
Women's Soccer Visits Central Michigan for First Road Match
8/25/2021 3:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State women's soccer team is set for its first road trip this Thursday, Aug. 26, when they take on Central Michigan in a 7 p.m. game. The Spartans are currently 2-0 and played their first two games at DeMartin Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans pulled off a 3-0 shutout win on Sunday, Aug. 22 at DeMartin against Eastern Michigan. After most of the first half went by with strong defense by both sides, Michigan State's Lauren DeBeau was set up at the top of the arc by Zivana Labovic and Ava Cook for the first goal of the match.
MSU added two more security goals late in the second half. In the 71st minute, Danielle Stephan scored from the box, landing a shot in the left corner of the net. Three minutes later, Abby Gardiner scored for the Spartans on a penalty kick opportunity for the 3-0 final.
Goalkeeper Lauren Kozal has played the full 90 minutes of the first two contests this season in the net. She is currently one of just five other goalies in the Big Ten to record two shutouts so far this fall.
SPARTAN LEADERS
Goalkeeper Lauren Kozal has played the full 90 minutes of the first two contests this season in the net. She is currently one of just five other goalies in the Big Ten to record two shutouts so far this fall.
The offense has been diverse so far this season with all seven of MSU's goals coming from different players. Likewise with assists, seven different Spartans have recorded one. Four players have scored at least one goal and earned one assist - Ava Cook, Zivana Labovic, Jordyn Wickes and Danielle Stephan.
QUOTING COACH HOSLER
On Thursday's opponent: "Central Michigan showed a lot of fight in their opener, nearly coming all the way back to equalize against a good Marquette side. They have had a full week to prepare and will come at us with fresh legs, so we have to set the tone physically and dictate our style of play."
On preparing for the match: "[Last time] we conceded too many counter-opportunities, and need to be more aware of when to press or drop and then execute it collectively."
SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas, led by Head Coach Jeremy Groves, are currently 0-1 having dropped their season opener to Marquette on Aug. 19. The Spartans are 7-2-1 all-time against Central Michigan, having met last on Aug. 18, 2018 for a 2-0 victory in MSU's favor. It's the first trip to Mount Pleasant for the Spartans since 2007, and they hope to keep the 4-0 road streak against the Chippewas intact in tomorrow's match.
NEXT UP
MSU is back at home on Monday, Aug. 30 to host Florida Atlantic in a late-addition game to the nonconference schedule. Later that week they will also host Bowling Green on Sept. 2, followed by back-to-back road games at Oakland and Dayton before the start of Big Ten play on Sept. 19.
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans pulled off a 3-0 shutout win on Sunday, Aug. 22 at DeMartin against Eastern Michigan. After most of the first half went by with strong defense by both sides, Michigan State's Lauren DeBeau was set up at the top of the arc by Zivana Labovic and Ava Cook for the first goal of the match.
MSU added two more security goals late in the second half. In the 71st minute, Danielle Stephan scored from the box, landing a shot in the left corner of the net. Three minutes later, Abby Gardiner scored for the Spartans on a penalty kick opportunity for the 3-0 final.
Goalkeeper Lauren Kozal has played the full 90 minutes of the first two contests this season in the net. She is currently one of just five other goalies in the Big Ten to record two shutouts so far this fall.
SPARTAN LEADERS
Goalkeeper Lauren Kozal has played the full 90 minutes of the first two contests this season in the net. She is currently one of just five other goalies in the Big Ten to record two shutouts so far this fall.
The offense has been diverse so far this season with all seven of MSU's goals coming from different players. Likewise with assists, seven different Spartans have recorded one. Four players have scored at least one goal and earned one assist - Ava Cook, Zivana Labovic, Jordyn Wickes and Danielle Stephan.
QUOTING COACH HOSLER
On Thursday's opponent: "Central Michigan showed a lot of fight in their opener, nearly coming all the way back to equalize against a good Marquette side. They have had a full week to prepare and will come at us with fresh legs, so we have to set the tone physically and dictate our style of play."
On preparing for the match: "[Last time] we conceded too many counter-opportunities, and need to be more aware of when to press or drop and then execute it collectively."
SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas, led by Head Coach Jeremy Groves, are currently 0-1 having dropped their season opener to Marquette on Aug. 19. The Spartans are 7-2-1 all-time against Central Michigan, having met last on Aug. 18, 2018 for a 2-0 victory in MSU's favor. It's the first trip to Mount Pleasant for the Spartans since 2007, and they hope to keep the 4-0 road streak against the Chippewas intact in tomorrow's match.
NEXT UP
MSU is back at home on Monday, Aug. 30 to host Florida Atlantic in a late-addition game to the nonconference schedule. Later that week they will also host Bowling Green on Sept. 2, followed by back-to-back road games at Oakland and Dayton before the start of Big Ten play on Sept. 19.
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