Women's soccer team faces pivotal weekend

By Cash Kruth

Created:
10/01/09 6:34pm

Last updated:
10/01/09 6:34pm

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Tom Saxton has had this weekend circled on his calendar for a long time.

Sure, the MSU women’s soccer coach and his No. 20 Spartans opened Big Ten play with a 3-2 overtime win against perennial powerhouse Penn State, but this weekend’s road trips to Indiana and No. 12 Purdue will prove to be the toughest test of the season.

“I feel a little bit better about it, having a win under our belt, but honestly, this is a place where historically nobody in the Big Ten does well, going into Indiana and Purdue,” Saxton said. “If we can get any result out of the weekend I think we’ll be in really good position for the stretch run, but it will be tough. We have our hands full.”

The Spartans (7-0-2, 1-0-0) face the Hoosiers at 7:30 p.m. Friday, before traveling to West Lafayette to play the Boilermakers at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Indiana (8-3-0, 0-2-0) has four players with three goals or more, with Orianica Velasquez Herrera leading the way with four. The Hoosiers have dropped their first two conference matches to Northwestern and Wisconsin — both on the road — but are still highly regarded as a tough team.

Purdue (6-2-2, 1-0-1) is led by Jessica Okoroafo, who has six goals, along with three other players with four.

Even with an important program win like the Spartans had against the Nittany Lions, senior defender Megan Brown said the team realizes they have to prepare for a tough weekend.

“We realize that it’s time to go back to work,” Brown said. “While the win was really exciting, we know every Big Ten game is going to be a battle and we’re preparing this week for two very good teams and playing on the road is never easy and it hasn’t been great for us. We’re just going to prove that we can go in and play in hard environments and we’re not taking it lightly.”

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About Kickin' It

State News soccer reporters Cash Kruth and Alex DiFilippo bring you the latest news, notes and excitement from DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field this fall.

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