Michigan State University Athletics
Women's Soccer Plays First Exhibition Game Thursday at CMU
8/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING - The Michigan State women's soccer team will play its first exhibition match on the road against Central Michigan University this Thursday at 4 p.m.
"This game is a great opportunity to get to evaluate," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "Central is a quality team. We're going to be able to get a great evaluation on where we are in terms of teaching and getting organized as a program."
Saxton said that the upcoming exhibition match will be critical for helping make "tough decisions" regarding personnel and who will earn starting positions, especially in goal.
Saxton, who enters his 25th season as head coach, brings in five new recruits while returning seven regular starters, including: Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz, Allyson Krause, Alexandra Gjonaj, Sarah Kovan, Morgan McKerchie, Jessica Kjellstrom and Jamie Cheslik.
Saxton will get his first look at five true freshmen, including Lexy Warner and Michaela Kovacs, both of whom attended U.S. Soccer training camps this summer.
With the loss of graduating senior Courtney Clem, the responsibility for safeguarding the Spartan net is yet to be determined with several goalkeepers contending for the position.
The offensive front line will be anchored by Cheslik. The standout freshman paced the Spartan offense as she finished the 2014 season with 20 points and eight goals. Cheslik's scoring efforts earned her a second-place standing in the Big Ten for freshman scoring and finished 10th overall in goals scored. Krause posted four goals and four assists and recorded at least one point in five of six non-conference games.
The Spartans will play a second exhibition match on Aug. 16, held in Detroit against the UDM Titans. The regular season begins Aug. 21 as the Spartans travel to Niagara. The first appearance for this year's squad at DeMartin Stadium will be against Dayton on Aug. 30.
