EAST LANSING, Mich. – Complete game control and a full team effort paved the way for the 17th-ranked Stanford field hockey team to take a 3-2 win over Michigan State Sunday afternoon as the Cardinal closed out the 2016 regular season while pushing its win streak to four.
The first half saw the Cardinal (11-5) come out blazing as it outshot the Spartans (8-11) six-to-four in the half while wasting no time as Katie Keyser set up Kristina Bassi not even three minutes into the game for a one-timer that Bassi put away for her fourth goal of the season to make it a quick 1-0.
MSU stepped up to even it up in the 17th minute of the half, but the unstoppable Fran Tew kept on her tear to tie her career-best six goals with a rebound off of a corner that was again set up by Katie Keyser, who also tied her season-best with two assists as the Cardinal took a 2-1 lead into the half.
Stanford kept control of the tempo in the second half, outshooting the Spartans again while playing smart with possession. Marissa Cicione added an insurance goal in the 64th minute with Fran Tew sending a ball in front of the goal that Cicione put away. The insurance proved necessary though as MSU struck again in the 65th minute to keep it close, but the Cardinal defense again stepped up to toe the line as Stanford closed out its fourth straight win.
The win closes out the regular season for the Cardinal as it heads into the America East Tournament next week. Stanford will take on UMass Lowell on Thursday at 12 p.m. in Stockton, Calif.