Friday, August 27
Kent, Ohio
Noon
Michigan State University
(1-0)
3
at
1
Kent State
(0-1)
1
2
3
4
F
MSU
0
2
1
0
3
KENTST
0
1
0
0
1
Spartans Knock Off Kent State in Season Opener
8/27/2021 2:45:00 PM | Field Hockey
KENT, Ohio – Using a trio of goal scorers in its season-opening contest, the Michigan State field hockey team defeated host Kent State, 3-1, Friday afternoon at Murphy-Mellis Field in Kent, Ohio.
The win moved the Spartans to 1-0 on the young season, while the Golden Flashes fell to 0-1 overall. This was the second time in three campaigns that MSU earned a victory in its season opener, with the Green and White beating St. Francis (Pa.) to begin the 2019 season.
A tightly contested first period ended with both sides scoreless, but junior Nienke Bloemsaat broke the deadlock early on in the second frame, beating the Golden Flashes' goalkeeper off a penalty corner in the 17th minute. Seniors Lia Sinisi and Cara Bonshak were both credited with assists on the goal.
Kent State's Clara Rodriguez Seto wasted little time getting an equalizer, scoring unassisted in the 18th minute to tie the game at 1-1.
Sinisi closed out the opening half of scoring in the 28th minute, tallying her first goal of the campaign off an assist from junior Merel Hanssen.
The Spartans would keep up the offensive attack in the third period, as graduate student Maddie Babineau netted her first goal in a Michigan State uniform during the 33rd minute on an unassisted score.
Babineau's tally would be the final time either side could find the back of the net, as MSU and Kent State kept each other off the scoreboard the rest of the match.
Senior Jade Arundell got the start in goal for the Spartans, making one save in the winning effort, while her Kent State counterpart, Azure Fernsler, made six saves despite the loss.
MSU held the shot advantage, 17-14, including a 9-1 shooting edge in the second period, and took home the Spartans' first non-conference victory since a 3-0 win over Central Michigan on Oct. 27, 2019.
The Spartans close out their first weekend of action with a Saturday matinee against Saint Louis. That contest is slated for a noon start in Kent, Ohio.
The win moved the Spartans to 1-0 on the young season, while the Golden Flashes fell to 0-1 overall. This was the second time in three campaigns that MSU earned a victory in its season opener, with the Green and White beating St. Francis (Pa.) to begin the 2019 season.
A tightly contested first period ended with both sides scoreless, but junior Nienke Bloemsaat broke the deadlock early on in the second frame, beating the Golden Flashes' goalkeeper off a penalty corner in the 17th minute. Seniors Lia Sinisi and Cara Bonshak were both credited with assists on the goal.
Kent State's Clara Rodriguez Seto wasted little time getting an equalizer, scoring unassisted in the 18th minute to tie the game at 1-1.
Sinisi closed out the opening half of scoring in the 28th minute, tallying her first goal of the campaign off an assist from junior Merel Hanssen.
The Spartans would keep up the offensive attack in the third period, as graduate student Maddie Babineau netted her first goal in a Michigan State uniform during the 33rd minute on an unassisted score.
Babineau's tally would be the final time either side could find the back of the net, as MSU and Kent State kept each other off the scoreboard the rest of the match.
Senior Jade Arundell got the start in goal for the Spartans, making one save in the winning effort, while her Kent State counterpart, Azure Fernsler, made six saves despite the loss.
MSU held the shot advantage, 17-14, including a 9-1 shooting edge in the second period, and took home the Spartans' first non-conference victory since a 3-0 win over Central Michigan on Oct. 27, 2019.
The Spartans close out their first weekend of action with a Saturday matinee against Saint Louis. That contest is slated for a noon start in Kent, Ohio.
Team Stats
MSU
KENTST
Goals
3
1
Shots
17
14
Shots on Goal
11
2
Saves
1
8
Corners
8
8
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Bloemsaat, Nienke (1)
Assisted By: Sinisi, Lia , Bonshak, Cara
Direct pass off corner
16:44
RODRIGUEZ SETO,Clara (1)
GOAL by KENTST RODRIGUEZ SETO,Clara, goal number 1 for season.
17:50
Sinisi, Lia
Assisted By: Hanssen, Merel
GOAL by MSU Sinisi, Lia, Assist by Hanssen, Merel.
27:49
Babineau, Maddie
GOAL by MSU Babineau, Maddie.
32:51
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
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