Spartans can clinch title with 2 wins

The No. 8 MSU field hockey team enters its final home weekend of the regular season with a chance to win the Big Ten title outright.

The Spartans are on a seven-game winning streak that has spanned more than a month of play and have outscored its three Big Ten opponents 14-4. Senior goalie Elissa Unger has posted back-to-back shutouts, as well.

The Spartans will put their 3-0 Big Ten record on the line when they host No. 15 Ohio State at 3 p.m. Friday. The second place Buckeyes are 3-1 in the conference and 11-4 overall. Ohio State owns the advantage in the all-time series with a 33-16-3 record against the Spartans.

“We know what we’re able to do if we play Spartan field hockey,” redshirt junior back Joelle van Ierland said. “Knowing that we only have three regular season games left, we know we have to give it our all and come out 100 percent and make sure we finish strong this season.”

If the Spartans win Friday, they will have a chance to win the regular season Big Ten title outright with a victory against Michigan on Sunday. The Wolverines enter with a 7-10 overall mark and a 2-2 record in the Big Ten. Game time is set for noon Sunday. MSU hasn’t lost a home match this season.

“This is a big weekend indeed, but every weekend is big, and every game is a Big Ten championship game,” MSU coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said. “The season is going by way too fast, but it’s been a great season and we’ve been enjoying it every game.”