Spartans Knock off Michigan in Exhibition Play

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey team knocked off Michigan, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Ocker Field in exhibition action.

From Head Coach Helen Knull:
"It was great to finally play someone else and be tester in our game. Collectively, we showed progress from the off season and maturity in our game. We have six days to make adjustments and keep improving before the season opener against St. Francis (Pa.) next Saturday - which I know the squad is anxiously waiting."

The Spartans got things going early, when sophomore Isa van Der Weij put MSU on the board with a goal off a penalty corner in the opening minutes. MSU held strong defensively, shutting out the Wolverines in the first half. MSU collected two shots to UM's seven, while the Wolverines settled for three corners to the Spartans' one.

MSU picked up right where they left off in the second half, defending three-straight penalty corners and followed with a fast break goal in the 32nd minute by van der Weij to put the Spartans up 2-0.

Michigan got on the board in the 46th minute on a penalty stroke by Halle O'Neil after a MSU player touched the ball near the goal line to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Spartan defense stormed off a late push by UM, giving the Spartans a 2-1 win over the Wolverines in exhibition play. The two teams went on to play a 10 minute extra period followed by a shootout, where Michigan outscored the Spartans in shootout play.

This season marks the first that play is broken up into four quarters, at fifteen minutes each. Two minute breaks occur between periods, and overtime is still two ten minute periods followed by a shootout.

Next up: MSU opens the regular season on Aug. 31 when they travel to Kent, Ohio to take on Saint Francis (Aug. 31) and Kent State (Sept. 1). Both games are slated for 1 p.m.

Goals
Isa van der Weij (MSU), 3rd minute, 32nd minute

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Players Mentioned

Isa van der Weij