“The first goal in college soccer is incredibly important. It’s a good indicator of how things usually go” head coach Tom Saxton said after the game.

Kovan’s goal was the first of her career, and according to Saxton, she was very deserving of the early score.

“Sarah got a nice touch on it. It was her first career goal and she’s worked her butt off every day for three years, so I was happy she got rewarded.”

Gjonaj, a junior defender, followed up the quick start with her first goal of the year in the 17th minute. Junior forward Allyson Krause assisted the goal, recording her fourth assist of the year. The Spartans worked as a unit offensively, and the results were certainly favorable.

“I think our biggest thing was our offensive play. In the back line it was just talking together, staying connected with Mary (Kathryn Fiebernitz), Jamie (Cheslik), Nicky (Caruso), and I think we did a good job today,” Gjonaj said of the team’s offensive outbreak.

The Spartans went into the half with a 2-0 lead, due in large part to their stifling defensive performance. MSU did not allow a shot in the first half, and the two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Courtney Clem was not tested with a shot until the 52nd minute.

“I think the back line—me, Nicky, Alex, Jay, and Courtney Clem are starting to call ourselves the ‘no-goal zone’. We’re going to try and get as many shutouts as possible,” redshirt junior defender Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz said.

The defensive support led to offensive aggression, and the Spartans felt like they could attack with more freedom.

“I think me having confidence with Mary on my right and Ally on my left, or whoever subbed in for her on the left, just made that opportunity go up more. When I have that confidence, I know I can go, and I have my cover behind me. It’s a good feeling,” Gjonaj said on the freedom she felt to attack the goal.

MSU got on the board again in the 50th minute, when Fiebernitz sent a diving header past the Mastodon keeper. Senior midfielder Paige Wester set the goal up with a beautiful cornerkick.

The Mastodons did eventually put one past MSU in the 72nd minute, on a goal from junior forward and Walled Lake, Mich. product, Rachel Good.

“I want to give IPFW all the credit because they kept playing, down 3-0. As we made a couple subs, they caused us problems,” Saxton said.

The Spartans played a majority of their roster, with 22 individuals seeing action in the game. As MSU jumped out to its early lead, new faces substituted into the contest and some of the hard-working reserves got a chance to make an impact.

“We’ve got a big roster and a deep team. We’ve been challenging the reserve group to continue to make their mark in practice and we tried to reward the people that did that today,” Saxton said of the players who saw more playing time than usual.

The Spartans will need the same offensive aggression and defensive stability they had today for their next game against Western Michigan. MSU will play WMU at 1 p.m. on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium.