Looking to maintain its undefeated record, the No. 6 MSU field hockey team continues its season with games against Providence and No. 14 James Madison this weekend at Ralph Young Field this weekend.
The Spartans (5-0) open their weekend play with Providence on Friday.
The last time MSU played the Friars was at the Temple Invitational in 2003, when the Spartans dominated 9-1.
The two teams have met an additional four times, and the Spartans are ahead in the all-time series, 3-2.
Head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said that while James Madison looks like a greater obstacle than Providence in terms of statistics, both teams will present the Spartans with a challenge, and they plan to only focus on their game rather than their opponents.
“On paper, (Providence) should be a top opponent, but we take it one game at a time,” van de Kerkhof said.
“We don’t know who will bring their A-game or if we’ll bring our A-game.”
When MSU took on James Madison last season, the Spartans won 4-1 in Harrisburg, Va. Last weekend, James Madison lost 1-0 to No. 10 Duke, whom the Spartans defeated 1-0 earlier this season.
The game against Providence will start at 2 p.m. Friday, and the James Madison game is set to begin at noon Sunday.
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