Aug. 27, 2011

Box Score

The field hockey Bears opened their 2011 season in a dramatic win with a final score of 8-4 over Sacred Heart in St. Louis, Mo. The game was filled with offensive excitement as the Bears totaled 11 shots on goal and eight goals. In an unusually high scoring match, the Bears converted five of those eight goals in the first half alone.

The Bears got straight to business as Hillary Lawless scored off of an assist from Casey Bayliss, only 3:12 into the first half of the game. Barely a minute later, Bayliss added a goal of her own with a hard shot from the left side of the field. Bayliss led the Bears' offense with five shots on goal and three total goals. Bayliss also tallied in two assists in the victory. Lawless would finish the match with two goals, while Sarah Cusickchipped in two of her own.

The first Sacred Heart goal would not come until 18:02 into the first half. Bayliss and Cusick both would score again before time ran out in the first half, finishing with the Bears on top 5-1. The Bears looked to come out strong at the start of the second half with Cusick scoring a goal just a few minutes in. Sacred Heart and the Bears would trade goals back and forth for most of the second half, until Sacred Heart went on a 2-0 run, closing the scoring gap to 7-4. The Bears regained their composure after a breakaway goal from freshman Abbey Heller, putting MSU on top 8-4, a lead the Bears would hold for the remainder of the match.

Andrea Bain started at keeper for the Bears, registering eight saves, while backup keeper Katie Mulloy racked up six of her own. MSU out-saved their opponent 15-3 overall.