Sept. 14, 2003

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State women's soccer team defeated Western Michigan, 5-1, on Sunday (Sept. 14) at Old College Field. The Spartans improve to 4-1 with the win, while Western Michigan falls to 2-3-1 with the loss. The five goals mark the most for a Spartan squad since a 5-2 victory over Cincinnati on Oct 10, 1999.

Michigan State's Emma Harris (So., Portage) scored her third goal of the season in the 31st minute of the first half with assists from Nina Mastracci (So., Troy) and Erin Konheim (So., West Bloomfield). Defender Emily Carbott (Jr., Northville) kicked a long shot to score the second goal for the Spartans at 40:20. The Broncos' Jessica Patterson scored first in the second half at 61:37, but the Spartans continued to attack by scoring the next three goals. In the 66th minute Spartan Abby Shepherd (Jr., Milford) scored her third goal of the season off a team corner kick. Konheim scored her second goal of the season at 71:58 with assists from Tiffany Laskowski (Sr., Troy) and Harris. The fifth goal was scored in the 84th minute by forward Heather Riley (Fr., Saginaw) with an assist by Dana Voorheis (So., Saginaw).

"We had great offensive effort, but not a consistent performance," stated MSU Coach Tom Saxton. "We were bailed out by great play on the offensive end. I credit our veterans, the seniors, for helping us respond to Western Michigan's goal. Our ability to answer quickly with the third goal was the difference."

MSU will open Big Ten play on the road next week at Northwestern on Friday (Sept. 19) and at Illinois on Sunday (Sept. 21). The Spartans will return home on Friday (Sept. 26) to host Minnesota at 4 p.m. at Old College Field.

Game Summary
Team			1st	2nd	Total
Western Michigan	0	1	1
Michigan State		2	3	5

Scoring Summary
1.) 31:31 MSU	Emma Harris (Mastracci/ Konheim)
2.) 40:20 MSU	Emily Carbott
3.) 61:37WMU	Jessica Patterson
4.) 65:09 MSU	Abby Shepherd
5.) 71:58 MSU	Erin Knoheim (Laskowski/ Harris)
6.) 83:44 MSU	Heather Riley (Voorheis)

Shot Attempts
Team			1st	2nd	Total
Western Michigan	7	5	12
Michigan State		3	5	8

Goalkeeper Saves
Perz (WMU)		3
Heller (MSU)		6

Corner Kicks
Western Michigan	5
Michigan State		2

Cautions and Ejections:
YC-WMU #15 (31:25); YC WMU #22 (77:58)