“We knew we needed to get shots and get goals,” she said.

Behind an unforgiving defense and a relentless offense, the MSU women’s soccer team took down inter-state rival and previously unbeaten Eastern Michigan, 4-0, Friday night at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.

Heading into Friday’s matchup, Eastern Michigan’s goalkeeper, senior Monique Budani, was the reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Week after recording 200-plus minutes without giving up a goal. Right from the get-go, MSU went after Budani and the rest of Eastern Michigan’s backline. They spent nearly the entire first half on the Eagles’ side, tallying twelve shots to Eastern’s one.

“We came out I think sharper than we have all year and got into the final third a lot,” head coach Tom Saxton said.

Despite the considerable difference in shots, the Spartans only recorded one goal in the first half.

“We came away a little bit disappointed at halftime that we didn?t have more goals but we turned that around the second half,” Saxton said.

Heyboer contributed the offensive explosion to work in practice this week, and to the defense.

“In practice we worked all week on getting our opportunities, getting numbers in the box, staying in our lanes being able to make the near far post runs and getting there,” she said. “Today I thought we did a lot better at that. The thing that we have to give credit to is our defense and our goalkeeper that?s allowing us to push numbers forward.

“Without our defense being so solid back there, we’re not going to be able to get numbers forward so we were definitely on offense but our defense has been doing phenomenal.”

The defense starts with junior goalkeeper Jill Flietstra, who has recorded back-to-back shutouts after giving up three goals to No. 1 North Carolina in the second game of the year.

“We really think defense has to be the strongest part of our team,” Saxton said. “If we can’t shut teams down, you can’t succeed at the highest level in this sport.”

Flietstra said it was a welcomed change, being able to sit back in goal and watch her team attack.

“The past few games, it hasn’t really been that way,” she said. “We’ve kind of been put under pressure a little bit so watching our team attack is definitely a great sign.”