A week after No. 20 MSU field hockey (7-4 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) dropped two Big Ten games, the Spartans rebounded well in the win column. While they did secure the victories, MSU was exposed by its same inconsistencies and bad habits.
On Friday, MSU fell behind early to Rutgers to continue their lackluster start to games, and did the same thing against Monmouth on Saturday. While the Spartans can pride themselves on their ability to come back in games, it is a dangerous trend to continue in a stacked Big Ten conference.
“We start a little bit passive and teams take advantage of that, get a goal and then momentum’s in their favor,” head coach Helen Knull said. “Then we’re on our heels.”
Of the Spartans seven victories this season, six of them have been in comeback fashion. On the other hand, all four of their losses have come when MSU absorbed an early deficit. With all of those losses coming at the hands of ranked opponents, overcoming early deficits won’t be as easy once the Spartans get to the Big Ten Tournament and beyond.
“With the conference play and with the post-season play, we can’t afford to be three goals downs before we start playing,” Knull said. “We’ve got to find a way to come out early and set the tone and set our tempo.”
This problem has been prevalent since the start of the season, and MSU is now starting to realize that this simply cannot keep happening. The Spartans have tried to find the solution in practice by trying to simulate their aggressiveness in the opening minutes, but it doesn’t seem to be translating onto the field during game time.
MSU, however, has been extraordinary in late game situations this season and look unstoppable at times. Against the Scarlet Knights, the Spartans scored three goals in the span of eight minutes late in the first half to take a 3-1 lead. Against the Hawks, they scored two goals in just over five minutes late in the game to force overtime.
MSU nearly ended it in regulation, but the apparent game-winner was disallowed during a Monmouth timeout. No time was wasted in overtime, however, as senior forward Abby Barker scored the game-winner less than two minutes into extra time. As Barker and senior forward Allie Ahern added on to their impressive campaigns this weekend, the Spartans got contributions from throughout their roster.
Senior back Alli Helwig scored a goal in each game, and redshirt freshman forward Kendal Anderson scored a pivotal goal that proved to be the game-winner against Rutgers. With all of this in mind, Knull still won’t label MSU as a “comeback team.”
“I refuse to settle and say that this is how we play this year,” Knull said. “That we’re a come-from-behind team, because you can’t always rally every game and get a win.”
Knull is definitely right about not being able to rally every game, especially against tougher competition. Nonetheless, all signs point to the Spartans being a come-from-behind team this year, for better or worse.
