Saturday, February 20
College Park, Md.
4:30 PM
Michigan State University
0-0-1, 0-0-1
1
at
1
Maryland
0-0-1, 0-0-1
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan St.
0
1
0
0
1
Maryland
0
1
0
0
1
Team Stats
MSU
UMD
Goals
1
1
Shots
10
13
Shots on Goal
3
5
Saves
4
2
Corners
1
4
Fouls
18
5
Scoring Plays
Gia Wahlberg (1)
GOAL by MSU Wahlberg, Gia.
62:45
Mikalya Dayes (1)
GOAL by UMD Dayes, Mikalya.
88:53
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MSU Women’s Soccer Ties Maryland in Season-Opening Overtime Thriller
2/20/2021 8:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Junior forward Gia Wahlberg scores the Spartans’ first goal of the year.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Michigan State women's soccer opened the 2021 campaign with a hard-fought battle, tying Maryland 1-1 in overtime in College Park on Saturday afternoon.
Due to inclement weather in Maryland, the game was moved from the grass of Ludwig Field to the turf of Capital Field at Maryland Stadium.
"What we said after the games is that we really showed that Spartan warrior mentality throughout the game. I think we all have a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths giving up a little bit of a deflection goal in the last two minutes of the game." MSU head coach Tom Saxton said."But we had people cramping up, so to be able to fight like hell and hold on to get that single point was certainly a positive. I think that once everyone has a little time to digest I think we will feel good because we certainly played really, really good soccer for our first game in a year."
This was the second time in three seasons that Michigan State has opened the Big Ten season with a tie, tying Purdue to open the 2018 league campaign.
Both teams were feeling their way through the new field in the first half. Through the first 45 minutes, the Spartan had out-shot the Terrapins, 4-3.
Offensive pressure picked up for both teams in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Maryland had two shots within 30 seconds of each other, including one of sophomore Lauren Kozal's four saves.
Junior forward Gia Wahlberg put the Spartans on the board first in the 63rd minute with an absolute firecracker. Sophomore forward Paige Webber started the play with a cross that was deflected off a Terp defender. Wahlberg found the deflection and zipped it past both a defender and Maryland goalkeeper Nicole Kwoczka to give MSU the 1-0 advantage.
The Terrapins never stopped fight earning a pair of back-to-back corner kicks late in the second half. With time running down, Maryland scored the equalizer in the 89th minute. Mikalya Dayes deep shot from the right side deflected off a MSU defender and past Kozal for the equalizer.
In the second overtime, Kozal came off her line in the 104th minute for a save off another dangerous shot by Dayes. Wahlberg followed in the 105th minute with a deep shot that sailed wide.
"Ultimately, we really have to have a great perspective on things. We have had so much support from the medical staff and the administration, and all of us, especially the student-athletes, have been so tough going through these ups and downs with the COVID protocols with the stops and starts. It was a little bit surreal to actually get here and play. Now let's stay safe and keep it going," Saxton added.
The Spartans will now prepare for their home Big Ten opener on Thursday, Feb. 25 against Nebraska. Michigan State will then host Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 28.
Due to inclement weather in Maryland, the game was moved from the grass of Ludwig Field to the turf of Capital Field at Maryland Stadium.
"What we said after the games is that we really showed that Spartan warrior mentality throughout the game. I think we all have a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths giving up a little bit of a deflection goal in the last two minutes of the game." MSU head coach Tom Saxton said."But we had people cramping up, so to be able to fight like hell and hold on to get that single point was certainly a positive. I think that once everyone has a little time to digest I think we will feel good because we certainly played really, really good soccer for our first game in a year."
This was the second time in three seasons that Michigan State has opened the Big Ten season with a tie, tying Purdue to open the 2018 league campaign.
Both teams were feeling their way through the new field in the first half. Through the first 45 minutes, the Spartan had out-shot the Terrapins, 4-3.
Offensive pressure picked up for both teams in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Maryland had two shots within 30 seconds of each other, including one of sophomore Lauren Kozal's four saves.
Junior forward Gia Wahlberg put the Spartans on the board first in the 63rd minute with an absolute firecracker. Sophomore forward Paige Webber started the play with a cross that was deflected off a Terp defender. Wahlberg found the deflection and zipped it past both a defender and Maryland goalkeeper Nicole Kwoczka to give MSU the 1-0 advantage.
The Terrapins never stopped fight earning a pair of back-to-back corner kicks late in the second half. With time running down, Maryland scored the equalizer in the 89th minute. Mikalya Dayes deep shot from the right side deflected off a MSU defender and past Kozal for the equalizer.
In the second overtime, Kozal came off her line in the 104th minute for a save off another dangerous shot by Dayes. Wahlberg followed in the 105th minute with a deep shot that sailed wide.
"Ultimately, we really have to have a great perspective on things. We have had so much support from the medical staff and the administration, and all of us, especially the student-athletes, have been so tough going through these ups and downs with the COVID protocols with the stops and starts. It was a little bit surreal to actually get here and play. Now let's stay safe and keep it going," Saxton added.
The Spartans will now prepare for their home Big Ten opener on Thursday, Feb. 25 against Nebraska. Michigan State will then host Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 28.
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