Indiana Falls in Overtime, 3-2, to Michigan State

Friday, October 9

East Lansing, MI

3:00 PM

Indiana University

(6-6, 2-2)

Michigan State

(5-8, 2-3)

OT 2

Indiana

Michigan State

Indiana Falls in Overtime, 3-2, to Michigan State

10/9/2015 6:29:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

Latino scores twice in the Hoosiers' second Big Ten loss

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Indiana field hockey team played their second overtime game of the season on Friday afternoon against Big Ten foe Michigan State. In previous overtime action, the Hoosiers emerged victorious in a 4-3 win over Kent State.

Unfortunately for Indiana, the Spartans scored before they were able to develop their attack.

Indiana (6-6, 2-2 Big Ten) fell to Michigan State (5-8, 2-3 Big Ten), 3-2, after the Spartans scored the game-winning goal two minutes into sudden-death overtime. Indiana sophomore Maddie Latino led the Hoosiers on the attack, scoring both of Indiana's goals.

"I think our effort was all-out, but we weren't as smart with certain things," said Indiana midfielder and captain Mollie Getzfread. "We played differently than we normally do in certain situations and it didn't pay off. We didn't connect how we normally do."

The Hoosiers dominated the game in the box score. They out-shot their opponents 17-7, including 10 shots on goal. In addition, Indiana earned more penalty corners than Michigan State.

Indiana opened the scoring on what had been a quiet first half up to that point. The Hoosiers earned a penalty corner, which resulted in shots from Kate Barber and Abby Urbanek. Spartan keeper Katie Miller saved both attempts, but the ball was still in an opportune spot for the Hoosiers.

Latino swooped in for the loose ball and drove it into the back of the goal for her seventh score of the season.

"Her scrappiness in the circle was great," head coach Amanda Janney said about her goal-scoring sophomore. "She responded to our challenge for her in coming off the bench, and did a great job creating opportunities. Her urgency to get to the goal is a big positive for us going forward."

The Spartans were fast on the counterattack, and erased their early deficit in just one minute of play from a goal by Sophie Macadre. Michigan State struck again two minutes later, this time a goal from Heather Howie.

Indiana increased their attacking pressure, hoping to regain the tie in the final ten minutes of the first half. The Hoosiers fired three shots on goal, including one from a penalty corner in the closing seconds, but they couldn't convert. Indiana trailed 2-1 at the break.

As both teams had suffered emotional losses in their previous outings, they knew that a goal either way would go a long way to change the course of the contest. Indiana and Michigan State opened up on the attack in the final 35 minutes of regulation, combining for 10 shots and six penalty corners.

Indiana found their equalizer with seven minutes remaining in the second half. Freshman Claire Woods slotted a precision pass into the half circle for Latino. The goal-getter made a move in front of the keeper and placed her shot perfectly for the tying score.

"The team did a great job, and they fought hard to get back in the game," Janney said. "Claire's pass to Maddie was a great attacking play. It was a positive for us to win the second half."

The assist was Woods' first of her Indiana career. The freshman midfielder is making great strides early in her tenure at Indiana.

"Claire has had really awesome games," Getzfread said. "When she comes out on the field, she gives us that spark, that energy on the right side. She makes smart plays and smart passes, and she will only get better from there."

Indiana made a valiant effort to grab the winner in the final minutes of regulation with a close-range shot by Taylor Pearson and another last-second shot by Kate Barber from the penalty corner. The Spartan defense held off the Hoosier attack, forcing overtime.

The Spartans sealed the result in the first 90 seconds of overtime with a score from Andrea Donaldson, handing Indiana their second Big Ten loss of 2015.

The Hoosiers are still in pursuit of winning three Big Ten games for the first time since 2009. Indiana's next chance to grab their third win in the Big Ten is next Friday, October 16, when they travel to Ohio State to take on the Buckeyes.

Hoosiers Face Test from Nation's Best

The Hoosiers return to action on Sunday, October 11 against No. 1 Syracuse (11-0, 3-0 ACC). The game begins at 12:00 p.m. ET at the IU Field Hockey Complex, and will broadcast online at BTN2Go.com. The Hoosiers are eagerly anticipating the challenge of facing the best in the nation.

"We're improving every weekend," Janney said. "Syracuse presents a great challenge for us, we're looking forward to playing them."

"Everyone is ready to return to our home turf, and we are ready to get back to winning," Getzfread said on behalf of her teammates. "We're ready to come out Sunday and kill it."