Michigan State University Athletics
No. 10 Field Hockey Hosts No. 18 Syracuse Sunday
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 5, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Highlights from game vs. Stanford
Game Preview
No. 10 Michigan State and No. 18 Syracuse meet on Sunday in a non-conference matchup. MSU looks to improve to 4 -0 for just the fifth time in 27 seasons, and the Orange looks for its third straight win.
Series History
Syracuse holds a 3-2 all-time record against Michigan State. The Spartans and Orange last met in 2002 as part of the Big East/Big Ten Challenge. Michigan State recorded a 5-0 win over Syracuse, and extended its shutout streak to three games. Annebet Beerman recorded a goal 2:18 into the game, and later added an unassisted tally. Michelle Carstens, Jenny Sanders and Michelle Huynh-Ba also scored for the Spartans, and Christina Kirkaldy and Lauren Hess split time in goal.
Spartans' Last Game
The Spartans remained undefeated with a 3-2 overtime win against Stanford on Wednesday. Geraldine Raynor put Michigan State on the board first at 6:51 off a penalty corner, with assists to Chantae Miller and Gwen Riley. The Cardinal tied the game at 20:27 and added another a little over five minutes later to put Stanford up 2-1 at the half.
Floor Rijpma notched an unassisted goal at 38:16 to tie the game. Michigan State had a penalty corner in the final minute of the game, but could not convert. Jeamie Deacon lifted the Spartans over Stanford three minutes into extra time on a penalty corner opportunity. Joelle van Ierland and Rijpma assisted on the game-winner. Goalie Elissa Unger made three saves for her third win of the season.
Riley leads the team with three goals, four assists and 10 points. Raynor is tied with Riley for the team lead in goals, and is second in points with six.
Syracuse Scouting Report
Syracuse opened the season with a shutout of eighth-ranked Old Dominion, scoring five goals in the second half for the win. Sophomore Lindsey Conrad recorded a hat trick, and Martina Loncarica notched two goals for the Orange. Loncarica scored the first goal off a penalty stroke and Syracuse added two more goals in the next six minutes. The Orange converted on two of eight penalty corners in the game, and senior goalkeeper Heather Hess picked up the win.
The Orange had a record-breaking 12-0 win over Colgate in its next game, shattering the previous record of 10, which was set in 1985. Senior Shannon Taylor had four goals and an assist, tying a school record for goals and points in a game. Freshman Marina Vernet added three goals, the first of her collegiate career. Loncarica scored twice and added two assists, and three players recorded their first career goals. Syracuse led 6-0 at halftime and for the second time this season the defense did not allow a shot in the first half. Hess and Christina Puggi split time in goal for the Orange.
Taylor leads the team with 11 points, while Loncarica has 10 points and Conrad has nine.
Next Up
The Spartans next five games will be on the road, starting with two games in New England. Michigan State will face Boston University on Sept. 13 before traveling north to take on New Hampshire the following day. The Spartans hold a 3-0 all-time record against the Wildcats, and a 1-1 all-time record against the Terriers. MSU travels to Ohio the next weekend for a matchup with Miami of Ohio on Friday, Sept. 19. The Spartans will then face Pacific in a neutral-site contest on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Michigan State concludes the road trip on Friday, Sept. 26 when it opens Big Ten play at Ohio State. The Buckeyes hold the all-time series advantage against the Spartans (32-15-3). MSU finished second in the Big Ten last season with a 5-1 record. The Spartans only loss came to Michigan, the Big Ten regular-season Champions.
