Sophomore forward Cara Freeman and Michigan defender Amy Klippert fight for the ball Oct. 31. The Spartans and Wolverines tied 1-1 after overtime at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.
When Lauren Sinacola laces up her cleats and steps onto the soccer field, every thought of soreness and injury vanishes.
If asked how healthy she is percentage-wise, she simply brushes off the question and enforces the fact that game-type situations are the perfect remedy for bruises and sore muscles.
And that’s exactly what the entire MSU women’s soccer team is going to need to do against No. 16 Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 5 p.m. Friday in South Bend, Ind., in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s more about what we do as a team and less about what they do,” the junior midfielder said. “And I think we’ve prepared well the entire week since finding out who we’re playing and when. Tom (Saxton) and Tammy (Farnum) have been scouting and focusing on that — we, as a team, are mentally preparing ourselves for the battle.”
The Spartans (13-6-3 overall) have qualified for the tournament three times in program history, each happening since 2002. MSU has crossed paths with the Panthers seven times, posting a 6-1 record. Saxton and his squad defeated Wisconsin-Milwaukee (18-2-2) 3-0 in East Lansing in 1993, the last time the teams met. However, the Green and White are just 1-2 in career tournament play.
Saxton said there will be two main things to contain Friday on pace for a victory — countering their well-coached defensive prowess and the dangerous Sarah Hagen.
“She scored 24 goals (and 54 points) in the regular season and she’s another freshman phenom,” the 18th-year head coach said. “She’s a different type of player than a Laura Heyboer. She’s 5-foot-10 and a strong player, especially in the air.”
To counter the high-powered Panther offense, Saxton said he’ll be utilizing his deep bench, swapping in three quality midfielders, freshmen Megan Pines and Hannah Peterson as well as junior Katie Rehor.
“They’re confident in their roles and they’re in great shape for this,” he said.
On the other side of the field stands another freshman, Heyboer, who hasn’t been able to get the thought of playing with passion out of her head since the selection show on Monday.
Nor has she wanted to.
“I feel very healthy and prepared for this game,” said Heyboer, who netted 19 goals on pace for 47 points of her own this season. “Once I’m on the field, I don’t think of anything else but soccer.”
If victorious, the Spartans play the winner of Notre Dame (21-0-0) and Toledo’s (16-4-1) contest at noon Sunday in South Bend.
“One game at a time, just like we’ve said all season,” Heyboer said. “Milwaukee is our goal.”
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