Michigan State University
Northwestern
Field Hockey Hosts No. 3 Northwestern, Indiana for Final B1G Home Games
10/13/2022 3:40:00 PM | Field Hockey
Michigan State (6-6, 0-5 B1G) vs. #3 Northwestern (10-3, 1-3 B1G)
Date: Friday, Oct. 14
Time: 3 p.m.
Live Stats
Watch Live: B1G+
Location: East Lansing, Mich. (Ralph Young Field)
Michigan State vs. Indiana (8-6, 1-3 B1G)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 16
Time: Noon
Live Stats
Watch Live: B1G+
Location: East Lansing, Mich. (Ralph Young Field)
Michigan State Game Notes
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State field hockey returns to Ralph Young Field to host a pair of Big Ten opponents this weekend. The Spartans take on No. 3 Northwestern, the defending national champions, on Friday, Oct. 14 at 3 p.m., before facing Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 16 at noon. Sunday's game against Indiana will serve as the Spartans' annual Pink Game.
LAST TIME OUTÂ
The Spartans went 1-1 last weekend, falling to No. 10 Michigan at home, 3-1, on Oct. 7, before topping Ball State on the road, 5-3, on Oct. 9. Senior midfielder Merel Hanssen scored three of the Spartans' six goals over the weekend – the loan Spartan goal against Michigan and a pair at Ball State – to become MSU's leading scorer on the season. Junior forward Lulu Fulton also tallied a pair of goals at Ball State and junior midfielder Emma O'Neill added her fourth of the season. Graduate goalkeeper Monique Jardell has played every minute in goal for the Spartans this season.Â
B1G: BEST OF THE BESTÂ
No. 3 Northwestern will be the sixth-straight ranked conference opponent for the Spartans. Arguably the best field hockey conference in the nation, the Big Ten currently has six of its eight teams ranked in the NFHCA Top-25 Coaches Poll. Four of those teams (No. 2 Maryland, No. 3 Northwestern, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Iowa) are in the top five. The league boasts the second-highest number of teams in the rankings, following the ACC (7). In individual Big Ten statistical categories, Hanssen ranks 10th in shots on goal (21) and Ashley Harlocks ranks ninth in assists (6).Â
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERNÂ
No. 3-ranked Northwestern is 10-3 overall and 1-3 in Big Ten play this season, most recently earning a B1G victory over now No. 4-ranked Penn State in overtime, 5-4. The Wildcats are 8-3 against ranked opponents this season, but have lost two straight at the hands of now No. 2-ranked Maryland (2-1, OT) and now No. 20-ranked Rutgers (2-1). Associate head coach Georgia Holland was an assistant coach at Michigan State during the 2017 season. Â
 The Wildcats rank among the best in the country in several statistical categories, including No. 7 in assists per game (2.85), No. 8 in goals per game (3.15), No. 8 in points per game (9.15), No. 9 in penalty corners per game (7.46) and No. 11 in scoring margin (1.74). Bente Baekers leads the country in points per game (3.23) and is second nationally in goals per game (1.38). Baekers leads Northwestern in goals (18) while tying for second in assists (6). Her 42 total points is more than double the next closest player on the team. Kayla Blas leads the team in assists with eight. In goal, Annabel Skubisz owns a .710 save percentage along with a 1.37 goals against average that ranks No. 24 nationally. Â
Michigan State is 24-44 all-time against the Wildcats. Northwestern won the last matchup between the two teams, 6-2, on Oct. 17, 2021.Â
SCOUTING INDIANAÂ
Indiana is 8-6 overall this season with a 1-3 record in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers have dropped consecutive games, losing to No. 2-ranked Maryland (5-1) and No. 6-ranked Penn State (4-0). Indiana owns one ranked win, a 2-0 victory over then No. 21-ranked Rutgers on Sep. 30. Indiana is not ranked in the latest NFHCA poll, but checks in at No. 24 in the NCAA RPI. Â
Indiana ranks No. 40 nationally in goal against average (1.88) and is No. 41 in goals per game (1.93). The Hoosiers lead the nation in defensive saves (12), all of which are credited to defender Sydney Keld. Jemima Cookson leads the team in scoring with 13 points this season on six goals and an assist. Yip van Wonderen leads the team with four assists. In goal, Arabella Loveridge allows a 2.78 goals against average alongside a .711 save percentage that ranks No. 38 nationally. Loveridge has four shutouts to her name this season. Â
Michigan State is 25-8 all-time against the Hoosiers. MSU and Indiana last played on Oct. 15, 2021, with the Hoosiers securing a 5-0 victory.Â
UP NEXTÂ
The Spartans head north for a midweek nonconference matchup at Central Michigan on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. MSU then returns to Ralph Young Field on Sunday, Oct. 23 for its penultimate home game of the season, hosting Miami (Ohio) at noon. Sunday's game will serve as the Spartans' senior day, where MSU seniors Jade Arundell, Georgia Davies, Monique Jardell, Isa van der Weij, Valerie Radvany and Devin Reilly will be honored on-field before the game.Â
