Michigan State Shuts Out Oakland, 3-0

Michigan State is one of the latest top-25 teams to play its season opener this season, with the Spartans winning today (3-0) against visiting Oakland (one of its top in-state rivals). MSU received goals from sophomore sensation Laura Heyboer (Hudsonville, Mich.), senior midfielder Lauren Sinacola (Rochester, Mich.) and senior forward Lauren Hill (Northville, Mich.) while owning a 19-8 shot edge, plus 12-2 in shots on goal and 9-2 in corner kicks.


Heyboer was one of the top freshmen in Division I women's soccer during the 2008 season, ranking third nationally with 21 goals. She returns this season to combine with Hill (who now has 29 career goals) as one of the top goalscoring duos in the Midwest. Sinacola's goal was the 11th of her career, as she combines with Hill and the team's other seniors to provide valuable and experienced leadership for the '09 MSU squad.


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Michigan State sophomore Laura Heyboer (left) ranked third in the nation with 21 goals during the 2008 season.


It will be interesting to track the Big 10 Conference's all-around success this season, following a 2008 campaign that saw teams such as MSU and Minnesota make solid strides on the national landscape (to join with perennial top-25 teams Penn State and Illinois). Wisconsin could be on track for similar improvements while other Big 10 teams such as Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue and Indiana have turned in strong seasons during recent years. It could be quite a scramble in the Big Ten this season, as teams jockey for positioning within the conference and as potential NCAA Tournament entrants.


Two other top-25 teams are in action today: UNC-Wilmington at Wake Forest (7:00 ET) and Seattle at Washington (7:00 PT).

editor@collegesoccer360.com