Game preview courtesy of MSU Athletics:
EAST LANSING, Mich.-- Michigan State Field Hockey (1-1) travels to Kent, Ohio for its third-straight road trip to start the 2023 season. MSU will take on Kent State (0-2) on Friday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m.
IN CASED YOU MISSED IT
The Spartans opened the season at Boston University where the Green and White topped the Terriers 3-1. The star of the day was Emma O'Neill, scoring all three goals- making her the first player since 2016 to record a hat trick. MSU finished the weekend slate taking on the University of New Hampshire. The Spartans aggressive shooting wasn't enough to get past the Wildcats, and they fell 4-0.
BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emma O'Neill became the first Spartan since 2016 to be named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following a six-point performance in the win against Boston University in the season opener.
THE ROAD TO 100
Following Friday's victory to start the season, head coach Helen Knull sits at 93 career wins at MSU, which is second most in program history. She trails only to Michele Madison (1993-05), who sits at 155 wins. Knull enters her 13th season leading the Green and White and is tied as the longest tenured head coach in program history.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ellie Rutherford, Hannah Jarvie, and Celina Riccardo were named Big Ten Players to Watch. Rutherford appeared and started in 17 games in 2022. She registered four goals and two assists, which tied for third on the team in total points (10) with teammates Jarvie and Riccardo. Jarvie and Riccardo played in all 18 games for the Spartans. Jarvie had a career-high four goals with two coming in a 5-2 victory over UC Davis. Riccardo tied for second on the team with six assists and had a career high 10 points during her 2022 campaign.
MSU has seven newcomers for the 2023 season: five freshmen and two transfers who offer plenty of college playing experience. All seven players have seen the field through two games, two freshmen Katelyn Dulin (Barto, Pa.) and Serena Mailhe (Buenos Aires, Argentina) earned their first career start in the season opener against Boston University.
A SPARTAN HOMECOMING
It will be a special homecoming for head coach Helen Knull, making her sixth trip back to her alma mater as a head coach. Knull was a four-year starter, two-year captain, and a two-time All-American at Kent State, leading the Golden Flashes to the NCAA Tournament four straight years (1999-2002). In 2002, Knull was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. She was inducted into the Kent State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. These two teams faced off in the season finale last year with the Spartans on top 3-1. Knull is 8-1 against her alma mater as a head coach.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
The Flashes are led by fifth-year head coach Kyle DeSandes-Moyer. Kent State is returning its top scorer from the 2022 season in Patricia Strunk, who was named the MAC Freshman of the Year and an NFHCA All-West Region honoree last season. The Golden Flashes are also returning their top goalkeeper, Cecile van Eijck. She started all 18 games for the Flashes, seeing over 1000 minutes of action in 2022. Eijck was third in the MAC conference with 103 saves last season. Kent State was voted second in the 2023 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 49 votes. MSU holds the series lead 26-8-1; the last time Kent State beat the Spartans was in a 3-1 victory in 2016.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE SPARTANS
Michigan State will start a five-game home stretch when it faces Saint Joseph's at Ralph Young Field on Friday, Sept. 8 at 6.pm.
EAST LANSING, Mich.-- Michigan State Field Hockey (1-1) travels to Kent, Ohio for its third-straight road trip to start the 2023 season. MSU will take on Kent State (0-2) on Friday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m.
IN CASED YOU MISSED IT
The Spartans opened the season at Boston University where the Green and White topped the Terriers 3-1. The star of the day was Emma O'Neill, scoring all three goals- making her the first player since 2016 to record a hat trick. MSU finished the weekend slate taking on the University of New Hampshire. The Spartans aggressive shooting wasn't enough to get past the Wildcats, and they fell 4-0.
BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emma O'Neill became the first Spartan since 2016 to be named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following a six-point performance in the win against Boston University in the season opener.
THE ROAD TO 100
Following Friday's victory to start the season, head coach Helen Knull sits at 93 career wins at MSU, which is second most in program history. She trails only to Michele Madison (1993-05), who sits at 155 wins. Knull enters her 13th season leading the Green and White and is tied as the longest tenured head coach in program history.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ellie Rutherford, Hannah Jarvie, and Celina Riccardo were named Big Ten Players to Watch. Rutherford appeared and started in 17 games in 2022. She registered four goals and two assists, which tied for third on the team in total points (10) with teammates Jarvie and Riccardo. Jarvie and Riccardo played in all 18 games for the Spartans. Jarvie had a career-high four goals with two coming in a 5-2 victory over UC Davis. Riccardo tied for second on the team with six assists and had a career high 10 points during her 2022 campaign.
MSU has seven newcomers for the 2023 season: five freshmen and two transfers who offer plenty of college playing experience. All seven players have seen the field through two games, two freshmen Katelyn Dulin (Barto, Pa.) and Serena Mailhe (Buenos Aires, Argentina) earned their first career start in the season opener against Boston University.
A SPARTAN HOMECOMING
It will be a special homecoming for head coach Helen Knull, making her sixth trip back to her alma mater as a head coach. Knull was a four-year starter, two-year captain, and a two-time All-American at Kent State, leading the Golden Flashes to the NCAA Tournament four straight years (1999-2002). In 2002, Knull was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. She was inducted into the Kent State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. These two teams faced off in the season finale last year with the Spartans on top 3-1. Knull is 8-1 against her alma mater as a head coach.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
The Flashes are led by fifth-year head coach Kyle DeSandes-Moyer. Kent State is returning its top scorer from the 2022 season in Patricia Strunk, who was named the MAC Freshman of the Year and an NFHCA All-West Region honoree last season. The Golden Flashes are also returning their top goalkeeper, Cecile van Eijck. She started all 18 games for the Flashes, seeing over 1000 minutes of action in 2022. Eijck was third in the MAC conference with 103 saves last season. Kent State was voted second in the 2023 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 49 votes. MSU holds the series lead 26-8-1; the last time Kent State beat the Spartans was in a 3-1 victory in 2016.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE SPARTANS
Michigan State will start a five-game home stretch when it faces Saint Joseph's at Ralph Young Field on Friday, Sept. 8 at 6.pm.
