Field Hockey Prepares to Host a Pair of Weekend Games

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Rolf van de Kerkhof | Elissa Unger

EAST LANSING, Mich. - After spending the first two months of the season on the road, the Michigan State field hockey team will open its home slate by welcoming Northwestern and Maine to Ralph Young Field.

First on the docket for the Spartans will be a 3:00 Friday matchup with Big Ten rival Northwestern. The Wildcats, who enter the game with a 8-2 record, are 33-20 all-time vs. Michigan State.

Leading the way for Northwestern will be senior Courtney Plaster-Strange and sophomore Chelsea Armstrong. Plaster-Strange, the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, is coming off a weekend which saw her score five goals and total 11 points helping the Wildcats to two victories. While Armstrong, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, is leading the Big Ten in goals (15) and points (37). The Wildcats are coached by Tracey Fuchs, who is in her first season with the team.

In the second matchup of the weekend the Spartans will welcome the Maine Black Bears to Ralph Young Field. The Black Bears, who enter the weekend with a 7-1 record, are 1-2 all-time against the Spartans.

Leading the way for Maine will be sophomore Kelly Newton. Newton, the reigning America East Player of the Week, enters the weekend with a team leading 26 points on 10 goals and 6 assists. The Black Bears will also rely on steady play in goal from sophomore Brittany Fleck, who enters the weekend with a 1.55 goals against average. Maine is coached by Josette Babineau, who is in her third season with the team.

Last weekend, the Spartans split a pair of road games against ranked opponents James Madison and Virginia. Leading the way for the Spartans was senior goalkeeper Elissa Unger who recorded 10 saves over the two games. On offense the Spartans were led by junior Jantine Steinmetz, who scored the game winning goal against James Madison, and freshman Kristen Henn, who came off the bench to score her first career goal against JMU.

On the season, the Spartans have been led offensively by senior Floor Rijpma and freshman Manouk Vernij. Vernij, a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, has recorded a team high 14 points on six goals and two assists. Rijpma, who was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the week of September 7th, has tallied 10 points on four goals and two assists.

The Spartans enter this weekend near the top of the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category including scoring margin (+1.60), scoring average (3.44), shots per game (18.25), goals scored (29) and goals scored per game (3.50). The Spartans also rank third in the Big Ten in goals against average (1.85) and goals allowed per game (1.88) due in large part to the play of Unger.

"We need to play our own game and stay in the moment," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "If we do those things it should be a successful 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.