Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Michigan State (Big Ten Tournament)
Hoosiers Fall in First Round to Spartans
11/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 3, 2005
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The No. 6 seeded Indiana women's soccer team fell to the No. 3 seeded Michigan State Spartans today, 3-0, at Varsity Field in Ann Arbor. Michigan State used a charging counter attack and a second half push to end IU's postseason run at its second Big Ten title.
"In the first half, we created a lot of good chances and had some good efforts from our youngsters," head coach Mick Lyon said. "In the second half, some poor defensive decisions and errors cost us the two quick goals. Overall, I think our team was the victim of being light on the bench, as a couple of injuries and illnesses hurt our depth at each position."
The Hoosiers concluded the season at 7-10-2 overall, 3-6-1 in Big Ten action. Michigan State continues its season in the second round of the tournament against either No. 2 seeded Purdue or No. 7 seeded Wisconsin, which are slotted to meet at 1:30 p.m.
Both teams flirted with goals in the early goings of the match as Indiana struck first off an attempt from sophomore forward Suzie Tiexiera. Tiexiera received the pass from junior forward Megan Pipkens, but her shot from the far corner found the hands of the Spartan goalie. Michigan State's goalie Nicole Galas ended the affair with three saves.
Senior goalie Lauren Fabbro displayed her skills just a minute later as State fired back, but Fabbro was equal to the task. Fabbro ended the game with six saves in the effort, while sophomore Stacey Van Boxmeer finished the game in goal for the Hoosiers with one save.
Both teams looked off the mark in the first period as neither held the majority of the touches to post an attacking effort. While the teams battled in the midfield, sophomore forward Lindsay McCarthy and freshman forward Molly Kruger pushed through State's midfielders and defense to clock a couple of quality shots from 20-yards out.
The Hoosier defense also looked sharp throughout the first period as they disrupted any Michigan State attack that crossed midfield. With State suffocated and the Hoosiers unable to capitalize off its touches inside the 25, both teams entered the locker room scoreless. Indiana held the slight 8-6 shot advantage while State forced a corner kick twice to only once for the Hoosiers to end the first period.
Both started the second period dead locked again in the midfield before Michigan State challenged the Hoosier goal. Indiana's efforts to clear found the foot of State's defender Nina Mastracci who sent in the crossing pass to sophomore midfielder Lauren Astry. Astry set up senior forward Emma Harris for the goal as Harris booted it in the left side of the net.
Indiana looked to counter with its own attempt as it forced a Hoosier corner in the 61st minute. Michigan State cleared the ball into midfield where two State forwards were waiting to charge into Hoosier territory. State's Harris, who tracked down the cleared ball on the near side of the 18, found senior midfielder Erin Konheim off the pass for the Spartans' security goal in the 63rd minute. Fabbro challenged the shot, but Fabbro's deflection found its way into the near corner of the IU net.
"It's disappointing when as a team we fully expected to win today and stay until Sunday," Fabbro said. "We didn't five the effort that this team can give and has displayed in our last three games or so. "
Michigan State tallied their final goal off the foot of senior forward Shannon Collar who received the assist from Konheim and freshman midfielder Kelly Amormino at the 87:06 mark.
"We played with them for the first 70 minutes of the game," senior midfielder Kristen Zmijewski said. "After they scored a couple of quick goals it kind of got us down. I am glad that we were able keep fighting until the end and not give up."
Indiana finished 2005 with its fourth straight trip to the Big Ten Tournament, while also saying goodbye to a senior class made up of defender Robin Barker, Fabbro, defender Courtney O'Bryan and Zmijewski.
Players Mentioned
