Rutgers University
Michigan State
Field Hockey edged by No. 20 Michigan State
Oct 03 | Field Hockey
Oct. 3, 2014
Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers field hockey made a late push against No. 20 Michigan State on Friday afternoon, but came up just short as the Spartans took a 3-2 victory at the Bauer Track & Field Hockey Complex. Sofia Walia (Surrey, British Columbia) and Katie Champion (Egg Harbor, N.J.) were the goal scorers for the Scarlet Knights.
"We set the tone early by scoring first," head coach Meredith Long explained. "But we just had a lapse and they put three goals in a short time span. That put us in a situation that was really tough to come back from. We upped the pressure in the second half, which made the chances break our way, but just couldn't tie it."
Walia returned to the lineup and was an immediate difference maker for the Scarlet Knights. 15 minutes into the game, she stole the ball in front of the net and fired it into the back of the cage to put RU ahead 1-0.
Shortly after however, the Spartans responded with three successive goals that clinched the victory. Abby Barker scored her team-leading 10th tally of the year at 23:34 to tie the score at 1-1. Her goal was followed by an Alli Helwig goal off a corner play just three and a half minutes later that pushed MSU ahead for good. Kendal Anderson later scored the third MSU goal of the half at 31:26.
In the second half, the momentum shifted over the Scarlet Knights. Rachel Yaney (Bridgewater, N.J.) had a great chance to score on a breakaway early in the half, but was stifled by Spartans' keeper Sierra Patton.
RU kept the intensity high, and Champion broke through for her fifth goal of the season midway through the half by knocking home a rebound. The Scarlet Knights continued to pressure, including a sequence of four shots in the final minute of the game, but were unable to come up with the equalizer.
For the game, Rutgers held a 17-12 advantage in shots. Penalty corners were five apiece for the game, while RU had all three corners taken in the second stanza.
With the loss, Rutgers falls to 4-6 on the year, and 0-4 in the Big Ten. MSU improves to 6-4, 2-2 Big Ten. Rutgers is back in action Sunday, as they will host New Hampshire at 1 p.m.
Game Notes
- In the past five games, RU has taken four defeats by a one-goal margin. All have come against a ranked opponent.
- Rutgers scored multiple goals for the first time since Sept. 14 at Virginia.
- With each scoring a goal, Walia and Champion still tie for the team lead, each now with five goals.
- Champion's five goals are a new career high.
- Goalkeeper Shevaun Hayes (Melbourne, Australia) now holds a 4-6 record on the year. She made three saves, increasing her season total to 61. She boasts a 2.58 GAA and .693 save percentage.
