Sept. 7, 1997

Field Hockey Seizes Tournament Championship

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Spartan senior Rayna Hiscox scored two goals for the fourth straight game as the Michigan State field hockey squad took home the UMASS/ Phoenix Invitational Tournament title with a 3-2 victory over Massachusetts, in a match held in Amherst, Mass.

After the host school jumped to a 1-0 lead midway through the first half, Hiscox responded by blasting two tallies past UMass netminder, Zowie Tucker. Assisted by Sarah Wilson and Sofie Frankenhuis, Hiscox tied the score 1-1 with 8:36 left in the first half. She chalked up another goal, her eighth of the season, 1:20 later, placing the Spartans (4-1) ahead at halftime, 2-1.

Anne Berberich scored the eventual game-winning goal with 26:10 remaining in the second, as she picked up her third goal of the two-game tournament. Berberich and Hiscox tallied all seven goals for the Spartans over the two-day span. The Minutemen scored with 12:22 left to close the gap to 3-2, but the Spartans held on for the victory.

Junior goalkeeper Beth George anchored the Spartansi defense, making seven saves, as she held on for the victory. MSU outshot Massachusetts 19-16, as the Spartans held the Minutemen offense to two scores. UMass had reached the finals with an 8-1 win over California on Saturday.

Michigan State is riding a four-game winning streak, as the Spartans have rebounded from a season-opening loss to California. It also marked MSUis first-ever triumph over Massachusetts.

MICHIGAN STATE  2   1   --  3
OPPONENT        1   1   --  2

Scoring
First Half:
UMass - Erica Johnston (Kristen Schmidt) 14:09
MSU - Rayna Hiscox (Sarah Wilson, Sofie Frankenhuis) 8:36
MSU - Rayna Hiscox 7:16
Second Half:
MSU - Anne Berberich 26:10
UMass - Vicky Browne (Erica Johnston) 12:22

Shots
Michigan State: 19
Opponent: 16

Saves
Michigan State:
Beth George - 7
Opponent:
Zowie Tucker - 10

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