Spartans Tame Terriers

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State women's soccer team used first-half goals from junior midfielder Sadie Misiewicz and sophomore forward Alexandra Thomas to get past Boston University 2-0 Sunday in front of 479 at DeMartin Stadium.

Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Reilley Ott recorded her second consecutive shutout as the Spartans improve to 2-0 on the 2018 season, while the Terriers fall to 0-2.

How It Happened: The two teams traded possession over the first 10 minutes trying to settle into the game before MSU broke through in the 11th minute. Sophomore midfielder Danielle Stephan fired a bending corner kick into the box that ping-ponged off freshman forward Camryn Evans and a BU defender, before bouncing off the hand of Boston University goalkeeper Amanda Fay.

Misiewicz was in the right spot as the ball landed at her feet and she finished with a strike far post, beating Fay and giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead. It was the third goal in two games for Misiewicz, as she accounted for both scores in Friday night's season-opening 2-0 win over Southern Utah.

MSU found its second goal in the 35th minute on another play started by Stephan. She saw Alexandra Thomas with open field in front of her and flicked a pass over the defense, leaving Thomas with a 1v1 opportunity against Fay that she would win, making it 2-0.

"Those were two great goals," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "Really opportunistic. A great strike by Sadie and a great goal by Alex. It gave us the edge we needed given it was the second game of a Friday/Sunday weekend, and Boston University had a day of rest on us after playing Michigan Thursday. Being able to grind it out at the end was a good step for us moving forward."

The Terriers had their best chance to get on the scoreboard in the 56th minute when Anna Heilferty took a shot from 16-yards out, but Ott made a diving save to her left, just getting a hand on a ball that was destined for the back of the net. Ott made six saves on the afternoon to give her seven total in two games.

"If I had a dream for the opening weekend, it would have been getting two shutouts given our troubles defensively last year," Saxton said. "That's a credit to our back four. They played well, and Reilley was absolutely spot-on. That was a big save because if the game goes 2-1 right there anything can happen."

BU had a 12-5 advantage in shots, but only six of them came on goal, while two of the Spartans five shots were on target.

Up Next: MSU returns to DeMartin for its third straight home game to start the season with a 3:00 p.m. kickoff against Green Bay Thursday.