Spartans Head to Syracuse after Dominating Red Hawks

Michigan State hosted the Miami of Ohio Red Hawks this afternoon at Ralph Young Field and earned an NCAA bid. The Spartans shutout the Red Hawks 3-0, and will now travel to New York and play Syracuse this upcoming Saturday.

MSU fell to Miami earlier in the season losing 2-0, but turned the tables and dominated in all aspects of the field today. Spartans outshot the Red Hawks 21-6 and held Miami to zero shots in the first half.

“This game we wanted to make our statement,” junior forward Allie Ahern said. “We wanted to come out and show everyone in the tournament that we’re ready to fight.”

Ahern got the scoring started for the Spartans in the first half and added another goal three minutes into the second half.

“I just wanted to keep it simple because that’s when I seem to score,” Ahern said. “Credit goes to the team because everyone played so well and their passes were on.”

MSU was shutout by Syracuse in early September during the regular season, but are looking forward to Saturday’s contest.

“I think it’s going to be a tight and tough game,” junior forward Abby Barker said. “I think we have so much momentum moving forward and we’re not going to stop.”

Consistency was something the Spartans lacked during the regular season, but are now riding a five-game win streak.

“You’ve got to go 100% and you have to risk everything,” head coach Helen Knull said. “Whether it’s right or wrong, you have to just go for it. The belief has been there that we can do it.”

The Spartans will play No. 2 ranked Syracuse this Saturday in New York at 11:30 a.m.

 

David Defever is the host of Behind the Mask for Impact Sports

Photo: David Defever