Michigan State University
Eastern Michigan
Spartans Down EMU, 4-0
9/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 3, 2010
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East Lansing, Mich. - Laura Heyboer tallied a goal and a pair of assists to help Michigan State knock off previously-undefeated Eastern Michigan, 4-0, on Friday afternoon. Kelsey Kassab also had a goal and an assist for the Spartans, who improve to 3-1-0 on the season.
The Spartans got on the board in the 29th minute. Heyboer forced a turnover at the cusp of the offensive third of the field, and went in with Olivia Stander on a two-o n-one. Heyboer sent the ball ahead into the left side of the box for Stander, and the sophomore sent it netward, eluding the hands of EMU netminder Monique Budani for a 1-0 lead the Spartans would carry into the half.
Heyboer gave MSU a 2-0 lead in the 60th minute. Jordan Mueller intercepted a pass at midfield and sent it ahead for the junior. Heyboer collected it, dribbled around a defender, and left-footed it into the upper left side of the net. Mikki Dennis pushed MSU to a 3-0 lead when she finished off a corner play by heading a pass from Kelsey Kassab past Budani. Heyboer also earned an assist on the score, which was recorded in the 68th minute.
Flietstra preserved the shutout with a save in the 81st minute - a rising shot from the foot of Stephanie Clark - that the keeper was able to punch over the crossbar. Flietstra finished with three saves and her third shutout of the season.
Kassab closed the day's scoring in the 86th minute on a restart, launching the ball over the wall of defenders and past a diving Budani. The senior made 17 saves on the day, several of the high-quality variety to keep her team in the contest.
With her offensive output today, Heyboer moved further up the all-time scoring lists at Michigan State. Her 31st career goal puts her alone in fifth place in that category, and her pair of helpers finds her now tied for 11th place with former teammate Lauren Hill and Leah Hutko (2000-03) with 16 assists. Her career point total now stands at 78, moving her ahead of Tiffany Laskowski (2000-03) for solo possession of fifth place.
Also moving up the career charts was Flietstra, who had a relatively quiet day in which she recorded her 11th career shutout. She now stands in sixth place on the career list.
Michigan State will be in action again on Sunday afternoon when it plays UW-Milwaukee in a road contest.
