Source: MSUSpartans.com
Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2009 4:59:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:03:00 PM EST
Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2009 4:59:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:03:00 PM EST
HAPPY VALLEY, Pa. - Michigan State used a hat trick from senior Floor Rijpma (Bunnik, Netherlands) and solid defensive play to drop Penn State 5-1 Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Spartans finished the Big Ten with a perfect 6-0 record for the first time in school history.
The Spartans came out of the gates strong as Rijpma scored off a beautiful pass from fellow senior Jeamie Deacon (Wexford, Ireland) less than four minutes into the game giving the Green and White an early 1-0 lead. The Spartans pushed their lead to two 52 seconds before the half when Rijpma struck again, this time tipping home a pass from freshman Jessica Linder (Louisville, Ky.).
"We started the first half well but weren't able to keep up our pressure," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "Fortunately we were able to pick up our play near the end of the half and get the 2-0 lead."
Junior Jantine Steinmetz (Amstelveen, Netherlands) made the score 3-0 less than 10 minutes into the second half when she scored her ninth goal of the season off a mini breakaway. Penn State got its lone tally three minutes after the Steinmetz goal when Hannah Allison redirected a shot from teammate Kelsey Amy past a diving Elissa Unger (Reading, Pa.). MSU was able to push its lead back to three when sophomore Chantae Miller (East Amherst, N.Y.) tipped a pass from junior Camille Dagorn (Lehighton, Pa.) into the right corner of the goal. Rijpma finished off the scoring and completed her hat trick when she took a pass from freshman Manouk Vernij (Bleiswijk, Netherlands) and slammed it into the back of the cage making the final score 5-1 in favor of the Spartans.
"We made some adjustments at halftime and came out more hungry and committed," van de Kerkhof said. "As the goals started to pile up we were able to get some of our younger players some valuable playing time."
Michigan State returns to action next weekend when they host the Big Ten Tournament. As a result of winning their first outright Big Ten Regular Season Title in school history, the Spartans will have a first round bye. Michigan State will open its tournament play when it plays the winner of the 4/5 matchup Friday at 12:15 p.m.
The Spartans came out of the gates strong as Rijpma scored off a beautiful pass from fellow senior Jeamie Deacon (Wexford, Ireland) less than four minutes into the game giving the Green and White an early 1-0 lead. The Spartans pushed their lead to two 52 seconds before the half when Rijpma struck again, this time tipping home a pass from freshman Jessica Linder (Louisville, Ky.).
"We started the first half well but weren't able to keep up our pressure," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "Fortunately we were able to pick up our play near the end of the half and get the 2-0 lead."
Junior Jantine Steinmetz (Amstelveen, Netherlands) made the score 3-0 less than 10 minutes into the second half when she scored her ninth goal of the season off a mini breakaway. Penn State got its lone tally three minutes after the Steinmetz goal when Hannah Allison redirected a shot from teammate Kelsey Amy past a diving Elissa Unger (Reading, Pa.). MSU was able to push its lead back to three when sophomore Chantae Miller (East Amherst, N.Y.) tipped a pass from junior Camille Dagorn (Lehighton, Pa.) into the right corner of the goal. Rijpma finished off the scoring and completed her hat trick when she took a pass from freshman Manouk Vernij (Bleiswijk, Netherlands) and slammed it into the back of the cage making the final score 5-1 in favor of the Spartans.
"We made some adjustments at halftime and came out more hungry and committed," van de Kerkhof said. "As the goals started to pile up we were able to get some of our younger players some valuable playing time."
Michigan State returns to action next weekend when they host the Big Ten Tournament. As a result of winning their first outright Big Ten Regular Season Title in school history, the Spartans will have a first round bye. Michigan State will open its tournament play when it plays the winner of the 4/5 matchup Friday at 12:15 p.m.
