Lansing Sun

Michigan State University will host two non-conference field hockey games this week at Ralph Young Field in East Lansing. The Spartans are set to face Miami on Tuesday, October 1, and Kent State on Sunday, October 6.

The Miami Red Hawks come into the game with a 5-5 record after a recent loss to Michigan. They hold a 2-1 record in MAC play, including a shutout win over Ball State. Miami's head coach Iñako Puzo is in his 14th year, and the team’s leading scorer is Claudia Negrete Garcia with seven goals and zero assists for a total of 14 points. Goalkeeper Nicky Sjouken has a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.61 and a save percentage of .619.

Kent State will first play Appalachian State at home on Friday before traveling to East Lansing. The Golden Flashes are currently 2-7 overall but undefeated in MAC play with a 2-0 record. Heather Hefner is in her first season as head coach. Eva Usoz leads the team in scoring with five goals and three assists for a total of 13 points. Lieve Janse has been one of two goalkeepers used this season, posting a GAA of 2.55 and a save percentage of .754.

Helen Knull, Michigan State's head coach, is an alumna and former assistant coach at Kent State. She was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 2002 and was inducted into the Kent State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.

Michigan State is coming off a double-overtime victory against Ball State on Sunday. Freshman Caro Schafer scored her first collegiate goal to tie the game late in regulation, while classmate Lilian Knorr netted the game-winner in the second overtime period.

The Spartans have already surpassed their win total from last year with four victories this season and have scored 21 goals through nine games compared to last year's total of 17 goals over sixteen games.

Caro Schafer's goal against Ball State came at the end of regulation time, while Lilian Knorr’s overtime winner marked her second goal of the season. Ellie Rutherford recorded her fourth assist at Ball State, bringing her point total to eight for the season.

Senior Jillian Bonczewski led MSU with nine shots during the Ball State game, tying for most shots on goal along with Maddie Lawler, Ellie Rutherford, and Carmen Pucheta.

Ashley Herbert made her debut as goalkeeper for MSU against Michigan last Monday and earned her first start on Sunday at Ball State, making one save during the victory.

MSU will return to Big Ten play next week when it hosts Maryland on Friday before finishing its weekend slate on the road against Central Michigan on Sunday.