Junior defender Annie Steinlage kicks the ball down the field with Iowa defender Alex Melin, No. 19, and midfielder Katie Nasenbenny behind her. The Spartans tied with the Hawkeyes, 0-0, on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 at DeMartin Stadium. Justin Wan/The State News
The MSU women’s soccer team’s (8-8-2, 2-7-1 Big Ten) winless streak now stands at six, as it lost to No. 4 Penn State 5-1 in University Park, Pa., Friday night and Ohio State 3-1 in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday.
“I’ve been on this road trip probably 10 times where we play Penn State and then go to Ohio State,” head coach Tom Saxton said. “Even with one of the most experienced teams, it can be tough.”
In both games, MSU was vastly outshot, allowing 21 shots from Penn State to MSU’s 11 and losing the shooting battle 25-8 against Ohio State.
In 22 years of coaching, Saxton said this Penn State side was one of the strongest he ever has coached against.
“They’re absolutely the most dangerous team we’ve played all year,” he said. “One of the best teams they’ve ever had.”
Redshirt freshman keeper Gabrielle Garuder made her first career appearance against Penn State after Saxton said sophomore keeper Courtney Clem made a very familiar mistake.
“The goal (Clem) gave up was the same as the corner against Michigan,” Saxton said. ”I think Clem’s a good goalie; we just can’t see the same thing.”
He added that the coaching staff has been contemplating giving Garuder a chance to play all season if Clem happened to struggle.
“We decided to give her some playing time and maybe spark some spirit within the team,” he said.
Saxton said the quick turnaround between the Penn State game Friday night and the Ohio State game Sunday made it more difficult to come out and play against the Buckeyes.
“We had some very tired legs in the back,” he said. “We controlled possession for the first half, but midway through the second half, they took control because of tired legs. I had to pull (junior defender) Annie (Steinlage) and (senior midfielder) Jordan (Mueller). That’s a credit to the track meet we played on Friday.”
The only match remaining for the Spartans before the Big Ten Tournament starts is Senior Day against Northwestern at 1 p.m. Saturday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.
“A win would give us a winning season, and we want to play for pride,” Saxton said. “It’s our home field, and I think it’s a winnable game.”
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