Field hockey set to open Big Ten play

The MSU field hockey team opens its Big Ten season Friday, when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on the Hawkeyes. The Spartans will return to East Lansing on Sunday for its home opener against Kent State.

MSU (4-5) has struggled a bit this season after starting out 0-4, but the Spartans have begun to see some turnaround the past couple of weeks, winning four of their last five matches. However, head coach Helen Knull was quick to note that the beginning of the Big Ten season also marks a clean slate for her young squad.

“Right now, everyone has no wins and no losses in the Big Ten,” Knull said. “It’s always a battle. There’s always upsets, and the team that’s always set to take it can end up falling. Anything can happen in conference play.”

MSU is entering Friday’s game on a two-game winning streak, after beating Central Michigan on Wednesday, 2-1. In that game, sophomore goaltender Molly Cassidy tallied five saves while junior midfielder Adelle Lever and sophomore forward Katherine Jamieson each notched goals.

The Spartans can expect stiff competition from their conference opponent, but Sunday’s game against Kent State also has some extra meaning for the Spartans’ head coach. Knull was a two-time All-American field hockey player for the Golden Flashes, and a victory against her alma mater could only make the first-year head coach’s debut at Ralph Young Field even sweeter.