Michigan State University
11-3-3, 6-1-2
Illinois
6-7-3, 2-5-2
Offensive Onslaught Leads No. 14 Spartans to 2-1 Win Over Illinois
10/19/2023 10:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - A dominant performance on both sides of the ball lifted No. 14 Michigan State women's soccer to a 2-1 win against Illinois at a rainy DeMartin Stadium Thursday night.Â
The win moves MSU to 11-3-3 (6-1-2 B1G) with one game remaining in the regular season, while Illinois drops to 6-7-3 (2-5-2). The Spartans remain in second place in the league standings, tied with Nebraska at 20 points a point behind Penn State, with the conference's regular-season finales taking place Sunday.Â
The win marked the first victory for the Spartans against the Fighting Illini in East Lansing since Sept. 20, 2002, and just the fifth all-time for MSU in the series.Â
"I think Raegan Cox and Celia Gaynor have really taken ownership of the process of getting the team prepared throughout the course of the week and they've been a key part of that whole defensive scheme," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "Defensively, the first half they (Illinois) only enter the box one time, and they score. It's a little disappointing, but it's one of those that just went against the run of play and our team showed the resilience today to bounce back, equalize, and obviously get the winner."Â Â
The Spartans dominated on the attacking end from start to finish, putting together a 33-2 shot advantage including a 10-1 advantage in shots on goal. MSU also led the corner kick battle, 10-4. Senior midfielders Justina Gaynor and Gabby Mueller scored goals, with Gaynor and freshman forward/midfielder Bella Najera adding assists on Mueller's goal.Â
Despite the rainy conditions that persisted throughout the full 90 minutes, the Spartans wasted no time pressuring the Illini on the attacking end, recording three shots in the opening 10 minutes. Junior forward Jordyn Wickes had the best look of the opening minutes for MSU with a header off a corner kick that forced an Illinois team save in the 10th minute. Â
Najera registered a pair of shots that went high in the 17th and 23rd minutes before Justina Gaynor and Emerson Sargeant had shots blocked as the clock approached 25 minutes remaining in the half. MSU continued to rack up the scoring chances in the following five minutes, with Mueller forcing another Illinois save in the 32nd.Â
The Illini found their first attacking opportunity in the 38th minute. The Spartans fended off a cross from an Illinois player, but the ball was then found by the Illini's Zoey Kollhoff, who sent the ball back towards the net and scored off an MSU deflection to take the 1-0 lead.Â
MSU quickly responded less than a minute with a pair of shots from senior forward MJ Andrus before senior forward Ranya Senhaji was taken down inside the box, awarding the Spartans with a penalty kick. Justina Gaynor converted the penalty kick to equalize the match with five minutes remaining in the half, tallying her fourth goal of the season.Â
Andrus registered another pair of shots in the 44th minute but was unable to find the lead for the Spartans, leaving the teams tied at the break.Â
MSU continued to fight for the lead in the opening minutes of the second half, adding another seven shots in the first 10 minutes while continuing to hold the Illini without a shot. In one of the most impressive goals for the Spartans this season, Justina Gaynor dribbled the ball just outside the box before passing to Najera, who set up Mueller for a high-flying shot from the outside the box to give the Spartans their first lead of the night in the 59th minute. The goal was Mueller's fifth of the season and fourth in conference play, while Najera added her fifth point in five games.Â
While the Spartan offense began to slow following the goal, MSU managed to hold off all Illinois attacking opportunities before regaining momentum with under 20 minutes to go. Najera and senior midfielder Alex Hargrave forced Illinois saves in the 79th and 80th minutes before Sargeant forced another in the 83rd. Illinois recorded its second and only remaining shot of the game in the 85th minute, but the shot was blocked.Â
Despite a number of scoring chances, the Spartans were unable to add to their lead, but played strong defense throughout the remainder of the half to stop any Illinois opportunities. A yellow card on the Illini in the 86th minute all but sealed the fate of the game as the Spartans secured their first home victory in nearly three weeks after a three-game road stretch.Â
MSU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks earned the win in net, her 11th of the season to move into a tie for eighth all-time in single-season wins at MSU. Illinois goalkeeper Julia Cili was credited with the loss, making seven saves.Â
Up next, the Spartans host Iowa on Sunday, Oct. 22 for its regular-season finale at 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.Â
Team Stats
Zoey Kollhoff (1)
Assisted By: Abby Lynch
GOAL by ILL Kollhoff, Zoey Assist by Lynch, Abby.
37:26
Justina Gaynor (3)
MSU Justina Gaynor PENALTY KICK GOAL.
38:08
Gabby Mueller (5)
Assisted By: Bella Najera , Justina Gaynor
GOAL by MSU Mueller, Gabby Assist by Najera, Bella and Gaynor, Justina.
58:36
