Women's Soccer Ties Eastern Michigan, 1-1

Sept. 20, 2009

YPSILANTI, Mich. - Despite 33 shots in 110:00 of play, the Michigan State women's soccer team was able to score just once as they played to a 1-1 tie with Eastern Michigan on Sunday (Sept. 20) afternoon in Ypsilanti. With the tie, MSU remains unbeaten at 6-0-2 while EMU is now 4-2-2 on the year.

"I thought we grew from today's game," said MSU head coach Tom Saxton. "We played under difficult circumstances but still were able to carry the play. While we were a player down, we dug deep and played our hearts out to get the tie."

The Spartans played the final 12:46 of regulation and the two overtime sessions without Lauren Hill who received her second yellow card in the 78th minute.

For the first time this season, the Spartans gave up the first goal of the game as Eastern Michigan struck in the 12th minute when Paige Sheridan scored on a breakaway with a shot inside the far right post. The Eagles' goal was just the third given up by Spartan keeper Jill Flietstra in 753:28 of action this season.

As they did on Friday against Kent State, the Spartan offense produced several scoring chances and outshot EMU, 14-4, in the first half but on Sunday had no goals to show for their efforts.

In the second half, Laura Heyboer tied the game for MSU on their 22nd shot of the game at the 69:23 mark. Heyboer scored off a one-touch pass from Lauren Sinacola from six yards out.

MSU registered a total of 28 shots through regulation and held a slight, 5-4, shot advantage in the two overtime periods.

"A different team could have come unglued but we played with composure and pressured them, even a man down," Saxton said. "We are playing good soccer right now and got dealt a tough hand today, but we kept playing."

Flietstra tied a season high with six saves.

The Spartans return to action on Sunday (Sept. 27) when they host Penn State in the Big Ten opener at noon at DeMartin Stadium. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.