Thursday, August 22
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
0-0-0, 0-0-0
3
vs
1
Utah Valley
0-0-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Utah Valley
0
1
1
Michigan St.
0
3
3
Second-Half Surge Lifts Spartans Over Utah Valley in Home-Opener
8/22/2019 11:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Michigan State opens season with 3-1 win over Utah Valley.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's soccer kicked off the 2019 season with a 3-1 victory over Utah Valley on Thursday night under the lights at DeMartin Stadium.
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This is the eighth-straight season that the Spartans have remained unbeaten in the season opener. It is also the fourth-straight season that MSU has opened its season at home, with a 3-0-1 record. Last season, Michigan State defeated Southern Utah, 2-0, in the home-opener, on Aug. 17, 2018.
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"We were a little disjointed in the first half, and I think that disrupted our passing rhythm on offense so we didn't generate much," head coach Tom Saxton said. "I thought our backline defended well and prevented them even though they had the ball more than us. We responded very well in the second half, and we scored three great goals. That's encouraging because that's what this team needs to take the next step is to be a dangerous, offensive team."
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Michigan State and Utah Valley were even-paced in the first half, with the Wolverines tallying three shots and the Spartans five. The MSU backline, made up of senior midfielder Michaela Kovacs and freshman defender Bria Schrotenboer stood up strong against a determined Utah Valley offense.
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Sophomore forward Gia Wahlberg had an early chance in the opening five minutes of the half to put the Spartans on the board. Wahlberg challenged Utah Valley goalkeeper Allie Jara with a header off a free kick by junior midfielder Danielle Stephan.
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Stephan slipped the ball past Jara in the 52nd minute off a deep pass from senior midfielder Hannah Jones at midfield to put the Spartans up 1-0. Jones passed the ball up the field to a waiting Stephan on the right, who was able to cross the ball to the empty left side of the net.
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Junior midfielder Bella Jodzis added to Michigan State's lead off an assist from Stephan in the 64th minute. Jodzis found the back of the net with a close-range shot off a rebound.
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The Spartans continued their second-half surge, shortly after freshman forward Sydney Kloosterman, entered the game. Senior midfield Sadie Misiewicz out-ran the defenders halfway up the field, where she crossed the ball from left to right, where Kloosterman was able to fire a shot past Jara for a 3-0 lead.
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Less than three minutes later, the Wolverines responded with a goal of their own to bring the score to 3-1. Tripp, who had three of Utah Valley's seven shots, slipped a shot past Kozal and the MSU defense, with assistance from Jocelyn Bybee.
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Redshirt-freshmen goalkeeper Lauren Kozal earned the start in net and had a solid night in net for the Spartans, with three saves. Kozal came up big with a lunging save in the 39th minute when Utah Valley's Amber Tripp fired a shot from 16 yards out.
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"That's what it's about – defending DeMartin and getting off to a start where we have confidence on our own field," Saxton said. "I thought Utah Valley was a good team, and we can be satisfied with that win, especially showing the resilience that we did, bouncing back with the second half that we did. The three goals were awesome, and we need to do well here, because if we do we'll have a great season."
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UP NEXT: The Spartans continue their home-stretch to start the 2019 season with a match versus Marshall on Sunday, Aug. 25. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
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This is the eighth-straight season that the Spartans have remained unbeaten in the season opener. It is also the fourth-straight season that MSU has opened its season at home, with a 3-0-1 record. Last season, Michigan State defeated Southern Utah, 2-0, in the home-opener, on Aug. 17, 2018.
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"We were a little disjointed in the first half, and I think that disrupted our passing rhythm on offense so we didn't generate much," head coach Tom Saxton said. "I thought our backline defended well and prevented them even though they had the ball more than us. We responded very well in the second half, and we scored three great goals. That's encouraging because that's what this team needs to take the next step is to be a dangerous, offensive team."
Â
Michigan State and Utah Valley were even-paced in the first half, with the Wolverines tallying three shots and the Spartans five. The MSU backline, made up of senior midfielder Michaela Kovacs and freshman defender Bria Schrotenboer stood up strong against a determined Utah Valley offense.
Â
Sophomore forward Gia Wahlberg had an early chance in the opening five minutes of the half to put the Spartans on the board. Wahlberg challenged Utah Valley goalkeeper Allie Jara with a header off a free kick by junior midfielder Danielle Stephan.
Â
Stephan slipped the ball past Jara in the 52nd minute off a deep pass from senior midfielder Hannah Jones at midfield to put the Spartans up 1-0. Jones passed the ball up the field to a waiting Stephan on the right, who was able to cross the ball to the empty left side of the net.
Â
Junior midfielder Bella Jodzis added to Michigan State's lead off an assist from Stephan in the 64th minute. Jodzis found the back of the net with a close-range shot off a rebound.
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The Spartans continued their second-half surge, shortly after freshman forward Sydney Kloosterman, entered the game. Senior midfield Sadie Misiewicz out-ran the defenders halfway up the field, where she crossed the ball from left to right, where Kloosterman was able to fire a shot past Jara for a 3-0 lead.
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Less than three minutes later, the Wolverines responded with a goal of their own to bring the score to 3-1. Tripp, who had three of Utah Valley's seven shots, slipped a shot past Kozal and the MSU defense, with assistance from Jocelyn Bybee.
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Redshirt-freshmen goalkeeper Lauren Kozal earned the start in net and had a solid night in net for the Spartans, with three saves. Kozal came up big with a lunging save in the 39th minute when Utah Valley's Amber Tripp fired a shot from 16 yards out.
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"That's what it's about – defending DeMartin and getting off to a start where we have confidence on our own field," Saxton said. "I thought Utah Valley was a good team, and we can be satisfied with that win, especially showing the resilience that we did, bouncing back with the second half that we did. The three goals were awesome, and we need to do well here, because if we do we'll have a great season."
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UP NEXT: The Spartans continue their home-stretch to start the 2019 season with a match versus Marshall on Sunday, Aug. 25. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
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Team Stats
UVU
MSU
Goals
1
3
Shots
7
9
Shots on Goal
4
6
Saves
3
3
Corners
1
3
Fouls
9
9
Scoring Plays
Danielle Stephan (1)
Assisted By: Hannah Jones
deep pass from midfield; far shot from right side to left side
52:28
Gabriala Jodzis (1)
Assisted By: Danielle Stephan
Close range - three yards out off rebound
64:44
Sydney Kloosterman (1)
Assisted By: Sadie Misiewicz
cross from left to right
72:48
Amber Tripp (1)
Assisted By: Jocelyn Bybee
close range shot slips past defender and goalkeeper
74:40
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerF/M
/ Women's Soccer
M/D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
F
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