Field Hockey

Sept. 25, 2008

Floor Rijpma Podcast

Angela Pagura Podcast

Rolf van de Kerkhof Podcast

Faces of the Big Ten - Jeamie Deacon

This Week
The 10th-ranked Spartans travel to Columbus, Ohio, to begin Big Ten play with a game against Ohio State on Friday at 3 p.m. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 32-15-3. The Spartans return home on Saturday to host California in a 1:30 p.m. game. The two teams meet for just the fifth time, with the Golden Bears leading the all-time series 2-1-1. Michigan State finished second in the Big Ten regular season standings last season with a 5-1 record, while Ohio State finished fifth (2-4).

Last Week
Michigan State traveled to Oxford, Ohio for the September Showcase hosted by Miami (Ohio). On Friday, MSU posted a 5-1 win over the host Red Hawks. Freshman Chantae Miller (East Amherst, N.Y.) led the team with five points, two of which were goals, and junior Floor Rijpma (Bunnik, Netherlands) had two goals in the game, a season high. The Spartans scored four of their five goals off the 10 penalty corners they were awarded in the game. MSU recorded its fourth straight victory on Saturday, with a 7-1 win over Pacific. Seven different players scored for the Spartans, and Angela Pagura (Columbus, Ohio) and Rijpma tallied three points each. Pagura's goal was the game-winner, her team-leading third of the season. Michigan State outshot Pacific 39-2, with both of the Tigers shots coming in the first half. The Spartans had 13 penalty corners in the game to Pacific's one that came in the first half.

Scouting the Spartans
Junior goalkeeper Elissa Unger (Reading, Pa.) has a .711 save percentage and 1.37 goals against average (GAA). Unger is third in the Big Ten in save percentage, fourth in saves (27), and third in GAA. She ranks 19th nationally in GAA, and is ranked 44th in save percentage ... Rijpma leads the team in scoring with 15 points, and Miller is second with 14 points. Both have a team-high six goals this season. Rijpma has a three-game scoring streak, is tied for 31st nationally in points per game and is tied for 33rd in goals per game. In the Big Ten, she is tied for seventh in points, seventh in points per game, tied for fifth in goals per game and tied for sixth in goals ... Miller is currently riding a four-game point streak. She is tied for 33rd nationally in goals per game and is 45th in points per game. She is eighth in the Big Ten in points per game and ninth in points ... Junior Jeamie Deacon (Wexford, Ireland) has a four-game point streak and is tied for 27th nationally in assists per game along with senior Gwen Riley (Louisville, Ky.). The two have a team-leading five assists on the season, and are tied for fifth in assists and assists per game in the Big Ten ... Michigan State is ranked sixth nationally in scoring average (4.10), goals per game (4.13), scoring margin (2.73) and points per game (11.25). The Spartans rank second in scoring margin, shots (174) and goals scored (33) in the Big Ten. MSU sits atop the Big Ten with a .875 win percentage and the fewest losses so far this season.

Scouting the Buckeyes
Ohio State (7-3) is coming off a 7-0 shutout of Appalachian State. Senior Linda Haussener led the Buckeyes with six points (two goals, two assists), while seven other teammates recorded points in the win. Ohio State's defense held Appalachian State to just one penalty corner and one shot in the game. Junior Lindsay Quintiliani and sophomore Ali Ristas split time in goal.

The day before, the Buckeyes fell to ninth-ranked Duke, 3-2. Senior Emily Mikac scored both goals for Ohio State, and Quintiliani made a season-high six saves in goal. Haussener is riding a nine-game point streak and leads the team in goals (eight), assists (eight) and points (24). Mikac is second on the team in points with 15, and has a second-best seven goals this season. Quintiliani has started all 10 games for the Buckeyes, posting a 1.29 GAA, .581 save percentage and has three shutouts.

Scouting the Golden Bears
California (5-1) is coming off an 11-day break, and will face 19th-ranked Michigan on Thursday, Sept. 25 before traveling to East Lansing. The Golden Bears last game came against No. 19 Albany, a 3-2 win off penalty strokes. Senior Carolina Bistue scored the game-winner on the final stroke of the first round. Andrea Lo and Katie Knoche recorded goals in the game, while Kelly Knoche made seven saves in goal. Lo leads the team in goals (four), assists (four) and points (12). Senior Ashley Glosz is second on the team in points with eight, while Kelly Knoche has a .95 GAA and .783 save percentage this season.

Learn With the Spartans
After Saturday's game, the Spartans will host a play day at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building on the Michigan State campus, beginning at 3 p.m. The camp is open to girls ages 10-18, and the fee is $20. The half-day camp will show participants what training looks like at the college level. The sessions will allow participants to learn more about new areas of field hockey and experience how the game is being trained and coached at the intercollegiate level. Participants will receive both group and individual instruction. Contact (517) 432-1212 with questions, and visit the website for a registration form.

Next Up
The Spartans host Indiana on Friday, Oct. 3 in a Big Ten game at 6 p.m., and Temple on Sunday, Oct. 5 at noon.

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