The MSU field hockey team sent its six seniors off with a bang.
The No. 15 Spartans defeated No. 8 Ohio State 3-2 Saturday and then defeated Ohio 2-1 on Sunday's Senior Day.
"The seniors really came prepared," head coach Michele Madison said. "The seniors have to carry the team."
The Spartans took the lead when senior midfielder Jessica Miller earned a penalty stroke. From close distance, Miller fired the shot past Ohio goalkeeper Jennifer Cote to give the Spartans the 1-0 lead.
The Bobcats tied the game at one shortly before halftime as forward Torrie Albini took the ball inside the circle and shot it past MSU senior goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy.
Going into the second half, Madison said she was not happy with her team's performance.
"She told us we needed to pick it up and work much harder in the second half," senior defender Breanna Harpstead said.
In the second half, the Spartans came out firing, but Ohio would not let anything in the goal. Even though MSU had most of the possession, the Bobcats defense held strong.
"Ohio plays really tough defense and was chasing us down," Madison said. "We weren't able to find the open player frequently."
After numerous corners, the Spartans broke through and got the game-winner off the stick of senior forward Michelle Huynh-Ba. It was her team-leading 14th goal on the year.
The Spartans played sound defense in the second half, not allowing the Bobcats to get a shot off on Kirkaldy.
In the first game of the weekend, the Spartans disposed of the Buckeyes using two goals from Huynh-Ba to lead the charge.
The Buckeyes scored in just the second minute of the game to take the 1-0 lead. The Spartans struck back quickly, however, as they evened the score less than five minutes later with a goal by sophomore midfielder Amy Schneider — her first goal of the season.
The Spartans took the lead 2-1 as Huynh-Ba got her first of two goals in the ninth minute of the contest. Less than ten minutes later, Huynh-Ba gave the Spartans a commanding 3-1 lead heading into the break.
In the second half, the Buckeyes added another goal to close the gap to one at 3-2, and despite not allowing the Spartans a shot, it was the closest they would get. The Spartans played solid defense the rest of the way and earned their second Big Ten win of the season, 3-2.
Heading into the Big Ten Tournament next weekend, these two wins give the team a much needed mental boost.
"We now have three straight wins and it is a good confidence booster," junior defender Kristin Dunn said. "We are hoping to go in with some momentum and make an impact."
