Munley has started all 15 games for the Hawkeyes, posting a .710 save percentage and 1.20 goals against average.
Scouting the Spartans
Miller's two goals against Ohio propelled her into the team lead for points (31). She is second on the team in goals with 11, behind Floor Rijpma who has 13. Miller ranks second in points, fourth in points per game and sixth in goals in the Big Ten, and leads all freshmen in the conference in the three categories. Riley leads the team with 10 assists and is fourth in points (24), and is tied for fourth in assists in the Big Ten. Junior Jeamie Deacon is third on the team in points (27) and is tied for second in assists (9), while classmate Unger has a .750 save percentage and 1.55 goals against average (GAA). Unger is second in the Big Ten in save percentage, is third in GAA, and fourth in saves (60). The Spartans have outscored their opponents 63-20, including a 34-10 advantage in the second half. MSU holds a 326-115 advantage in shots and a 152-63 lead in penalty corners.
National Recognition
Michigan State is ranked third in scoring margin (2.59), fourth in points per game (11.06) and tied for fourth nationally in goals per game (3.94). MSU is eighth nationally in winning percentage, and is 11th in the latest NCAA RPI ... The Spartans rank first in scoring margin, shots (326) and in goals scored (63) in the Big Ten. MSU is tied for second in the Big Ten with a 3-1 record and has the best overall record.
Unger ranks 12th nationally in GAA, and is tied for 23rd in save percentage ... Rijpma is tied for 23rd nationally in goals per game and 32nd in points per game, while Miller is tied for 25th nationally in points per game ... Deacon is 23rd nationally in assists per game and 29th in points per game.
Big Ten Honors
Three Spartans have garnered Big Ten weekly honors this year. Rijpma was named Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6 and Deacon earned the same award on Sept. 29, giving MSU back-to-back awards. Unger was named Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15 for the first time in her career. Rijpma's honor was also her first, while Deacon's was her fourth.
Defensive-Minded
The MSU defense has allowed a goal or less in 10 of its 16 games this season, and ranks 13th in the NCAA with a 1.2 goals against average. Sophomore Joelle van Ierland leads the team with two defensive saves this season and is tied for first in the category in the Big Ten. Unger has recorded two shutouts, while posting a 1.55 goals against average and a .750 save percentage.
Third Time's a Charm
The Spartans are 13-3 on the season. MSU has posted a similar record or better at this point in the season just two other times - 2002 and 2004. Both seasons the Spartans advanced to the NCAA Semifinals.
Freshman Sensation
Miller is a candidate to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year Honors. She leads all freshmen in the Big Ten in goals, assists and points. The Spartans have had three Freshman of the Year award-winners, with Jantine Steinmetz receiving the honor last season.
Career Year
Rijpma has surpassed her goal total from last season and is two points away from tying her point total from 2007. She recorded her first career hat trick on Oct. 3 when she tallied a career-high four goals against Indiana. It was also the first hat trick for the Spartans this season. Rijpma posted 10 points in the two games that weekend and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6 for her performance. She currently has 31 career goals, good for ninth on MSU's career goals list.
High-Scoring Affair
MSU recorded 18 goals in two games three weeks ago. On Friday, Oct. 3, the Spartans recorded a 9-1 win over Indiana, and posted a 9-0 victory on Sunday. Oct. 5 against Temple. Ten Spartans recorded points in the games, with four leading the way. Rijpma recorded 10 points, Steinmetz and Riley both tallied eight points, and Deacon posted seven in the two games.
Best Yet
This season is head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof's third with Michigan State. He currently holds an overall record of 37-21 and is having the best start to a season in his coaching career.
Perfect Ending
The Spartans have posted three overtime wins and have held their opponents without a shot in extra time.
Immediate Impact
Freshmen Chantae Miller and Holly Sherman have played in all 16 games this season. Miller is a strong presence on the forward line, starting 10 games. Sherman has started every game, anchoring the defense.
A Top 10 Team
The Spartans have been ranked in the top 10 of the STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. Michigan State began the season ranked 10th and have since been ranked higher. Currently the Spartans are ranked eighth and have been ranked as high as fourth this season.
Champions Invitational
Michigan State opened the season at the Champions Invitational Tournament, hosted by the University of Louisville. The Spartans posted a 3-2 win over Delaware to advance to the title game and a match-up with host Louisville after the Cardinals downed Duke. MSU posted a 6-1 win over Louisville, winning the Invitational for the third time in five years.
Comeback Kid
Angie Lucik appeared in four games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. She has returned to the Spartan roster this season, starting in all 14 games. Lucik has posted three goals this season, recording her first career goal on Sept. 7 against Syracuse.
Honor Roll
Last season, Deacon was named to the second team NFHCA All-American team and Rijpma was named to the third team. Both earned first team NFCHA All-Region honors, and Steinmetz was a member of the second team. Deacon was also named to the first team All-Big Ten and Rijpma garnered second team accolades.
Up Next
Michigan State hosts Penn State in the last Big Ten regular season game on Friday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. The Spartans then travel to Central Michigan to wrap-up the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 2 at noon.
