Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Iowa
Field Hockey Closes Regular Season with No. 10 Iowa, Kent State
10/27/2022 3:44:00 PM | Field Hockey
Michigan State (8-8, 1-6 B1G) at No. 10 Iowa (10-6, 3-4 B1G)
Date: Friday, Oct. 28
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Watch: B1G+
Live Stats
Kent State (7-8, 5-1 MAC) at Michigan State
Date: Sunday, Oct. 30
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: East Lansing, Mich. (Ralph Young Field)
Watch: B1G+
Live Stats
Michigan State Game Notes
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State field hockey takes on No. 10 Iowa and Kent State this weekend for its final regular season games of the year. The Spartans travel to Iowa for a 5 p.m. game on Friday, Oct. 28, before taking on Kent State at home on Sunday, Oct. 30.Â
LAST TIME OUTÂ
The Spartans enter the final weekend of the regular season with an 8-8 overall record and 1-6 record in the league. Last week, Michigan State faced two non-conference opponents, topping Central Michigan on the road, 3-2, on Oct. 19, before falling to Miami, 2-0, at home on Oct. 23. Celina Riccardo, Merel Hanssen and Isa van der Weij scored goals in the win at Central Michigan. Ellie Wheatley and Emma O'Neill added assists on van der Weij's goal. The Spartans are led by Hanssen in points (15) and goals (6), while Riccardo, Wheatley and Ashley Harlock post a team-high six assists each. Graduate goalkeeper Monique Jardell has played every minute in goal for the Spartans this season.Â
CELEBRATING TITLE IXÂ
Sunday's game against Kent State will serve as the team's Title IX Day, celebrating 50 years of Title IX. Former Spartan field hockey players Kathy Sapia and Sally Belloli will be honored pre-game on the field and will serve as guest coaches during the game.Â
SCOUTING IOWAÂ
The 10th-ranked Hawkeyes are led by ninth-year head coach Lisa Cellucci, amassing a 10-6 record including a 3-4 record in Big Ten play. Iowa is amid a season-long three-game losing streak having dropped its last game against Michigan, 1-0, in a neutral site contest on Oct. 23. The Hawkeyes are led by junior Alex Wesneski in goals (11) and points (22 p, 11 g, 0 a), and sophomore Lieve Schalk in assists (9). In goal, fifth-year senior Grace McGuire has posted four shutouts this season and sits eighth in the nation in goals against average (1.08).Â
Iowa has outscored its opponents 37-17 this season and has been ranked in the top 10 every week this season, reaching as high as No. 3Â on Sept. 27. The Hawkeyes also return three All-Americans from their regular season Big Ten title-winning team (Anthe Nijziel, Grace McGuire and Esme Gibson). Iowa leads the all-time series 15-56-1 and has won the last eight meetings between the two schools including last season's 5-0 victory in East Lansing.Â
SCOUTING KENT STATEÂ
The Golden Flashes are led by fourth-year head coach Kyle DeSandes-Moyer and have amassed a 7-8 record, including a 5-1 record against MAC opponents heading into the weekend, clinching at least a share of the MAC regular season title for the third time in four years. Kent State is coming off a 3-0 loss to #7 Virginia on Oct. 23 and will play their final conference game against Bellarmine on Friday, Oct. 28 before heading to East Lansing. The Golden Flashes are led by freshman Patricia Strunk in goals (5) and points (13 p, 5 g, 3 a), and senior Larissa Balachick in assists (7). In goal, sophomore Cecile van Eijck has compiled a 2.43 goals against average and has three shutouts, all of which have come against former MSU opponents (Indiana, Ball State and Central Michigan).Â
Current MSU head coach Helen Knull was a four-starter and two-time All-American at Kent State, leading the Golden Flashes to two MAC championships and four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Knull was inducted into the Kent State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. MSU currently leads the all-time series 25-8-1 and has won the past three meetings including a 3-1 victory on Oct. 27, 2021 in Kent, Ohio. The Spartans have won six-straight home meetings between the two schools, having not lost to Kent State at home since Oct. 1, 2000, in what was a 4-1 victory for the Golden Flashes.Â
