EAST LANSING- A historic day at Ralph Young Field. MSU Field Hockey head coach Helen Knull reaches her 100th career victory, as the Spartans beat the Raiders 5-0.
Michigan State dominated on both sides of the ball, with sophomore forward Bianca Pizano scoring 2 of MSU’s 5 goals. The Spartans were locked down defensively, allowing only 2 shots on goal attempts from the Raiders the entire game.
This dominant performance was the exact push the Spartans needed before heading into Big Ten play next weekend. MSU will travel to Columbus next Friday to take on Ohio State, followed by the Big Ten home opener against Michigan next Sunday.
Defense wins games:
The Spartans were able to hold the Raiders to only two shots on goal and keep the ball in the Raiders zone for the majority of the game.
The Spartan defense put immense pressure on the Raiders, freshman back Caro Schafer kept good man-to-man coverage preventing a Colgate shot attempt in the second quarter.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lyra Gavino had two saves from penalty corner shots, and in locking down this Colgate offense, Gavino said, “We all focus on ourselves more than anything, getting the ball further up the field and attacking baseline as much as we could.”
This forward ball movement allowed for the offense to dominate score-wise, allowing for 15 shots on goal from the Spartans.
Steady Scorers:
Sophomore forward Bianca Pizano has been electric for the Spartans, scoring two of their five goals in today’s game. Pizano’s first goal came early in the first quarter, which was unassisted.
After Pizano’s first goal, the offense slowed a bit, leaving a drought in the second quarter. The Spartan defense was able to maintain their 1-0 lead in enough time for the offense to heat up, leading to a goal from senior forward Jillian Bonczewski in the third.
Shortly after, another Michigan State goal was scored by Emma O’Neill. with only seconds left in the third quarter, and the Spartans prepared to put this game away.
Pizano’s second goal came late in the fourth, followed by a goal from freshman midfielder Lilian Knorr, who scored her first-ever Spartan goal.
Outscoring the Raiders 5-0, Pizano and the Spartans offense dominated in today’s game.
Remaining Steady:
The Spartans showed that they had complete control over this game, and their confidence did not waver. The forward ball movement and strategic plays allowed for open shots and accurate assists.
MSU managed to score goals in three out of four quarters and did not let up on their offensive run. The defense kept the ball out of the MSU zone and kept the pressure on the Raiders offense.
Overall, this team has shown a great sense of chemistry and trust in one another. The ability to remain stable under pressure is exactly what this Spartan team needs.
The true test will be if the Spartans can handle the pressure as they open Big Ten play next weekend.
