Michigan State University
5-2-2, 0-0-1
Ohio State
4-2-2, 0-0-1
Najera Scores in Third-Straight Game, Spartans Play to 1-1 Draw with Ohio State
9/17/2023 4:52:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Playing a Big Ten opener at home for the first time since 2017, Michigan State women's soccer battled to a 1-1 draw against Ohio State on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium.
MSU moves to 5-2-2 (0-0-1 B1G) with the result, while Ohio State moves to 4-2-2 (0-0-1 B1G).
Spartan freshman Bella Najera notched the lone goal for the Spartans, finding the back of the net for the third-straight game while also recording her fourth goal in five games. She led the Spartan shot count with four in a full 90 minutes of play. The rookie is now tied for first on the team in scoring (9 points) and goals (4) in 2023.
MSU held a narrow 16-15 shot advantage, while OSU held a 10-6 edge in shots on goal and led the corner kick battle, 7-6.
"I think we had a lot in their territory, especially early in the second half. We've got to finish our chances better, we're just not efficient from in front of goal, and I'm not talking about half-chances. I'm talking about wide open, one-V-goalkeeper or one person to beat," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "You just have to be more efficient at this level in games, and if you're not, you're not going to win them."
The Buckeyes got out to a strong start offensively, recording the first three shots of the game in the opening seven minutes while MSU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks made a pair of diving saves to keep the game scoreless.
After several minutes of back-and-forth play, MSU's offense came to life with a shot from sophomore midfielder Emerson Sargeant that was blocked. Scoring on a set piece for the second-straight game, Najera broke the ice in the 13th minute, sending in senior Zivana Labovic's header from a Justina Gaynor corner kick in front of the OSU goalkeeper to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
With the assist, Gaynor brings her team-leading assist total to five in 2023. Labovic's assist marked her second of the season.
Following the MSU goal, the two teams traded shots back and forth, but neither was able to find the back of the net. The Spartans' best look of the half came on a shot to the top of the net from Justina Gaynor in the 33rd minute, but the OSU goalkeeper collected the ball to keep the Spartan lead at 1-0 to close out the half.
In a similar fashion to the first half, the Buckeyes threatened in the opening minutes with an on-target shot, but Parks corralled the shot to continue her impressive afternoon between the posts. MSU responded offensively with shots from forwards MJ Andrus and Jordyn Wickes along with Najera and Sargeant but failed to net the insurance goal as 20 minutes remained in the game.
Following another pair of impressive saves by Parks, Ohio State's Sophia Louder capitalized on a set-piece opportunity for the Buckeyes in the 63rd minute after sending in a corner kick from Kine Flotre to level the game at 1-1. The Buckeyes regained offensive momentum following the equalizer, forcing another pair of Parks saves in the 65th and 66th minutes.
The Spartans responded to the Buckeyes' offensive threats, taking control of the game in the 75th minute when a misread by the OSU goalkeeper left a wide-open net for senior forward Ranya Senhaji to score what would have been the Spartans' second goal of the game. MSU was quickly ruled offsides, leaving the game at 1-1 with just under 15 minutes remaining. Still threatening, Senhaji and Najera sent two shots over the net before a defensive battle ensued between the two squads in the following eight minutes.
MSU's last efforts to find the lead came on-target looks from Senhaji in the 83rd minute and senior midfielder Regan Dalton in the 87th minute, but the Spartans were unable to secure their second goal of the afternoon to earn the win. The Spartan defense put on an impressive showing in the second half, allowing only one Ohio State shot in the final 25 minutes of the game.
Parks earned the draw in a full 90 minutes of play, recording a season-high nine saves while leading the MSU defensive effort. OSU goalkeeper Molly Pritchard joined Parks in the tying decision, also playing 90 minutes.
Up next, MSU hits the road for the first time in Big Ten play this season, facing Minnesota on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Bella Najera (4)
Assisted By: Justina Gaynor , Zivana Labovic
GOAL by MSU Najera, Bella Assist by Gaynor, Justina and Labovic, Zivana.
14:28
Sophia Louder (1)
Assisted By: Kine Flotre
GOAL by OSU Louder, Sophia Assist by Flotre, Kine.
62:31
