MSU Falls to Kent State In Penalty Shootout

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State had a two-game winning streak in overtime snapped on Sunday, falling to visiting Kent State in the penalty shootout, 4-3.

MSU forced overtime with a goal by senior Maddie Lawlor, who scored her fourth goal of the season with 1:23 remaining in regulation. The Spartans played in their third consecutive double-overtime game, all against non-conference opponents.

As it did in the previous two OT contests, the Spartans had some decided advantages on the statistics sheet, with 16 corner opportunities (nine in the fourth quarter and an additional four in the second extra period) and had 29 shot attempts to eight for the Golden Flashes (10-5 in shots on goal).

The game began with a combined four-goal first quarter, two scores for each squad. Ellie Rutherford started it all by getting on the board just 16 seconds into the game off the attack after the initial passback. The teams alternated goals – Emma Rolston tied the game at 3:23, and Brynn Shaffer countered to retake the lead 42 seconds later. Rutherford set up Shaffer for that goal, sending a pass back into the center of the circle for the sophomore, who's shot from in front resulted in her first goal of the season. Eva Usoz leveled the score again at 10:56 with her goal off a scramble in front.

MSU takes a lead just 16 seconds into the game on this goal by Ellie Rutherford! pic.twitter.com/JQXJ456UPe
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) October 6, 2024

Brynn Shaffer finishes off this pass from Rutherford for a 2-1 MSU lead in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/AKnqrOXimm
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) October 6, 2024

Kent State got the lone score of the second quarter – Rolston set up Agustina Florio off a corner play to take a 3-2 lead into the intermission.

MSU got four consecutive corner attempts midway through the fourth quarter, but the Golden Flashes were up to the task, as one of the shots got past the defense and forced Lieve Jansen to make a save. Kent State was forced to defend nine corner plays in the frame overall, with the eighth one the only one which developed into a goal - it was Lawlor's offering on a corner play that knotted the score at 3-3, her fourth goal of the season.

The Spartans had a man advantage over the first half of the first overtime period due to a yellow card given to Usoz in the final 30 seconds of regulation, but the Golden Flashes limited MSU to just one shot in the first extra frame overall.

Lyra Gavino had two saves on the afternoon over 80 minutes. Her counterpart Lieve Jansen made seven saves to earn the win.

Kick save and a beauty!
Kick save and a beauty!

Gavino with back-to-back saves on a corner play to keep this game tied at 2-2. pic.twitter.com/oZtdxRzq6S
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) October 6, 2024

NOTES

Ellie Rutherford had a goal and two assists on the day, factoring into the scoring on each of the MSU goals.
Rutherford has overtaken the team lead in scoring (4-6-14) Her 14 points is a career best in a single season, and her four goals matches her goal output from each of her three previous seasons.
Rutherford has two goals and three assists over MSU's last three games.
Maddie Lawlor's game-tying goal was her fourth score of the season, which ties for second on the team in goals. Her 4-1-9 scoring line is fourth on the team in points.
Brynn Shaffer's first-quarter goal was the first of her MSU career and gives her a career-best four points on the year.
Emma O'Neill had an assist on Lawlor's game-tying goal on a corner play. Her fifth assist of the season ranks second on the squad.

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Team Stats

Ellie Rutherford

Maddie Lawlor

Brynn Shaffer

Emma O'Neill

Players Mentioned

Lyra Gavino

Maddie Lawlor

Emma O'Neill

Ellie Rutherford

Brynn Shaffer

Players Mentioned

Lyra Gavino

Maddie Lawlor

Emma O'Neill

Ellie Rutherford

Brynn Shaffer