Jennifer Smith Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator/Compliance | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website
Jennifer Smith Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator/Compliance | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website
Michigan State University is set to host its final two home games of the season at Ralph Young Field. The Spartans will face off against Iowa on Friday, October 25, and Northwestern on Sunday, October 27. Both matches are part of the Big Ten contests.
Lisa Cellucci leads Iowa in her 11th season as head coach. Under her guidance, Iowa recently won two consecutive games after losing three in a row, with two losses occurring in overtime. Dionne van Aalsum spearheads Iowa's offense with eight goals this season. Annika Herbine leads the team in assists and is tied for second place in goals alongside Lieve van Kessel. Mia Magnotta has been a constant presence for Iowa, playing all 14 games with a .760 GAA and 1.18 GAA.
Northwestern arrives at Sunday's game following a match against Michigan on Friday. Tracy Fuchs has coached the Wildcats for 16 seasons, leading them to back-to-back title game appearances in recent years and an NCAA title win in 2021. The Wildcats have maintained an undefeated record through their first 15 games this season, conceding only nine goals overall. Ashley Sessa currently leads the Big Ten scoring charts with 17 goals and 45 points.
The Spartans recently faced defeats on the road against Rutgers and Penn State, bringing their Big Ten record to zero wins out of five matches so far this season. Despite these setbacks, Michigan State has improved from last year by surpassing their previous win total and scoring more goals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lyra Gavino stood out last weekend with significant performances against Rutgers and Penn State, achieving a career-high number of saves during these matches.
Emma O'Neill remains Michigan State's top scorer while Ellie Rutherford follows closely behind as both players continue to achieve personal bests this season along with other teammates like Maddie Lawlor and Jillian Bonczewski.
Freshmen Lilian Knorr and Carmen Pucheta have also contributed notably to the team's efforts this year.
Michigan State will conclude its regular-season schedule next Friday at Indiana.
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