Field Hockey Prepares for a Pair of Weekend Games
10/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 7, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After a weekend which saw them sweep a pair of Big East opponents, Rutgers and No. 15 Louisville, the Michigan State field hockey team is preparing for weekend matchups with Indiana and Central Michigan.
First on the docket for the Spartans will be a 3:00 Friday road matchup with Big Ten rival Indiana. The Hoosier, who enter the game with a 7-4 (1-1 Big Ten) record, are 2-13 all-time vs. Michigan State.
Leading the way for Indiana will be redshirt freshman Morgan Fleetwood. Fleetwood enters the weekend ranked 10th in the Big Ten in points has 16 points on six goals and four assists. The Hoosiers will also rely on solid goalkeeping from junior Alex Mann who boasts an impressive 1.90 goals against average. Indiana is coached by Amy Robertson who is in her eight season with the Hoosiers.
In the second matchup of the weekend the Spartans will welcome instate rival Central Michigan to Ralph Young Field. The Chippewas , who enter the weekend with a 3-7 record, are 14-36-4 all-time against the Spartans.
Leading the way for Central Michigan will be senior Kelly Jordan. Jordan enters the weekend with a team-leading 16 points on five goals and six assists. The Chippewas will also rely on steady play in goal from senior Melinda Curran who enters the weekend with a 2.07 goals against average. Central Michigan is coached by Cristy Freese who is in her 24th season with the Chippewas.
Last weekend, the Spartans won a pair of games against Big East opponents, Rutgers and No. 15 Louisville. Leading the way for the Spartans were juniors Jantine Steinmetz and Angela Pagura. Steinmetz provided a clutch game-tying goal with under three minutes to play to force overtime against Louisville but her clutch play didn't end there as she scored the Spartans' game-winner 4 minutes and 18 seconds into the overtime period giving the Spartans a 2-1 victory. Pagura recorded two goals, including the game-winner, Saturday against Rutgers and recorded the game-winning assist on Stenimetz's overtime goal against Louisville.
The Spartans also received solid play in goal from senior Elissa Unger. Against Rutgers, Unger recorded her first shutout of the season (10th career) by making four saves. Against the high powered Louisville offense, Unger allowed only one goal and made four timely saves en route to the overtime victory.
On the season, the Spartans have been led offensively by senior Floor Rijpma and freshman Manouk Vernij. Rijpma, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, has recorded a team-high 23 points on 10 goals and three assists. While Vernij, a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, has tallied 22 points on seven goals and eight assists.
The Spartans enter this weekend near the top of the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category including scoring margin (+1.89), scoring average (3.45), shots per game (18.42), goals scored (42) and goals scored per game (3.50). The Spartans also rank second in the Big Ten in goals against average (1.56) and goals allowed per game (1.58) 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 it should be a good weekend for the Spartans"
Both of the MSU's games this weekend will offer live stats courtesy of gametracker. Links for gametracker can be found at msuspartans.com.
