Michigan State University
4-1-0, 0-0-0
Eastern Michigan
0-3-2, 0-0-0
Anthony Records Second Spartan Hat Trick in 6-0 Rout of Eastern Michigan
8/31/2023 10:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Logging its second hat trick in three games, Michigan State women's soccer defeated Eastern Michigan, 6-0, in front of a crowd of 2,257 fans at DeMartin Stadium Thursday night.Â
Michigan State moves to 4-1-0 (0-0-0) with the win, while Eastern Michigan drops to 0-3-2 (0-0-0 MAC).Â
"There's no question that our group feels the momentum and energy that the crowd brings," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "It was a beautiful night for soccer and the DeMartin Stadium stands were packed. It's so great to have the students back to bring that extra energy to the campus and to the complex, and I think that shows the way we played the first half."Â
Four different players found the back of the net Thursday night, highlighted by a first-half hat trick from senior forward Mackenzie Anthony. Graduate defender Raegan Cox added a goal in the 16th minute, while freshmen Bella Najera and Sophia Piotrowski added second-half goals for their first goals in the Green and White. All four MSU scorers recorded their first goals as Spartans.Â
Anthony's hat trick is the second for the Spartans this season and first of her career, following Jordyn Wickes' three-goal outing against Northern Colorado on Aug. 24. MSU has now recorded two hat tricks in a season for two-consecutive years.Â
MSU dominated on both ends, recording 35 shots, including 17 on goal, and held EMU to just two shots. The Spartans also forced 11 Eagle saves and held a 10-1 corner kick advantage. In goal, graduate student Kaitlyn Parks earned her fourth win for the Spartans in a full 90 minutes of play, while EMU's Rebecca Przybylo was credited with the loss after playing the first half.Â
Anthony broke open the scoring in the 14th minute, scoring on a pass from senior midfielder Justina Gaynor for her first goal of the night and in a Spartan jersey. Anthony's goal came after 11 early shots from the Spartans, who forced five EMU saves in the opening 10 minutes.Â
After Parks saved a shot from the Eagles' Meagan Lukowski, the Spartan attack quickly came to life, with Cox scoring a solo goal from 18 yards out to double the Spartan lead in 16th minute. The goal marked Cox's first goal during her collegiate career.Â
Anthony registered her second and third goals of the night in the 28th and 29th minutes, scoring on assists from sophomore forward Maggie Illig and senior midfielder Alex Hargrave. Both Illig and Hargrave earned their first points of the season with the assists, with Hargrave notching a point in her first game as a Spartan.Â
Hargrave closed out the half with an on-target shot to force another EMU save as the Spartans held their 4-0 lead headed into the break.Â
MSU continued to dominate the second half, recording seven shots to EMU's one in the opening 20 minutes. Najera recorded her first collegiate goal in the 79th minute on an assist from Anthony, who finished her stellar night with seven points.Â
Piotrowski capped off the Spartan scoring in the 82nd minute on a penalty kick goal.Â
With four players scoring goals in Thursday's game, 11 different Spartans have now scored goals during the 2023 season.Â
"I knew I wanted to go in with a different mindset today, and that's what I did," said Anthony. I've never played in front of that many fans before. It was incredible and it gets your adrenaline pumping. To have all the kids walk out with us - it's a great feeling to be looked up to like that."Â
Up next, MSU hosts No. 15 Notre Dame on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. The game will broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.Â
Team Stats
Mackenzie Anthony (3)
Assisted By: Justina Gaynor
GOAL by MSU Anthony, Mackenzie Assist by Gaynor, Justina.
13:30
Raegan Cox (1)
GOAL by MSU Cox, Raegan.
15:48
Mackenzie Anthony (3)
Assisted By: Maggie Illig
GOAL by MSU Anthony, Mackenzie Assist by Illig, Maggie.
27:46
Mackenzie Anthony (3)
Assisted By: Alex Hargrave
GOAL by MSU Anthony, Mackenzie Assist by Hargrave, Alex.
28:49
Bella Najera (1)
Assisted By: Mackenzie Anthony
GOAL by MSU Najera, Bella Assist by Anthony, Mackenzie.
78:52
Sophia Piotrowski
MSU Sophia Piotrowski PENALTY KICK GOAL.
81:13
