Spartans Fall Just Short to Illini

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Michigan State women's soccer team couldn't get an equalizer to find the net in the second half, falling 1-0 to the Fighting Illini Saturday in a Big Ten Conference game at Illinois Soccer Stadium.

The Spartans (5-4-3, 0-3-2 B1G) had two chances to tie the game miss by inches as Illinois (7-5-0, 2-3-0 B1G) held on for the win.

"We did exactly what we said in the game plan, and just couldn't find one," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "I told them after the game we're going to break through. We're playing Big Ten soccer and we need to put the ball across the line. It's a young group out there, and they're doing what we ask of them, but there comes a point you have to recognize the moment and give everything you have to put the ball in."

How It Happened: The Spartans had chances to create in the offensive third in the first 10 minutes, the biggest opportunity coming on a corner kick from sophomore midfielder Danielle Stephan. She sent a bending ball into the box that redshirt-junior Michaela Kovacs was able to get on the end of, but her header sailed wide of the post.

MSU found chances again towards the end of the first half as freshman forward Camryn Evans and Kovacs both had shots blocked in the 42nd, and 43rd minutes, respectively. Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Reilley Ott made two saves in the first 45 minutes as the two teams hit the halftime break knotted at 0-0.

The Illini finally broke through in the 48th minute. Maggie Hillman chipped a ball towards Ott, who dove and tipped it off the crossbar, but Katie Murray was there for a rebound header to put Illinois up, 1-0.

The Spartans had a great chance for an equalizer in the 69th minute off a restart. Stephan blasted another curling ball that would have found the net, but Illini goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham was able to just get a hand on it and make a diving save.

Another opportunity to even the score came just a minute later. Stephan sent a corner kick into the box, and Evans sent a header toward the net that glanced off the crossbar and came down inches from crossing the line. The Spartans sent players forward in the last 15 minutes, but couldn't find the net.

"We had so many chances, but couldn't finish the deal, it was frustrating," Saxton said. "Unfortunately, we gave up that early second half goal, and had to play from behind. The effort was awesome. We came ready to play. We're hungry for three points; we just gotta learn how to get it."

Illinois tallied a 10-8 advantage in shots, but MSU out-shot the Illini 6-4 in the second half. The Spartans held a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks taken.

Up Next: The Spartans return to DeMartin Stadium for a pair of Big Ten home games next week. Penn State heads to East Lansing for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, Oct. 5, followed by a visit from Ohio State Sunday, Oct. 7, at 1 p.m. Both game will be streamed on BTN Plus.

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Team Stats

Camryn Evans

Danielle Stephan

Michaela Kovacs

Athena Biondi

Players Mentioned

Camryn Evans

Michaela Kovacs

Reilley Ott

Danielle Stephan

Players Mentioned

Camryn Evans

Michaela Kovacs

Reilley Ott

Danielle Stephan