No. 6 Spartans Advance to NCAA Second Round, Defeat Milwaukee in Double Overtime

Friday, November 11

East Lansing, Mich.

6 PM

Michigan State University

17-2-3, 9-0-1

Milwaukee

12-4-3, 7-1-2

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Milwaukee	1	1	0	0	2
Michigan St.	0	2	0	1	3

Photo by: Rey Del Rio

No. 6 Spartans Advance to NCAA Second Round, Defeat Milwaukee in Double Overtime

11/11/2022 11:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score MSU 3, MKE 2 (Box Score)

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Sixth-ranked and fourth-seeded Michigan State women's soccer registered a heart-stopping 3-2 double-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Panthers in the opening round of the 2022 NCAA Women's Soccer Championships on Friday evening at DeMartin Stadium.

The Green & White reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for only the third time in program history and published a win in their first-ever home game in the Big Dance. MSU rises to 3-4 all time in the NCAA Championships, publishing the program's first win since Nov. 14, 2008, when the Spartans defeated Milwaukee, 2-1. The 2008 Spartans utilized a brace from newly inducted Michigan State Athletics Hall-of-Famer Laura (Heyboer) Heethuis to secure the victory in South Bend, Indiana.

Michigan State's single-season program record in the win column continues to grow, as the Spartans rise to an astronomical 17-2-3 overall in 2022. The Green & White also extend their home unbeaten streak to 12 consecutive games, with their last defeat coming against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2021 Big Ten Quarterfinals on Oct. 31. MSU boasts one of the 10-best unbeaten streaks at home among all Division I programs and stands in a tie for seventh in the nation with a seven-game home win streak.

In the box score, MSU dominated in every offensive statistic highlighted by a shocking 30-6 differential in shot attempts. Shots on goal favored the Spartans by a 15-4 margin, and the corner kick battle featured a lopsided 6-0 differential in favor of Michigan State.

Three different Spartans found the back of the net, with graduate forward Camryn Evans logging the game-winner in the 105th. Both MSU goals in regulation were scored by the sister-duo of junior midfielder Justina Gaynor and graduate midfielder Celia Gaynor. Three players earned assists on the evening, led by senior forward Lauren DeBeau, sophomore forward Jordyn Wickes and junior midfielder Zivana Labovic. Between the posts, senior keeper Lauren Kozal earned yet another victorious decision, extending her single-season program record win tally to 17. For the Panthers, redshirt freshman Kendall Edwards played all 110 minutes and submitted a valiant 12-save effort with three goals allowed.

Despite dominating the opening battle for possession in the first six minutes, the Spartans found themselves trailing the match 1-0 early in the seventh. A lapse on the offensive end led to a solid Panther attacking opportunity, with sophomore defender Clara Broecker leading the way out of the backfield. Broecker's outlet pass to sophomore forward Ashley Higgins hit her in stride, and Higgins found redshirt junior forward Natalie Auble in space. In a one-on-one situation against Kozal, Auble managed to find the open net and send the icebreaker into the back left corner.

The Spartans responded with a dominant effort in the remainder of the period, with the Green & White amassing a striking 13-2 differential in shots before the half wound down. MSU registered a corner kick less than two minutes after the Panther score. The Spartans racked up two more corner kicks before the game entered the halftime break, but Michigan State failed to register an equalizing goal. The Spartans trailed at the half for only the second time in 2022.

After the intermission, MSU's offense began a spirited and persistent attack on the Milwaukee back line. The Spartan front line dominated the possession battle throughout and buckled down on the back line early in the second. After both squads settled back in, Michigan State wasted no time in deadlocking the score in the 56th. Justina Gaynor battled for possession and took a couple of dribbles about 16 yards outside the Panther goal. The Spartan midfielder squared up on the left side of the box and curled a magnificent shot into the back right corner past the keeper's reach.

The Spartans maintained pressure as the game wore on and managed to net a go-ahead goal in the 77th minute. A myriad of players surrounded the net as the Spartans worked their way toward the Panther goal. Labovic managed to direct a ball into the goal box where Celia Gaynor headed it high into the back of the net. With the 2-1 lead in hand, it looked like the Spartans would battle on the back line until the clock expired. Milwaukee had other plans, as the Panthers found themselves prepared for a last-ditched effort with 20 seconds to go. Following an MSU handball just outside the box, the Panthers took a free kick which bounced around outside the box. Higgins found herself with the ball and served it inside to sophomore forward Kayla Rollins for the 90th-minute score.

In overtime for the first time in 2022, the Spartans got out to the same red-hot offensive attack that benefited them for much of the game. MSU put up a trio of shots against none from the Panthers but failed to find the back of the net through the first 10 minutes of free soccer. The second overtime proved to be the dagger, as Michigan State's relentless pressure culminated in the game-winner from Evans. Wickes fed the ball into the box for DeBeau, who quickly noticed the Panther's defensive lapse on the weak side. DeBeau sent the ball 10 yards to the right, and Evans closed out the scoring with a wide-open right-footed attempt into the center of the net.

POSTGAME QUOTES
MICHIGAN STATE QUOTES
Head Coach Jeff Hosler
Opening Statement…
"Rumor has it they call it survive and advance, and that is exactly what today was. Milwaukee is an incredible opponent; we knew when we drew Milwaukee, that they have a reputation for the toughness they play with. Kevin (Boyd) has done a tremendous job. I've been in his shoes, where you step into a program that has had a ton of success and make it your own, and he has certainly done that this year. Hats off to a tremendous opponent. They gave us everything we could handle. From our side, our players gave us everything they had. To play from behind and come back in overtime after that late equalizer; we've been doing this a long time and there aren't a lot of teams who could handle a moment like that emotionally and still come out and execute. I'm so happy for our group and proud of the toughness they showed. This should serve us well going forward."

Junior midfielder Justina Gaynor
On scoring alongside her sister during regulation...
"It was pretty special. It's a huge stage where neither of us have been before, so I think we both embraced the moment and gave it everything we had, and we were fortunate enough to capitalize on our moments. Honestly, maybe not fortunate; we were prepared and ready and just took advantage of our opportunities and it's great that we were able to contribute."

SCORING SUMMARY
6' – In a one-on-one situation against Kozal, Auble managed to find the open net and send the icebreaker into the back left corner. MKE 1, MSU 0

56' – Justina Gaynor battled for possession and took a couple of dribbles 16 yards outside the goal. The Spartan squared up on the left side of the box and curled a magnificent shot into the back right corner past the keeper's reach. MSU 1, MKE 1

77' – Labovic managed to direct a ball into the goal box, where Celia Gaynor headed it high into the back of the net. MSU 2, MKE 1

90' – Following an MSU handball just outside the box, the Panthers took a free kick which bounced around outside the box. Higgins found herself with the ball and served it inside to Rollins for the score. MSU 2, MKE 2

105' – Wickes fed the ball into the box for DeBeau, who quickly noticed the Panther's defensive lapse on the weak side. DeBeau sent the ball 10 yards to the right, and Evans closed out the scoring with a wide-open right-footed attempt into the center of the net. MSU 3, MKE 2

UP NEXT
Sixth-ranked and fourth-seeded Michigan State women's soccer continues its historic 2022 campaign in the second round of the NCAA Championships, as the Spartans get set to challenge the TCU Horned Frogs on Friday, Nov. 18. Game time, location and streaming information will be announced when available.

FOLLOW THE SPARTANS
Visit MSUSpartans.com for more information on Michigan State women's soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan women's soccer team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by following @MSU_WSoccer.