Field hockey prepared for rivalry game

---

Tweet

As the MSU field hockey team prepares to take on No. 7 Michigan at 4 p.m. Friday at Ralph Young Field, it is looking to cap off a week which saw the Spartan football team, volleyball team and women’s soccer team knock off MSU’s in-state rivals.

The Spartans (7-9 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) are coming off a thrilling 2-1 victory over then-No. 17 Ohio State, where the Spartans persevered after two overtimes and a penalty shootout. Sophomore goaltender Molly Cassidy and freshman forward Allie Ahern were both awarded with weekly honors from the Big Ten for their performances in the match.

“Molly is developing as a player and keeps adjusting and working on her game, and I’m really happy with where she is right now in goal for us,” head coach Helen Knull said. “Allie is an offensive threat for us along with our other forwards and I’m excited to see them play again on Friday.”

At the beginning of the season, the Spartans played the Wolverines in an exhibition match, losing 2-0. However, Knull noted that a number of things have changed for both teams since that meeting, and it only provides a glimpse into what the Spartans can expect from their opponents.

“I know they’re strong, I’ve played against a few of them for a while now, but I think our defense is ready for them,” Cassidy said. “We’ve only sharpened our skills since then.”

The Spartans have struggled with consistently being outshot, and the Wolverines rank second in the Big Ten in shots per game. However, Cassidy has been a force in the net, and MSU sits atop the Big Ten in saves with 114.

“They’re a really intense team, and obviously we have our rivalry, so both teams really want the win,” Ahern said. “If we just stay composed like we did against Ohio State, I think we can come out on top.”

Although a lot of focus will be on the intense in-state rivalry between the two teams, Friday also marks senior day for the Spartans, who will be celebrating senior defensive backs Angie Lucik and Holly Sherman.

But above all, the Spartans are playing to win for themselves, not to complete a weeklong sweep of Michigan athletics or to come out on top over their rivals. After beginning the season 0-4, the Spartans have been in a constant battle to climb back into the standings and a second straight win against a ranked opponent would certainly help MSU’s ranking as it nears the end of the season.

“Every Big Ten game is big, and I know for a lot of sports here the Michigan game is the biggest, but we also take every Big Ten game seriously,” Knull said. “We want to get another win against a top opponent and of course, Michigan is Michigan, so it’s always good to get the win.”

---