Field Hockey Edges Indiana, 2-0

Oct. 23, 2010

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EAST LANSING, Mich.-In their first televised Big Ten match of the season, the No. 9 Michigan State field hockey team (13-4, 2-3 Big Ten) blanked Indiana, 2-0. Senior forward Jantine Steinmetz scored both goals for the Spartans in her last game in a Green and White jersey at Ralph Young Field.

In the first thirty-five minutes of play, neither the Spartans nor the Hoosiers (9-6, 1-4 Big Ten), could get on the board. The score was even at 0-0, but MSU dominated the Indiana defense, posting 11 shots and earning six corners. Freshman goaltender Molly Cassidy only faced one shot in the first half thanks to a strong defensive effort, led by sophomore back Adelle Lever.

The Spartans fed off of their powerful offensive efforts, opening up the second half of the game with a bang. Under thirty seconds into the second half of play, Steinmetz received the ball up field and passed it off to sophomore Kristen Henn. Henn found Steinmetz with the return pass at the stroke mark, where the senior forward deposited the ball into the cage to put MSU up on the board at 35:29.

Steinmetz secured Michigan State's second conference victory during a corner play when she picked up a rebound off of senior back Joelle van Ierland's initial shot and drove the ball into the cage. Steinmetz now has nine goals and eight assists on the season.

"We knew what was at stake and we knew Indiana was a good team," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "They put up a good fight. We knew at half time that it was our time to get a goal."

Cassidy picked up her fifth career shutout against the Hoosiers and recorded two saves in the match. Overall, the Spartans dominated the Hoosiers in shots (16-4) and corners (8-3).

Today's match air on the Big Ten Network on tape delay, and will be shown at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24. The Spartans will wrap up Big Ten conference play when they travel to Northwestern to face the Wildcats for the second time this season on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.