Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's field hockey team is set to resume Big Ten play, traveling to face Rutgers on Friday and No. 16 Penn State on Sunday. The Spartans have played the fewest conference games this season, with three completed and five remaining against Big Ten opponents.

Rutgers' head coach Meredith Civico leads her team into these matchups with a 4-7 record (1-4 in the Big Ten). "The Scarlet Knights have dropped their last three games to No. 2 Northwestern, Indiana (OT) and No. 5 Michigan after opening the B1G campaign with a penalty shootout victory over Iowa," according to the release. Key players for Rutgers include Guillermina Causarano and Paulina Niklaus, while goalkeeper Sophia Howard has participated in all eleven games.

Penn State also comes off a series of losses in Big Ten play but recently secured a win against Ohio. Lisa Bervinchak Love, now in her second season as head coach, oversees the Nittany Lions who will host Michigan before facing MSU. "The reigning B1G Offensive Player of the Year Sophia Gladieux leads the league with 19 goals and 43 points," stated the press release.

Michigan State enters this weekend following a split week; they lost to No. 6 Maryland but rebounded with a victory at Central Michigan. The Spartans have already surpassed last year's win total, scoring thirty goals through thirteen games compared to seventeen goals across sixteen games last year.

Emma O'Neill currently leads MSU's scoring efforts with five goals and ten assists this season. Lilian Knorr scored in both matches last week, while Ellie Rutherford has matched her career-best goal tally for four consecutive seasons.

Maddie Lawlor and Jillian Bonczewski are also experiencing their most productive seasons yet after overcoming previous challenges like injuries or limited playtime. Sophomore keeper Lyra Gavino holds a .658 save percentage over twelve games.

After this road trip, MSU will return home for two final regular-season matches against ranked opponents Iowa and Northwestern next week.