Nov. 1, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

2007 Michigan State Women's Soccer

Match #19

at Loyola

Date: Friday, Nov. 2, 2007

Time: 7 p.m. EDT

Location: Ann Arbor, Mich. - UM Soccer Field

All-Time Series: Tied, 9-9-3

Last Meeting: MSU 1, Michigan 0 (10/27/06)

Live Stats: Available at www.MSUSpartans.com

Kickoff

The Michigan State women's soccer team (7-10-1, 1-8 Big Ten) concludes its season Friday, Nov. 2 at Michigan. Kickoff for the season finale is set for 7 p.m. The Spartans are 2-1-2 against the Wolverines over the past five years, and they defeated Michigan, 1-0, on Oct. 27 of last year.

Scouting the Spartans

After starting 5-2-1 and at one point winning   five of seven matches, MSU has been ravaged by injuries over the past several weeks. Fifth-year senior Nicole Galas is the starter in goal and has 59 saves and a 1.31 goals against average. The Spartan defense has been hit the hardest by injury this season, with senior co-captain Erin Doan, among others, missing extended time. Senior Callie McCarthy, juniors Kelley Amormino and Michelle Telebar and freshman Samantha Cook have filled the back line.  Sophomore Lauren Sinacola (2g, 3a - 7), another player who has been banged up, leads the midfield with junior Kristi Timar. Leading scorer Lauren Hill (7g, 2a - 16), senior co-captain Maureen Pawlak (6g, 4a - 16) and freshman Cara Freeman (2g, 5a - 9) are the team's top forwards.

SPARTANS ROUT THE RAMBLERS

Cara Freeman had a goal and two assists and Lindsey Wrege made six saves to lead MSU to a 3-0 win over Loyola last Thursday. Lauren Hill and Maureen Pawlak each added a goal in what may have been the Spartans' best performance of the season.

SPARTANS DROP HOME FINALE

Illinois' Ella Masar scored in the 69th minute to give Illinois a 1-0 win Sunday at Old College Field. The match served as Senior Day for MSU, with the team's 10 seniors being honored in a ceremony before kickoff.

SENIOR SEND-OFF

MSU's 10 seniors have been one of the most successful classes in the history of the program, winning 38 matches over the past four years. The Spartans in this senior class took MSU to the 2005 NCAA Championship as sophomores. As a whole, the group has scored 20 goals and handed out 24 assists.

HILL LEADS THE CHARGE

In just 35 career matches, Lauren Hill is tied for 19th on MSU's all-time goals list with 15 tallies. The sophomore has a team-leading seven goals this season after leading MSU with eight tallies last year. Hill, a Big Ten All-Freshman team pick in 2006, is one of just three players in MSU history to score four goals in one match, accomplishing the feat on Aug. 27, 2006 against Western Michigan.

SPARTANS STRIKE EARLY

Michigan State has done a nice job of setting the tone early in its matches. Twelve of MSU's 17 goals this season have come in the first half, and seven of those tallies have come in the first 30 minutes. MSU has given up just nine goals in the first half this season.

`MO' PRODUCTION FROM PAWLAK

Before finding the net at Loyola last week, Maureen Pawlak's game-winning goal against Wisconsin on Oct. 19 was her fifth tally of the season. She also had an assist against the Badgers, and is now tied for the team lead with 16 points. The senior from Novi, Mich., leads MSU in shots (48) and shots on goal (27).