Emma Harris scored a goal and added an assist to lead Michigan State to a 3-0 win over Indiana in the first round of the 2005 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament.

Game one kicked off on a beautiful morning in Ann Arbor.  Michigan State began on the attack and got of a good scoring opportunity right away. Indiana then had an excellent scoring opportunity four minutes in, but Michigan State goalkeeper Nicole Galas came off her line to make a great sliding save. 

The Spartans earned a corner kick just three minutes later and were almost able to convert it, but a defensive save on the goal line kept the game scoreless.  IU earned their first corner kick in the eighth minute but were also unable to convert.

The teams exchanged opportunities in the middle part of the half, but the defenses were up to the challenge and the game remained scoreless.  Indiana's best chance came when Molly Kruger was able to weave through the MSU defense but her shot slid just past the far post.

The teams battled in the midfield for the better part of the half, exchanging spurratic opportunities, but with neither defense breaking down.  Indiana had the last chance of the half after a free kick was sent in by Lauren Lamping, but the MSU defense withstood the challenge.

Michigan State had a majority of the chances in the early minutes of the second half, and capitalized on an opportunity in the 59th minute when Emma Harris scored her 13th goal of the season with the assist coming from Nina Mastracci.  Mastracci slid the ball through the defense to Harris, who beat goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro one on one for the goal.

Indiana used a free kick chance to get their best opportunity of the second half with 28 minutes remaining, but the defense cleared the ball away and created a counter attack.

From the counter, Harris took the ball up field and slotted the ball to the left side, where Erin Konheim recieved it and took a half chance that bounced off Fabbro's hands and into the back of the net.

The Spartans continued to carry the play throughout the half, but IU created a few opportunities of their own, building several attacks out of the back.  They almost made it 3-0 as a counter attack led to Breana Ballard running at the goal unchallenged.  Fabbro made the save, and the rebound was knocked over the top of the goal.

The Hoosiers continued to build up attacks through the back and midfield, but could not break through the back line of the Spartan defense.  IU's best chance in the late minutes was a cross played into the box in the 87th minute, that was eventually cleared by the Spartans. 

MSU quickly countered and earned a breakaway when Kelly Amormimo and Erin Konheim combined to get the ball to Ballard, who beat goalkeeper Stacey Van Boxmeer, who had just entered the game.  Ballard slid the ball into a virtually empty net for the 3-0 score.  With her 22nd assist of the season, Konheim set a new Spartan record.

Galas, a sophomore, picked up her 11th shutout of the season.  With the win, Michigan State advances to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals, and will play Wisconsin on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Ann Arbor.

Big Ten Women's Soccer

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