UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Nov. 8, 2003) - Michigan State scored three second-half goals to lead the second-seeded Spartans to a 3-0 victory over Ohio State in a Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament semifinal game Saturday at Bigler Field.

The victory for Michigan State sets up the tournament final, which will feature No. 4 Penn State and the Spartans, 1 p.m. Sunday at Bigler Field.

The two teams battled through a scoreless first half, but Michigan State capitalized off of three penalty corners over a span of 19 minutes to take a three goal advantage with 8:44 remaining in the game.

"In the second half we were a little more patient," said Michigan State coach Michele Madison. "With being patient, we made it a smaller game and we finished on some of our corners."

Alexandra Kyser scored the game's first two goals, the first of which was off a rebound that goalkeeper Lindsay Williams gave up on a shot by Annebet Beerman with 27:44 left.

Beerman had a hand in the next goal as well. She faked a shot from the top of the circle and caught Kyser all alone on the near post to make it 2-0 with 22:34 remaining.

Jessica Miller capped off the victory with the Spartans' third goal with 8:44 left. Beerman sent another shot in off a penalty corner that Miller deflected high into the net.

The Buckeyes couldn't get much offense going as they only mustered five shots against 16 for Michigan State. "Michigan State played a great second half," said Ohio State coach Anne Wilkinson. "They took us out of our game and once we were out we were unable to get back into it."

The Nittany Lions and Spartans will meet in the tournament final for the first time ever. Michigan State defeated the Nittany Lions 3-2 in the semifinals of the tournament in 2002 on its way to the Spartans' first ever Big Ten Tournament title. This will be the third meeting between the schools in the Big Ten Tournament, with each team having won a game previously. Penn State owns an all-time series advantage of 19-5 over the Spartans. However, Michigan State has won the last four meetings.

Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament
(Saturday at Bigler Field)

 No. 2 Michigan State 3 No. 3 Ohio State 0 First-half Scoring None Second-half Scoring 1. Alexandra Kyser, MSU, (unassisted) 42:16 2. Kyser, MSU, (Annebet Beerman) 47:26 3. Jessica Miller, MSU, (Beerman) 61:16. Shots: OSU - 5; MSU - 16. Saves: OSU - 9 (Lindsay Williams); MSU - 1 (Christina Kirkaldy). Corners: OSU - 3; MSU - 11. Records: OSU - 13-7, 4-2; MSU - 15-4, 5-1.

Next game: Ohio State awaits NCAA Tournament first-round matchup; Michigan State will play Penn State for Big Ten Tournament Title, 1 p.m. Sunday at Bigler Field.