Lansing Sun

Michigan State University’s field hockey team continues its non-conference schedule this week with two matches. The Spartans will travel to Louisville for a game against Bellarmine on Friday, September 13, at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium and then return home to face Colgate on Sunday, September 15, at Ralph Young Field in East Lansing.

Live statistics and webstream links for both games can be accessed on the MSU field hockey schedule page. The match against Bellarmine will stream on ESPN+, while the game against Colgate will air on BTN+.

Last weekend, Michigan State split its games, securing a 3-1 victory over Vermont but falling to Ohio in double overtime by a score of 3-2. In the win over Vermont, goals were scored by Skylar Santucci, Jillian Bonczewski, and Carmen Pucheta with assists from Emma O'Neill. Against Ohio, Bianca Pizano and Ellie Rutherford netted goals for the Spartans.

Bellarmine enters Friday's contest with a 2-2 record. Anna Krump leads the team in scoring with seven points (2-3-7). Head coach Devanny Boisvert is in her sixth season and has guided the Knights through their transition to Division I eligibility.

Colgate holds an 0-3 record going into their game against Central Michigan before facing Michigan State. The Raiders have been outscored 14-4 this season but recently lost to Lock Haven in penalty strokes. April Cornell-DeAngelis is leading Colgate in her eighth season as head coach.

Michigan State’s losses this year have both come in overtime. Last season, MSU was winless in overtime games (0-4). This year three of their four games have been decided by one goal.

Bianca Pizano leads MSU in scoring with three goals this season (3-0-6). Maddie Lawlor has returned after missing last season and has contributed five points (2-1-5). Jillian Bonczewski has two goals this year after having one across her first three seasons. Emma O'Neill leads the team with three assists this season.

Freshman Carmen Pucheta scored her first collegiate goal against Vermont and is among three freshmen who have started all four games for MSU alongside Mora Cavazza, Lilian Knorr, and Caro Schäfer.

Sophomore Lyra Gavino has started all four games for MSU this season with a goals-against average of 2.12 and a save percentage of .591.

The Spartans will open Big Ten play next week with an away game at Ohio State on Friday, September 20. They will then host Michigan on Monday, September 23 at Ralph Young Field; that match will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.

___