Aug. 29, 2010

Final Stats

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Rolf van de Kerkhof | Molly Cassidy | Kristin Henn

East Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey team captured the Champions Invitational Tournament on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over No. 10 Duke in the final . Goalkeeper Molly Cassidy made 10 saves for the seventh-ranked Spartans, who captured the tournament title with a superior defensive effort in the championship game.

The lone goal in the contest came in the 50th minute, with the Spartans lined up for just their second corner of the game. Chantae Miller sent it in for stopper Joelle van Ierland, and Kristen Henn's shot ricocheted off keeper Samantha Nelson's pads and into the back of the net. It was Henn's first goal of the season.

The two teams had played a fairly even first half in which neither team scored. Duke held a 7-4 edge in shots, and also had four corners to MSU's one. Duke dominated the time of possession in the second half, but had trouble with MSU's stifling defense - and what got through the defense was saved by Cassidy, who made several stellar saves in the second stanza.

The Spartans have a week to prepare for a three-game west-coast swing in which they will take on Cal, Pacific, and Stanford. Gametime on Friday against Cal is 5 p.m. eastern.

Consolation Game: No. 13 Louisville 9, Central Michigan 0
Nicole Youman had five goals and two assists to pace the Cardinals' effort, while Rachel Hollenback and Amber Thomas each had a pair of scores for Louisville. Goalie Erin Conrad was forced to make just two saves in the commanding win. Louisville outshot CMU by a 38-3 margin and had a 15-1 edge in penalty corners.