Late PK Denies Spartans' Upset Bid of No. 17 Badgers

Sunday, September 23

East Lansing, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan State University

5-3-3,0-2-2

#17 Wisconsin

8-2-1,2-1-1

Wisconsin

Michigan State

9/23/2018 4:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Camryn Evans scored her seventh goal of the season.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Freshman forward Camryn Evans put away her seventh goal of the season, but No. 17 Wisconsin scored twice in the final 15 minutes to get past Michigan State women's soccer 2-1 Sunday at DeMartin Stadium.

The Spartans fall to 5-3-3 overall and 0-2-2 in Big Ten play, while the Badgers improve to 8-2-1 this season and 2-1-1 in conference.

How It Happened: Both sides spent the first 45 minutes trying to stick to the game plan, and assert their style of play as each team had taken two shots at the halftime break. Focusing on defensive soccer and playing a counter-attack style, MSU had its first great chance in the 70th minute. Junior midfielder Sadie Misiewicz drilled the crossbar from just inside the 18, inches from breaking the scoreless tie.

The Spartans would be the first to breakthrough and make it 1-0, just four minutes later. Freshman midfielder Sam Sklarski played a beautiful ball long over the top, allowing Evans to run underneath it. The Spartans' scoring leader did the rest, finishing it off by beating Wisconsin goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer after she came off her line.

Just over a minute later, the Badgers found their answer, equalizing with a strike from 23-yards out by Emily Borgmann, who went far post and left MSU goalkeeper Reilley Ott without a chance at making a save.

"I thought we fought hard and stuck to our plan coming in," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "We got ahead after having a run of play against us for a while. Unfortunately, the next five minutes after you score is a traditional crucial moment in soccer, and you have to be better. We switched off defensively, and allowed them to equalize. That gave them the momentum back, and that's where we need to learn."

Wisconsin benefited from a foul called inside the box on Sklarski in the 77th minute, and Payton Wesley was awarded a penalty kick. She converted the PK for her first goal of the season to make it 2-1, in what would turn out to be the game-winner as MSU couldn't find an answer in the final minutes.

Up Next: The Spartans have five days off before taking the field Saturday for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff in Champaign against Illinois. The game will be streamed on BTN Plus.