Michigan State University
Green Bay
Spartans Face Green Bay in Third Straight Home Game
8/22/2018 3:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MSU looks to stay unbeaten as the Phoenix visit East Lansing
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State women's soccer returns to DeMartin Stadium for its third consecutive home game to open the regular season when Green Bay visits East Lansing for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff Thursday afternoon.
Game NotesÂ
The Spartans (2-0) are coming off an opening weekend sweep of Southern Utah (Aug. 17) and Boston University (Aug. 19), both by a 2-0 margin. Green Bay (0-2), started the season with home losses to Valparaiso on Aug. 17 (2-1) and North Dakota State on Aug. 19 (4-1).
MSU was able to secure two shutouts to open the season, but left chances to score more goals and put games away on the field. Â Â Â Â Â
"Our focus going into Thursday is continued improvement in all areas of the game," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "We would especially like to be more consistent with our attacking opportunities." Â Â
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Junior midfielder Sadie Misiewicz was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Tuesday after starting the season strong, scoring three goals in the first two games. She put away her first-career goal in the 22nd minute of MSU's season opener against the Terriers, and followed with a second score that came after chasing down a ball headed out of bounds, and beating a defender and the goalkeeper 1v1. The third goal of the weekend came in the 11th minute of Sunday's game against BU after Misiewicz put away a deflected ball off a Spartan corner kick.
"We are so proud of Sadie and her Big Ten award in the first week," Saxton said. "It was well deserved and hopefully we can continue to count on her to provide big goals for us."
Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Reilley Ott has yet to allow a goal this season through two full games. She made seven saves against Boston University, including a diving stop, just getting a hand on a ball headed for the back of the net that would have made it a one-goal game.
The Spartans back line, led by redshirt-junior Michaela Kovacs, junior Madison VanDyke, sophomore Athena Biondi and freshman Samantha White has been solid, limiting quality chances at the offensive end for opponents.
SCOUTING GREEN BAY
McKayla Kertscher and Alycia Wright have both scored a goal for the Phoenix in their first two games, while Kertscher and Brianna Messner have both recorded assists. A freshman midfielder, Kertscher leads the team with seven shots, three of them coming on goal. Â
Goalkeeper Courtney Klatt leads the team with 135 minutes, and has allowed five goals for a 3.33 goals against average while making 12 saves. Taylor Reichow has also been in goal, allowing one goal in 45 minutes on the field.
The Phoenix are under the direction of Interim Head Coach Wojtek Krakowiak, who took over the job in late July after spending the 2017 season as an assistant coach.
THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Michigan State, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State and Rutgers top the Big Ten with two wins each after the first weekend of regular season play.
