Sometimes a little inspiration is all it takes.

The MSU field hockey team responded to its first defeat of the season by dismantling Providence to post a 1-1 performance at the Temple Invitational in Philadelphia this weekend.

On Sunday, the Spartans pummeled Providence (1-2), downing the Friars 9-1 during the consolation match.

Eight different Spartans scored in the handy defeat of the Friars and senior back Alexandra Kyser was one strike short of a hat trick as MSU (2-1) notched five and four goals per half, respectively.

MSU dominated Providence in all aspects of the game, including defense, holding the Friars to four shots for the match while registering 30 of its own. The Spartans held a 15-4 corner advantage as well.

The Friars' lone strike came with 12 minutes left in the game, when midfield Stefanie Suehnholz sneaked one past MSU junior goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy. For the remainder of the game, Kirkaldy was challenged little, recording just two saves in 70 minutes in the cage.

"North Carolina was really fast and passed very well," MSU head coach Michele Madison said. "Our team played really good defense - our corner defense was great."

MSU suffered its first setback of the season Saturday in the form of a 3-0 loss against North Carolina.

With help from Kirkaldy, the Spartans managed to hold the Tar Heels scoreless through the first half. Shortly after the break, however, North Carolina's 22-shot assault wore on Kirkaldy, who saw the game-winner roll by in the match's 48th minute.

"They drew blood first in the game and we were just not able to score," Madison said. "We just weren't really productive in penetrating the circle and we couldn't maintain an attack."

Forward Kelsey Keeran assisted Tar Heels midfield Laree Beans for the first strike, while Keeran herself would score off an assist from back Carey Fetting-Smith just eight minutes later to put North Carolina up 2-0.

The Tar Heels would convert again before the match was through, midfield Laura Douglas finding the back of the cage just 90 seconds after Keeran's score.

MSU's offense sputtered throughout the game, collecting just six shots and three corners. The Spartans remain winless against North Carolina, sporting a 0-4 all-time record against the Tar Heels in matches dating back to 1984.

"They were a little ahead of us in execution and ball work, but I was really pleased how we held North Carolina off in the first," Madison said. "I think if we would have scored first, it would have been a different outcome."