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Backup goalie rescues MSU in win over New Mexico

September 8, 2013

Losing a starting goalkeeper is never easy, but the women’s soccer team was able to overcome the crucial injury to pick up the 1-0 win at New Mexico.

In the 27th minute, junior goalkeeper Courtney Clem was knocked out of the Then she was replaced by sophomore goalkeeper Gabrielle Gauruder, who came in to keep the Spartans (4-0-2) undefeated.

“I was really pleased with how Gabby came in, and she had a lot of pressure coming at her. She handled herself very well,” head coach Tom Saxton said. “We really, really gutted it out. I thought we were pretty fortunate, but we hung in there and it was a grind.”

With the victory, the Spartans remain undefeated through six games for the first time since 2009, when they started the season 8-0-2.

Getting the call to go into her first game of the season, Gauruder knew she needed to keep her team in the game after the blow of losing the starting goalkeeper.

“It’s an unfortunate thing that happened, and it shakes the whole team,” Gauruder said. “I just tried to come in with a positive attitude and keep my team enthusiastic. There was a lot of shots, but the defense did a great job of keeping it out and keeping their cool. We really just connected today.”

Though the Spartans were outshot 18-6 on the match, they were able to keep the Lobos out of the net and got a huge lift in the final 10 minutes of the game from junior defender/midfielder Nicole Caruso.

In the 83rd minute, Caruso got a shot off that deflected off a Lobo defender and found the back of the net to give MSU the 1-0 lead.

“As a team we struggled in the beginning, but started to pick it up toward the end of the first half,” Caruso said. “At halftime, our coaches just said, ‘If you get anywhere near the goal, just shoot it.’ So I drove it up one time and shot it and thought it was going in, but the goalie made a really good save.

“I got a second chance and I shot it again and the defender hit it off her shin and it went in, and I think that just got us going.”

Saxton said the injury to Clem shouldn’t keep her out too long, but the medical team will be monitoring her for concussion symptoms throughout the week.

Sophomore forward Allyson Krause returned to the lineup after missing Thursday’s match against Oakland because of a strained muscle.

Saxton said it mainly was precautionary to give Krause a rest since it still is early in the season.

“I talked to her after the game, she played the majority of the minutes, and she felt like she was 100 percent now,” Saxton said. “She should be full go next week, which is great to hear.

I don’t think we’ll have anybody else who will be ruled out next week, which is a nice thing because it seems like every weekend we’ve had somebody get bounced out.”

MSU will return home Friday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field to face Bowling Green (0-3-0).

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