Michigan State Spartans field hockey


The Michigan State Spartans field hockey team is the intercollegiate field hockey program representing Michigan State University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Michigan State field hockey team plays its home games at the MSU Field Hockey Complex at Ralph Young Field on the university campus in East Lansing, Michigan. Since the field hockey program was established in 1972, the Spartans have won four Big Ten regular-season championships, four Big Ten tournament titles, and have appeared in the NCAA tournament nine times. The team is currently coached by Helen Knull.

History

Field hockey has been a varsity sport at Michigan State University since 1972. The Spartans have competed as a member of the Big Ten Conference from 1981 to 1988 and again since 1992. From 1989 to 1991, Michigan State played in the Midwestern Collegiate Field Hockey Conference. Although the Spartans had never won a Big Ten championship or appeared in the NCAA tournament before 2001, they have found considerable success in the 21st century under the guidance of head coaches Michele Madison, Rolf van de Kerkhof, and Helen Knull. In the new millennium, Michigan State has won four Big Ten regular-season championships, four Big Ten tournament titles, and has qualified for the NCAA tournament nine times. The Spartans have advanced to the NCAA semifinals twice, in 2002 and 2004.

Head coaching records

Head CoachYearsSeasonsOverallPct.Best YearNCAA Berths
Mikki Baile1972–74314–4–81974 –
Diane Ulibarri1975–76218–4–11976 –
Samnoa Kajornsin1977–79339–15–81979 –
Nancy Reed1980–81224–17–21981 –
Rich Kimball1982–88743–79–91987 0
Martha Ludwig1989–92420–57–51989 0
Michele Madison1993–200513155–116–22002 4
Rolf van de Kerkhof2006–10574–342009 4
Helen Knull2011–present441–422013 1

Head coaching records through the end of the 2014 season

Awards and accolades

Conference championships

Michigan State has won four regular-season conference titles, all in the Big Ten Conference.

All-Americans

SeasonPlayerRemarks
1991Maggie Iezzi
1995Rayna Hiscox
1995Terry Pacheco
1996Rayna HiscoxSecond selection
1996Jill Lusher
1997Rayna HiscoxThird selection
1997Jill LusherSecond selection
1998Melissa Pryor
1999Marleen Tuip
2001Bridget Cooper

SeasonPlayerRemarks
2002Annebet Beerman
2002Sophie Rosmalen
2003Alexandra Kyser
2003Sophie RosmalenSecond selection
2004Annebet BeermanSecond selection
2004Veerle Goudswaard
2005Michelle Huynh-Ba
2005Christina Kirkaldy
2007Jeamie Deacon
2007Floor Rijpma

SeasonPlayerRemarks
2008Jeamie DeaconSecond selection
2008Floor RijpmaSecond selection
2009Jeamie DeaconThird selection
2009Floor RijpmaThird selection;
Second first-team selection
2012Abby Barker
2013Abby BarkerSecond selection
2014Abby BarkerThird selection

Awards and accolades through the end of the 2014 season

Stadium

Michigan State has played its home games at the MSU Field Hockey Complex at Ralph Young Field since September 2002. Ralph Young Field, which the field hockey program shares with the Spartan track and field team, was originally dedicated in April 1937 during a dual meet featuring Michigan State and the University of Chicago. At the turn of the 21st century, the university renovated the venue to enable it to host the field hockey team as well as its track and field counterpart. Located adjacent to Spartan Stadium, Ralph Young Field has a seating capacity of 1,500 and features an AstroTurf 12 playing surface. Its press box boasts a state-of-the-art sound system and a roof-mounted camera platform as well as seating for members of the media. Ralph Young Field also has permanent lighting that enables the Spartan field hockey team to play night games.