Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Michigan State
Hoosiers Upset No. 6 Spartans in Thriller
9/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 24, 2005
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After two overtime periods, the No. 11 Indiana field hockey team proved they are a Big Ten and national power this season. The Hoosiers, who were looking to avenge three-straight season ending losses to Michigan State, knocked off the No. 6 Spartans by a score of 3-2 in double overtime. Remarkable performances by senior Kayla Bashore, junior Lydia Schrott and sophomore Kate O'Connell gave IU its seventh win of the season and fourth-straight home victory.
"Without a doubt, this is the biggest win in program history," Indiana head coach Amy Robertson said. "This is a turning point for us. Today was not a win by luck or effort. We won this game by playing smart, playing like a team and by looking for opportunities to penetrate. Although this is a milestone for this team, we need to continue to learn and prepare for the next game."
Indiana struck first off a penalty stroke by Bashore in the 23rd minute. The composed Bashore lifted the ball just over Spartan goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy for her fifth goal of the season. Courtesy of strong team defense and possession, the Hoosiers entered the half with the 1-0 lead.
Four minutes into the first half, Michigan State's Riley Gwen knotted the score at one. In the 52nd minute, Schrott gave the Hoosiers the advantage once again by scoring her eighth goal of the season off a penalty corner.
Two minutes later, MSU's Ashley Pernicano answered with a goal off an assist from Jessica Miller to tie the score for the second time in the game.
At the conclusion of regulation, the score remained tied, resulting in IU's first overtime situation of the year. The 2-2 draw held throughout the first 15 minute overtime period despite two penalty corner attempts by the Hoosiers.
Midway through the second overtime, O'Connell found the tip from sophomore Meredith Brown and converted it into her second score of the year and a thrilling start to the Big Ten season.
"Scoring that goal was an awesome feeling," O'Connell said. "When I was going through it, I was trying to be so composed and when Meredith (Brown) passed me the ball, I was trying to do everything really slowly and put the ball in the net with one touch. I felt wide open and I don't know if there was someone on me, but I wanted the ball and I got it. We've been working on that situation in practice and it paid off. This win is an awesome feeling. For some of our seniors, they have been wanting this win for four years and today it was ours."
The 3-2 double-overtime win marks the first time the Hoosiers have ever defeated Michigan State and opened the Big Ten campaign with a win.
Indiana is back in action tomorrow against Lindenwood at 2 p.m. in Mellencamp Pavilion before hitting the road on Sept. 30 to take on Michigan.
