Michigan State University
3-0-2, 0-0-0
Xavier
5-0-1, 0-0-0
No. 4 Women’s Soccer Ties No. 15 Xavier, 2-2
9/1/2024 5:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After a scoreless first half, four second-half goals led to a 2-2 draw for Michigan State women's soccer against No. 15 Xavier Sunday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium.
Playing their third top-15 opponent of the season, the Spartans move to 3-0-2 with the result, while Xavier moves to 5-0-1.
Sophomore midfielder Bella Najera and junior defender Maggie Illig notched goals for the Spartans. Najera's goal was her second of the season, while Illig earned her first of the season and third of her career. Graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor assisted on both Spartan goals and graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony tallied an assist on Illig's goal for her fifth point of the season.
Xavier held a narrow 12-11 edge in the shot count, including a 9-5 shots on goal advantage. MSU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks made a season-high eight saves in a strong 90-minute showing in goal to earn the tying decision.
The Spartans came out strong with a dominant display on the attacking end through the first 15 minutes. Graduate forward Meg Hughes forced a Xavier save in the 14th minute before a trio of Spartan shots went high. The Musketeers failed to get a shot off in the first 18 minutes thanks to a strong defensive performance by the Spartans but began to heat up in the following 10 minutes, forcing three saves by Parks.
Despite the Spartans controlling most of the possession throughout the remainder of the half, neither team was able to generate any threatening chances, leaving the game scoreless as the teams headed to the break.
The Musketeers came out hot after the break, forcing another save by Parks in the opening minutes. After five minutes of Xavier controlling the game, Anthony was able to force a save of her own in the 52nd minute. Xavier then retook control offensively, but Parks continued to stand tall between the pipes, corralling a trio of looks on frame by the Musketeers.
The intensity of the match ramped up in the 64th minute after Xavier took a 1-0 lead from an MSU own goal. In the 76th minute, a corner kick by Gaynor rattled off left post and found Najera, who sent the ball off the crossbar and over the Xavier goalkeeper for the equalizer.
Sitting at 1-1, a second corner opportunity for the Spartans gave MSU a 2-1 lead in a thrilling two minutes of action following Najera's goal. Gaynor once again sent a ball inside six that was flicked to Illig by Anthony. Illig tapped the ball past a trio of Musketeer defenders to give MSU its first lead of the game in the 78th minute.
MSU and Xavier each registered a shot on frame in the following 10 minutes as the Spartans looked to hold off the Musketeers. In the final 50 seconds of the game, a video review confirmed an MSU handball in the box, which awarded the Musketeers with a penalty kick. Xavier's Samantha Wiehe slotted home the penalty kick to set the final result as a 2-2 draw, as MSU was unable to generate any shots in the closing seconds.
"Really impressed with the response in the final 15 minutes," said head coach Jeff Hosler. We dug ourselves a big hole. Start of the second half, we did not have any kind of intensity. We just needed someone to make a play to kind of settle us down and we didn't. Their goal maybe woke us up a little bit. We then were better on the ball, much better on the intensity. Two goals from corners, two off set pieces we have not been able to get yet. To do that twice today gave us a huge life, but you have to be disciplined at the end of the game."
Up next, MSU hosts Queens on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium for Youth Soccer Night. The game will stream on B1G+.
Team Stats
0
GOAL by XU TEAM.
63:11
Bella Najera (2)
Assisted By: Justina Gaynor
GOAL by MSU Najera, Bella Assist by Gaynor, Justina.
75:22
Maggie Illig (1)
Assisted By: Justina Gaynor , Mackenzie Anthony
GOAL by MSU Illig, Maggie Assist by Gaynor, Justina and Anthony, Mackenzie.
77:33
Samantha Wiehe (1)
XU Samantha Wiehe PENALTY KICK GOAL.
89:09
