Thursday, August 30
Seattle, Wash.
8:00 PM
Michigan State University
4-0-0
1
vs
0
Portland
2-2-0
1
2
OT 1
F
Michigan State
0
0
1
1
Portland
0
0
0
0
Spartans Ground Pilots, Improve to 4-0
8/30/2018 11:59:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Michaela Kovacs turned in a Golden Goal header in OT.
SEATTLE -- Michaela Kovacs delivered a golden goal header off a corner kick from Kassidy Madrigal in the 94th minute to send Michigan State to a 1-0 overtime win over Portland in the first game of the Husky/Nike Invitational in Seattle Thursday.
The Spartans improve to 4-0 on the season with their fourth straight shutout victory, while Portland drops to 2-2.
"We need to continue to build on great team defending and these shutouts will mean a lot to us moving forward, especially against a good team like Portland," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "You have to be opportunistic, and that's what we were tonight. I'm very excited and proud of the team."
How It Happened: The game was physical from the start with both teams asserting a defensive mentality, while trying to limit chances for the other side. Portland had the first chance to get on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute, but redshirt-junior goalkeeper Reilley Ott closed open space in front to make the save, her first of five on the night.
Freshman forward Camryn Evans had an opportunity to get MSU going in the 36th minute. She took a driving shot from 16 yards that Portland goalkeeper Rachel Lusby was able to get a hand on and knock away, keeping the game scoreless. Â
In what was by far the most physical game of the season for the Spartans, featuring a combined 30 fouls between the two sides, chances at the offensive end were hard to find throughout.
MSU's best chance to score in regulation came in the 68th minute. Junior midfielder Sadie Misiewicz put a boot on a ball looking to go far post, but Lusby was able to just get a hand on it and redirect the ball out of bounds.
Kovacs came close to directing a header to the net twice on corner kicks, before finally coming from the back and connecting on the game winner in the fourth minute of extra time. On what was MSU's eighth corner kick of the night, Madrigal played a beautiful ball into the box that allowed Kovacs a running start to find the finish.
"Mouse (Michaela) just missed a few during regulation and Kassidy put a perfect strike out there that Mouse was able to run right through," Saxton said. "What an awesome goal, and it was a big-time goal for a big-time player. Very well-deserved because we fought hard throughout the game."
Up Next: The Spartans have a couple days off in Seattle before retaking the field Sunday for a 5 p.m. ET kickoff against Husky/Nike Invitational host Washington (2-1).
The Spartans improve to 4-0 on the season with their fourth straight shutout victory, while Portland drops to 2-2.
"We need to continue to build on great team defending and these shutouts will mean a lot to us moving forward, especially against a good team like Portland," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "You have to be opportunistic, and that's what we were tonight. I'm very excited and proud of the team."
How It Happened: The game was physical from the start with both teams asserting a defensive mentality, while trying to limit chances for the other side. Portland had the first chance to get on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute, but redshirt-junior goalkeeper Reilley Ott closed open space in front to make the save, her first of five on the night.
Freshman forward Camryn Evans had an opportunity to get MSU going in the 36th minute. She took a driving shot from 16 yards that Portland goalkeeper Rachel Lusby was able to get a hand on and knock away, keeping the game scoreless. Â
In what was by far the most physical game of the season for the Spartans, featuring a combined 30 fouls between the two sides, chances at the offensive end were hard to find throughout.
MSU's best chance to score in regulation came in the 68th minute. Junior midfielder Sadie Misiewicz put a boot on a ball looking to go far post, but Lusby was able to just get a hand on it and redirect the ball out of bounds.
Kovacs came close to directing a header to the net twice on corner kicks, before finally coming from the back and connecting on the game winner in the fourth minute of extra time. On what was MSU's eighth corner kick of the night, Madrigal played a beautiful ball into the box that allowed Kovacs a running start to find the finish.
"Mouse (Michaela) just missed a few during regulation and Kassidy put a perfect strike out there that Mouse was able to run right through," Saxton said. "What an awesome goal, and it was a big-time goal for a big-time player. Very well-deserved because we fought hard throughout the game."
Up Next: The Spartans have a couple days off in Seattle before retaking the field Sunday for a 5 p.m. ET kickoff against Husky/Nike Invitational host Washington (2-1).
Team Stats
MSU
POR
Goals
1
0
Shots
8
11
Shots on Goal
6
5
Saves
5
5
Corners
8
2
Fouls
17
13
Scoring Plays
Michaela Kovacs (1)
Assisted By: Kassidy Madrigal
Running header off corner
93:26
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerM/D
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
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