Field Hockey Prepares for matchup at Iowa
10/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 14, 2009
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - After a weekend which saw them sweep Indiana and Central Michigan, the Michigan State field hockey team is preparing for a 5:00 PM Friday matchup with Big Ten rival Iowa. The Hawkeyes, who enter the game with a 4-7 (1-2 Big Ten) record, are 45-9-1 all-time vs. Michigan State.
Leading the way for Iowa will be seniors Tricia Dean and Jess Werley. Dean has recorded a team-high 17 points on six goals and five assists. While, Werley has recorded a team-high seven goals. Iowa is coached by Tracey Griesbaum who is in her 10th season at the helm of the Hawkeye program.
Last weekend, the Spartans won a pair of games against Indiana and Central Michigan. Leading the way for the Spartans were seniors Jeamie Deacon (Wexford, Ireland) and Floor Rijpma (Bunnik, Netherlands). Deacon came of the bench and recorded a hat trick, including the game-winner, against Indiana on Friday. While Rijpma recorded a goal in each of the Spartans' weekend victories.
The Spartans also received solid play in goal from senior Elissa Unger (Reading, Pa.). Against the Indiana offense, Unger recorded seven saves while allowing only two goals. Against Central Michigan, Unger recorded her second shutout of the season (11th career) on six saves. For her weekend efforts, Unger was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the second time on the season and third time in her career.
On the season, the Spartans have been led offensively by Rijpma and freshman Manouk Vernij (Bleiswijk, Netherlands). Rijpma, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, has recorded a team-high 27 points on 12 goals and three assists. While Vernij, a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, has tallied 24 points on eight goals and eight assists.
The Spartans enter this weekend near the top of the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category including scoring margin (+2.04), scoring average (3.52), shots per game (19.07), goals scored (50) and goals scored per game (3.57). The Spartans also rank second in the Big Ten in goals against average (1.48) and goals allowed per game (1.50) due in large part to the play of Unger.
"We just have to continue to play our game," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "If we can do that and pick up on what we learned this week in practice we should have a good weekend in Iowa."
The MSU-Iowa game will offer live stats courtesy of gametracker. Links for gametracker can be found at msuspartans.com.
