During a season in which it has often struggled to score goals, the No. 7 MSU field hockey team has been able to count on keeping goals out of the net thanks to redshirt freshman goalkeeper Molly Cassidy.
Cassidy already has been named Big Ten Freshman and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on two separate occasions for her efforts in helping the Spartans (8-1) maintain their
winning record.
The Encinitas, Calif. native made 14 saves in the Spartans’ 3-2 victory over then-No. 20 Stanford on Sept. 6, and currently has posted three shutouts this season, all by 1-0 margins. They came against then-No. 10 Duke on Aug. 29, Providence on Sept. 10 and then-No. 14 James Madison on Sept. 12.
Cassidy also has maintained a .841 save percentage while making a total of 53 saves
this season.
“She did an outstanding job in (last weekend’s) games and did an outstanding job coaching the backfield,” senior forward Jantine Steinmetz said. “She’s like a lock on our door, and it’s really good to know that we have someone like that in goal.”
The Spartans said Cassidy’s play is so consistent that when their opponents push the ball past the midfield and defense, they are confident she is able to block any shot.
“She’s been great in the cage back there,” sophomore midfielder Kristen Henn said. “She’s been really solid; she really steps up our defense well and really helps our defense work, (and) she’s made some fantastic saves
this season.
“I think that she’s just going to keep going as a goalie and learn more about her position throughout the season, and she’s going to be phenomenal by the end of it.”
Team effort
After losing All-American Floor Rijpma’s 24 goals and 52 points from last season, MSU has been depending on its entire midfield and attack for
scoring opportunities.
In the Spartans’ 6-1 victory over No. 11 Boston University on Saturday, the six goals were posted by six different players.
“Now we are halfway done with our season, and by now, you should have things in place,” head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said.
“By now, you should know who you can play when and where. I think we have accomplished that, so going into conference play, which we open this Friday, it’s great to know that we can rely on different people to help us win the game in the end.”
MSU said it is able to successfully utilize its depth to not only allow players to periodically rest during games, but also to keep its opponents guessing about who presents the greatest threat.
With various players able to put the ball in the goal, the Spartans are confident that they will be able to maintain their successful season because they have so many alternative strategies.
Henn leads the Spartans’ attack this season with six goals, and Steinmetz and seniors midfielders Sabine van den Assem and Angela Pagura each have four goals on the season.
Transition adjustments
The Spartans have spent the past couple weeks making minor adjustments to their game and working as a whole to improve their transitioning up the field.
“We definitely improved a lot on Saturday (on our transitions),” Henn said. “I think we need to just work on getting a really quality attack while we’re in the circle and get corner shots on goal.”
Being able to transition the ball successfully from defense to attack and then maintain a solid offense goes hand-in-hand with helping the Spartans maintain their time of possession, which they said is crucial for a win.
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“In order to have the best chance to end up taking charge of the game and winning it, you have to be able to possess the ball,” van de Kerkhof said.
“If you possess the ball, you dictate the game, (and) it’s as simple as that. So if we improve our possession, then that allows us to transition and to build
up (momentum).”
