Michigan State field hockey faced a tough start to conference play, losing its first two games against No. 6 Ohio State and, on Monday, No. 9 Michigan.
In the Big Ten home opener against their heated rival, MSU fell 3-0 to the red-hot Wolverines, who dominated the match in both tempo and possession. Michigan extended its winning streak to six games and its shutout streak to three.
The Wolverines wasted no time, firing six shots—three on goal—in the first five minutes. They took the lead at the 7:30 mark with a goal from redshirt junior forward Abby Tamer. After a strong start, Michigan managed only two more shots for the rest of the quarter, while MSU struggled offensively, recording just one shot in the closing seconds. Spartans’ goalie Lyra Gavino made three saves during the first quarter.
The second and third quarters followed a similar pattern, with Michigan maintaining its offensive pressure. They added goals from freshman back Eva Bernardy and graduate forward Lora Clarke on a penalty shot. Meanwhile, MSU managed only one shot in the second quarter and two in the third, as they found it difficult to advance past Michigan’s defense. Gavino continued to shine in goal, notching three more saves in the second quarter and one in the third.
In the fourth quarter, the Spartans became more aggressive, taking seven shots, three of which were on target. Senior midfielder Ellie Rutherford accounted for two of those shots, while freshman Carmen Pucheta, senior Maddie Lawlor, and sophomore Brynn Shaffer each had one shot on goal. However, they were unable to convert any opportunities.
With this loss, MSU has now extended its losing streak against Michigan to 13 games and has a record of 4-27-1 against the Wolverines since 2001. The Spartans will look to regroup as they head to Muncie, IN, to face Ball State on September 29th.
