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  No. 7 Michigan State Falls To No. 6 Iowa At The Big Ten Tournament
 
Hawkeyes earn overtime victory to advance to championship game.
 
 
Rijpma scored two goals in two game of the Big Ten Tournament, and is now tied for third on the team with 12 goals on the season.
 
Rijpma scored two goals in two game of the Big Ten Tournament, and is now tied for third on the team with 12 goals on the season.
 
 

Nov. 2, 2007

Final Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio. - The Michigan State field hockey team fell to 16-5 on the season as it lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes , 3-2 in overtime, in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. MSU is now 1-6 against Iowa in Big Ten Tournament history, and hasn't beaten the Hawkeyes in the tournament since 1997.

Iowa jumped out to an early lead, scoring at 7:36 in the first half, following a penalty corner. Senior Lauren Pfeiffer put the shot on goal, and Caroline Blaum tipped it in from point-blank range, as Iowa took a 1-0 lead. Iowa's defense kept MSU on its heels most of the first half, not allowing a shot until 28:17. Michigan State made the most of its opportunity, as senior Charlotte van der Laag sprinted down midfield, made a pass a quarter of the length of the field to a waiting Gwen Riley in front of the net. Riley tipped it in passed Iowa goalkeeper Lissa Munley, scoring her seventh goal of the season, and knotting the score at 1-1.

MSU came out tough on defense in the second half, holding the Hawkeyes to only one shot in the first 17 minutes. MSU took the lead at 51:31 when Floor Rijpma scored an unassisted goal from 10 feet out on the right side to give MSU a 2-1 lead. The goal was Rijpma's 12th goal of the season and second of the tournament.

Just over two minutes later MSU goalkeeper Elissa Unger came out of the net, and dove sideways to block a shot, leaving the net open. Adrienne Dybus centered the ball to the front of the net and Lindsey Duffy knocked it in at 53:38 to tie the score again, at 2-2. MSU and Iowa would hold each other scoreless for the rest of the half, and take the contest into overtime.

Iowa wasted little time in the extra period, getting the game-winner at 71:37. The Hawkeyes brought the ball down the right side, with Michigan State's Amy Schneider as the lone defender. Hawkeye forward Caroline Blaum snuck in behind Schneider, received the ball mid-circle and fired it past Unger for the win.

 

 

"I want to compliment Iowa on its performance today. They were strong from the get-go, and we didn't anticipate well for the first 20 minutes of the game," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "We played better in the second half, but not as well as we are capable. We will use this as a learning experience, and we look forward to the selection show and the NCAA Tournament."

The NCAA selection show is Tuesday, Nov 6, at 8 p.m. on CSTV. First-round action begins Nov. 10, and the tournament will conclude at the University of Maryland with the semifinals and finals on Nov. 17-18.