Field Hockey Prepares for Matchup at Penn State
10/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 28, 2009
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - After a weekend which saw them sweep No. 15 Ohio State and Michigan and clinch their first outright Big Ten Regular Season Title in school history, the Michigan State field hockey team is preparing for a noon Saturday matchup with Big Ten rival Penn State. The Nittany Lions, who enter the game with a 6-11 (1-4 Big Ten) record, are 22-9 all-time vs. Michigan State.
Leading the way for Penn State will be freshman Kelsey Amy and senior Christine Dudek. Amy, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, has recorded 12 points on five goals and two assists. Dudek has recorded 12 points on three goals and six assists. The Nittany Lions will also rely on solid play in goal from redshirt freshman Ayla Halus who enters the weekend with a solid 2.22 goals against average. Penn State is coached by Charlene Morett who is in her 23rd season with the program.
Last weekend, the Spartans clinched their first ever outright Big Ten Regular Season Title by winning a pair of home games over Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan. The Spartans were led on offense by seniors Jeamie Deacon (Wexford, Ireland) and Floor Rijpma (Bunnik, Netherlands). Deacon and Rijpma tallied goals in both games this weekend with Rijpma netting the game-winner in each. For her play over the weekend Rijpma was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the third time on the season and fourth time in her career.
The Spartans also received solid play from their defensive unit of Angie Lucik (Emmaus, Pa.), Joelle van Ierland (Den Dolder, Netherlands) and Holly Sherman (Vancouver, B.C.). The Spartan trio helped limit the high-powered Buckeye and Wolverine offenses to a mere three shots apiece while controlling the game tempo and running out the clock. For her efforts on the defensive front, Sherman was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career.
On the season, the Spartans have been led offensively by Rijpma and freshman Manouk Vernij (Bleiswijk, Netherlands). Rijpma has recorded a team-high 33 points on 15 goals and three assists. While Vernij, a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, has tallied 25 points on eight goals and nine assists.
The Spartans enter this weekend near the top of the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category including scoring margin (+1.98), scoring average (3.32), shots per game (18.53), goals scored (57) and goals scored per game (3.35). The Spartans also rank first in the Big Ten in goals against average (1.34) and goals allowed per game (1.35) due in large part to the play of senior goalkeeper Elissa Unger (Reading, Pa.).
"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 Pennsylvania."
