Field Hockey Completes Comeback, Upsets #12 Ohio State

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State field hockey came back from a 2-0 deficit to take down No. 12-ranked Ohio State on Sunday, 4-3, from Ralph Young Field.

MSU rises to 5-9 overall and improves to 1-4 in Big Ten action. Sunday's win marks Michigan State's first ranked victory of the season, and its first since a win over No. 16-ranked Iowa at home last October. The Spartans return to action on Thursday, October 23 to take on Iowa in Iowa City at 7:00 p.m.

Ohio State out-shot Michigan State 24-8 overall and 14-6 in shots on goal. The Buckeyes held a 12-3 advantage in penalty corner opportunities, but it was the Spartans who capitalized on Sunday.

Michigan State got goals from junior Bianca Pizano, sophomore Caro Schafer, senior Gracie Burns and freshman Ellie Kendall. Graduate Maddie Lawlor and junior Brynn Shaffer each added assists. Junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino earned her first conference win and third win in goal for MSU this season, making 11 saves against 14 shots faced.

OSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead and took that lead into the 2nd period. Midway through the 2nd period, OSU had four consecutive penalty corner attempts. Gavino turned away the OSU attackers with four saves and the help of a blocked shot from a Spartan defender, but the sixth shot got through for the Buckeyes second goal of the game, giving them a 2-0 lead mid-way through the second period.

MSU quickly responded with a penalty stroke attempt from Pizano. Pizano dribbled the ball side-to-side, causing confusion for the OSU goalkeeper, allowing for Pizano to sling a shot past the OSU goalkeeper for MSU's first goal of the game.

Michigan State came out of the halftime break with new life on the defensive side of the pitch, not allowing any OSU scoring chances until late in the third period. The Spartans tied the game at 2-2 off a penalty corner attempt mid-way through the third period. Schafer inserted the ball to Pizano who rifled a shot that was punched away by the Buckeye goalkeeper, but Schafer was in front of the goal at the time of the shot, recovered the rebound, and flicked the ball above the outstretched OSU goalkeeper.

Two minutes later, MSU earned a takeaway and got the ball up the pitch for a breakaway opportunity. Shaffer dribbled the ball with Burns to her left, deked right, causing the Buckeye defender to bite, which allowed Shaffer to fire a centering pass over to Burns who put a shot past the OSU goalkeeper to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead in the 40th minute.

As time began winding time, OSU pulled their goalie in the 54th minute to create an advantage on the offensive end of the field. Essentially playing down a player, MSU started another breakaway with help from Lawlor. Lawlor entered the game and received a pass from down field, starting the break with Kendall on her left. Similar to Pizano earlier in the game, Lawlor deked right, causing the Buckeye goalkeeper and defender to move, allowing for Lawlor to center a pass to Kendall who rifled a shot past the out-stretched OSU goalkeeper to give MSU a 4-2 lead with under five minutes left in regulation.

The Buckeyes wouldn't go down without a fight as just 52 seconds later they capitalized on a deflected pass in front of the net which cut the MSU advantage to 4-3.

With under one minute to play, Ohio State went on its final attack. On the two penalty corner attempts Michigan State's defense stood strong and blocked away two OSU shots as the clock struck zero.

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Team Stats

Bianca Pizano

Caro Schafer

Ellie Kendall

Gracie Burns

Players Mentioned

Gracie Burns

Lyra Gavino

Ellie Kendall

Maddie Lawlor

Bianca Pizano

Caro Schafer

Brynn Shaffer