Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Field Hockey Announces 2010 Schedule
7/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
July 14, 2010
Printable 2010 MSU Field Hockey Schedule
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Fresh off winning both the Big Ten regular season title and the Big Ten Championship crown in 2009, the Michigan State field hockey team announced today (July 14) its upcoming schedule for the 2010 season. The Spartans look to face four NCAA Tournament qualifiers from a season ago in Stanford and Wake Forest as well as Big Ten foes Ohio State and Indiana.
"We are looking forward to upcoming year," said MSU head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "After the conclusion of our 2009 championship season, we have been preparing for the challenges of the upcoming 2010 schedule. We have the privilege of taking on top non-conference opponents, in addition to an already very strong Big Ten Conference."
MSU opens its 2010 schedule at home when it hosts the 2010 Champions Invitational Tournament Aug. 28-29. The Spartans face Central Michigan in the opening game on Saturday, and depending of the outcome of that match faces either Duke or Louisville on Sunday to conclude tournament action.
The next weekend the Green and White head west to the state of California for three games against Cal, Pacific and Stanford. The Spartans open their trip on Friday, Sept. 3, at Cal before heading across the bay to Stanford for two games. MSU faces Pacific on the campus of Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 4, before facing the Cardinal on Monday, Sept. 6.
"We are scheduled to face three challenging opponents in Cal, Pacific and Stanford when we go West. It will be an excellent opportunity for our team to see what we are all about. The trip is a big undertaking, as we'll travel across the country and play these three teams in a four-day span. I believe it will allow our team to gain experience and help prepare for conference and NCAA tournament play," noted van de Kerkhof.
After the trip west, the Spartans return home for games against Providence and James Madison. MSU hosts the Friars on Friday, Sept. 10, before it welcomes the Dukes on Sunday, Sept. 12.
The Spartans then travel to Kent State the following weekend where they face the Golden Flashes on Friday, Sept. 17, before going against Boston University Saturday, Sept. 18, at Murphy Mellis Field in Kent, Ohio.
Michigan State opens conference action at home against Iowa on Friday, Sept. 24. The Green and White then travels to Michigan on Friday, Oct. 1, for the first Big Ten road contest of the year.
The following weekend MSU has its first of three consecutive home games when it faces Ohio, Penn State and Wake Forest. The Spartans first host the Bobcats on Sunday, Oct. 3, before entertaining the Nittany Lions in conference action on Friday, Oct. 8, and the Demon Deacons on Sunday, Oct. 10. Ohio State will host the Spartans on Friday, Oct. 15, in Columbus.
After facing Northwestern in a nonconference game on Sunday, Oct. 17, the Spartans host Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 23, in the final home contest of the season. MSU will honor its graduating seniors as a part of the celebration.
MSU concludes the regular season on the road when it travels to Northwestern on Sun, Oct. 31, for the final Big Ten contest before the conference tournament hosted by the Wildcats the following weekend Thur-Sun., Nov. 4-7.
"We are excited to return to Evanston for the Big Ten Championship and try to defend our tournament title from last season," said van de Kerkhof.
The NCAA first and second round will be contested Nov. 13-14 at sites yet to be determined. Maryland will host the NCAA Championship Nov. 19-21 in College Park.
The Green and White faces Michigan in an exhibition game on Saturday, Aug. 21, in Ann Arbor for its lone preseason contest.
