In its only exhibition game, the MSU women’s soccer team notched a 3-1 win over Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference last week.
But head coach Tom Saxton isn’t overlooking the two MAC schools visiting MSU’s campus on the Spartans’ regular season-opening weekend.
MSU takes on Western Michigan at 4 p.m. today and Bowling Green will battle MSU at 11 a.m. Sunday. Both games are at Old College Field.
“As in most sports, when MAC teams play Big Ten teams, it’s their biggest game of the season,” said Saxton, the 2000 Big Ten Coach of the Year. “We’re going to face an all-out effort. They’re going to be totally hyped for us because a lot of those kids were passed over in recruiting by Big Ten schools.
“Our concern is that, even subconsciously, we might not be as prepared as we need to be. They’re both capable of beating us if we’re not ready to play.”
Although both visiting teams will be trying to prove themselves, they differ widely in style of play. The Broncos utilize more of a finesse game, while the Falcons pose a tough, defensive challenge.
Saxton, in his 16th season, said it’s important for the Spartans to win these early games because of a tough road schedule later in the season.
The Spartans host regional powers Dayton and Kentucky next week before embarking on a stretch of four straight road games.
“We’ve talked about how a good home record will help us toward our goals of an NCAA bid and a Big Ten title, so we have to get off to a good start,” Saxton said. “Next weekend, we have two teams that were ranked right around where we were at the end of last season. The Dayton and Kentucky games are going to be key tests for us.”
The Spartans, who finished fifth in the conference at 12-6-2 last season, are going to have to brave those tests with a slew of new faces.
Saxton said freshmen defensemen Emily Wiegand and Emily Carbott and freshman midfielder Ashley Lawson will all either start or see significant playing time off the bench. Sophomore transfer Alyson Kehler also figures to get plenty of minutes in the midfield.
“Both our incoming freshmen and our transfer, Alyson Kehler, from Seton Hall, did exceptionally well (in the Eastern exhibition) and we’re really pleased with the new players,” Saxton said. “I was prepared to be patient with those folks because they’re in a new environment, but they all handled it well.
“The new players help us make up for the loss of some pretty good seniors.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Stacy Heller will also have to step up to replace departed four-year starting goalie Sara Kloosterman.
