More from MSU's 3-1 win on Tuesday

Kelsey Tait’s plan in starting in place of injured junior forward Cara Freeman was to be aggressive and attack more at the offensive end.

The junior midfielder did just that, scoring the No. 11 MSU women’s soccer team’s first goal in the Spartans’ 3-1 win against Detroit Mercy at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.

“I knew I needed to step it up because Cara was hurt,” Tait said of Freeman, who didn’t dress due to a knee injury. “I do have experience in the starting lineup, so I knew how to focus and get ready to start in there. My goal was to attack more today and I got a goal out of it and I’m happy with it.”

Starting is nothing new for Tait, who started 22 of MSU’s 24 games last season, but the beginning of the season has been a bit different for her. After starting the season opener, Tait had been replaced in the starting lineup by freshman midfielder Jordan Mueller in the previous four games.

Tait admits she’s disappointed in losing her starting spot, but does know how competitive the midfield is. MSU head coach Tom Saxton said Mueller has some qualities, such as great stamina, that Tait lacks, but praised Tait’s soccer IQ and play in the air.

“Kelsey’s such a hard worker and such a positive influence on the program,” Saxton said. “It’s nice to see her get rewarded with a goal because she definitely gives it her all every time.”

Stander scores first goal

The Spartans’ win against the Titans marked program record being broken, but it also held an important moment for Olivia Stander.

The freshman forward scored her first goal as a Spartan at the 73:35 minute mark.

“I thought it was going to happen earlier in the season. I had a lot of chances.” Stander said. “It feels like a weight off my shoulders.”

Stander won 2009 Michigan High School Female Athlete of the Year, awarded by the Detroit Athletic Club, and played numerous sports throughout her youth. But soccer was always at the forefront.

“I started getting recruited at a young age,” Stander said. “In the end, I always knew I was going to play soccer.”

She said the team was proud of her first goal and she was congratulated many times after the game. In a game that consisted of a number of Titans fouls, the freshman said she wasn’t intimidated by the physical team.

“You just cant back down,” she said.

On the injury front

It was good news for Tait that she got the start, but as every player will tell you, no one wants to get the chance to play at the expense of another. Saxton said Freeman will see Dr. Jeff Kovan on Wednesday for further evaluation on her knee. Saxton said Freeman hasn’t been able to run during the last few days.

Freeman is just the beginning of the worries. Sophomore forward Laura Heyboer has a cold/flu congestion, and senior forward Lauren Hill was kicked in the spleen during Tuesday’s game, but managed to score afterward. With a tough weekend coming up against Eastern Michigan and Kent State, Saxton said it will be key to get at least some of those weapons back to full health.

“I am hoping we get some of our attacking personalities back at full go,” he said. “Now we’re starting to get thinner and thinner in terms of the people who can make plays for us.”