Indiana University
Michigan State
Hoosiers Prepare for Michigan State, Top-Ranked Syracuse
10/6/2015 5:22:00 PM | Field Hockey
Indiana travels to East Lansing before returning to host the No. 1 team in the country
On Friday, October 9, Indiana returns to the road to take on the Michigan State Spartans, their second consecutive weekend in the Great Lake State. Following that, the Hoosiers return home for a test against the undefeated, top-ranked Syracuse Orange. Both games will be available for streaming via BTN2Go.com.
Friday, October 9
Indiana (6-5, 2-1 Big Ten) at Michigan State (4-8, 1-3 Big Ten)
3:00 p.m. ET | Ralph Young Field (East Lansing, Mich.)
Coverage: Live Stats Watch: BTN Plus
Sunday, October 11
Indiana (6-5, 2-1 Big Ten) vs #1 Syracuse (11-0, 3-0 ACC)
12:00 p.m. ET | IU Field Hockey Complex
Coverage: Live Stats Watch: BTN Plus
Hoosier Notables:
Return to the Road
Indiana heads into another weekend against formidable competition, both inside and outside of the Big Ten. They'll open the weekend on Friday with an away game against Michigan State, seeking their third Big Ten win for the first time since 2009. After that, they head home to face the unbeaten Orange of Syracuse University. The Hoosiers will take the field looking for their first win in school history over a No. 1 team.
A New Season, A New Era
Indiana Field Hockey welcomes two new coaches to the Hoosier family. Head coach Amanda Janney enters her first season as the head coach of the Hoosiers. She is joined by first-year assistant coach Ayla Halus. The Hoosiers return 13 letterwinners from their 2014 campaign, including 2015 Preseason All-Big Ten selections Kate Barber, Karen Lorite, and Nicole Volgraf.
Overtime Thriller vs Kent State
The Hoosiers revisited their non-conference schedule last weekend in a home game against Kent State. Indiana held a 3-1 lead early in the second half with a goal by Rachel Stauffer and two from Maddie Latino, but the Golden Flashes rallied to draw it up. The two teams were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, but an overtime goal by Taylor Pearson gave the Hoosiers their sixth win.
Last Sunday at Michigan
On Sunday, the Hoosiers played evenly with the Wolverines, but a penalty stroke late in the first half gave Michigan a narrow halftime lead. Indiana was able to tie the contest early in the second half with a goal from Kate Barber, but fell after a late score by Michigan, 2-1.
Battling the Spartans
Indiana will take part in their second consecutive Big Ten road game in Michigan on Friday in their meeting with Michigan State. The Hoosiers are 3-16 all time against the Spartans, but won the most recent matchup, 2-1, in 2014.
Facing Top-Ranked Syracuse
The Hoosiers close their weekend with one of their toughest opponents yet, the No. 1 undefeated Syracuse Orange. The Orange are off to an unbeaten start with wins over six teams ranked in the top 20. This is the first meeting between Indiana and Syracuse, and the Hoosiers' second meeting against the No. 1 team in the nation (last: No. 1 Wake Forest, 2003).
Of Note...
- The Hoosiers currently rank #25 in the FieldHockeyCorner.com ACR polls, and currently sit at #29 in the NCAA RPI rankings.
- Kate Barber, Karen Lorite and Nicole Volgraf were named to the 2015 Big Ten Players to Watch List.
- Indiana goalkeeper Noëlle Rother ranks second in the Big Ten Conference in saves (55).
- Sophomore Maddie Latino leads all Hoosiers in scoring this season. The attacking midfielder has six goals and five assists to her name through the eleven games, accounting for over 20% of Indiana's total points.
- Kate Barber and Karen Lorite are having solid seasons on the attack as well. The two have combined for nine goals and eight assists, accounting for over a third of the Hoosiers' offensive output.
- The Hoosiers rank second in the conference in assists per game in Big Ten play (2.33)
