COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Sarah Koehler (Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored six times to earn Player of the Game kudos as No. 8-ranked/Big Ten Division runner-up Michigan State University overpowered Texas Division Third Place finisher Texas State University, 20-3, in the 12th and final game on day one of the 2024 Women’s Collegiate Club Championship at Texas A&M University’s Rec Center.
Thanks to the victory, MSU – which dropped a 12-9 game to No. 20/New England Division Champion Northeastern University earlier in the day – advances to another consolation game at 1:40 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, against the host/No. 11/Texas Division Champion Aggies of Texas A&M. Texas A&M made its way to the showdown with the Spartans by falling to No. 16/Southeast Division Champion Florida State University (10-9 L) before knocking off No. 17/Atlantic Division Champion Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) (17-6 W).
A victory over Texas A&M puts the Spartans into the Ninth Place game on Sunday, May 5, at 2:15 p.m. Central, while a defeat drops Michigan State into the 11th place game at 3:30 p.m.
Texas State – which received the program’s inaugural bid to the National Collegiate Club Championship following the decision of Texas Division runner-up the University of Texas to bypass competing for academic reasons – will conclude its run at the event following losses to both No. 1/Big Ten Division Champion/defending National Champion the University of Michigan (24-8 L) and Michigan State at 8:40 p.m. Central against Virginia Tech on Saturday, May 4, in a 13th/15th place game.
Due to the number of games (30) during the championship weekend – and limited pool time – the 13th and 15th place games are not played. Therefore, the winner of the Texas State-Virginia Tech game ties for 13th place, while the loser ties for 15th place.
The Spartans never trailed versus the Bobcats as Michigan State outscored Texas State 6-2, 6-0, 5-0 and 3-1 in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, to account for a 17-point victory.
Dalia Kohn (Fr., Richmond, Texas), Tessa Welch (Jr., Houston, Texas) and Meryl Johnson (Jr., Denton, Texas) combined for the Bobcats’ three goals. Preslee Carlisle (Fr., San Antonio, Texas) stopped five shots in taking the loss guarding the cage.
A bevy of Spartans – who previously finished first (2001, 2002, 2006), second (2000, 2003), third (2005), fourth (2007), sixth (2004), ninth (2008) and 11th (2019) at the championship – scored in the contest as Koehler (six), Adrianna Alcala (Fr., Rockford, Mich.) (three), Mikaela Hulliberger (So., Chicago, Ill.) (three) and Sarah Olson (So., San Diego, Calif.) notched hat-tricks or better, while Nora Wagner (So., Chicago, Ill.) tacked on a pair. Paige Beers (Jr., Rockford, Mich.), Namika Page (So., San Diego, Calif.) and Reese Carlson (Jr., Grand Ledge, Mich.) contributed solo scores to go along with nine saves by goaltender Grace Rivera (So., San Juan, Puerto Rico).
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 8 Michigan State University |
6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | – | 20 |
| Texas State University | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 3 |
| Texas State Goals: | Dalia Kohn; Tessa Welch; Meryl Johnson | |||||
| Michigan State Goals: | Sarah Koehler (6); Adrianna Alcala (3); Mikaela Hulliberger (3); Sarah Olson (3); Nora Wagner (2); Paige Beers; Namika Page; Reese Carlson | |||||
| Saves: | Texas State – Preslee Carlisle (5) ; Michigan State – Grace Rivera (9) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Texas State – 10 ; Michigan State – 6 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Texas State – 2-for-6 ; Michigan State – 3-for-10 | |||||
| Sprints: | Texas State – 2-for-4 (3rd, 4th) ; Michigan State – 2-for-4 (1st, 2nd) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Philippe Knall, Marvel Shoen | |||||
Texas State University’s Rachel Cook (#4) defends Michigan State University’s Sarha Olson (#10)
Texas State University’s Preslee Carlisle (#1)
Michigan State University’s Sarah Olson (#10) stalks Texas State University’s Rachel Cook (#4)
