Knorr Scores OT Game-Winner At Ball State

East Lansing -- Lilian Knorr played the role of overtime hero for Michigan State on Sunday, scoring at the 72:25 mark of the second overtime period to propel Michigan State to a 2-1 road victory at Ball State.

The Spartans (5-4) fought through a statistically-dominant day (and rain throughout the contest) to get a late goal from Caro Schafer to force the overtime. BSU keeper Hannah Johnston made 12 saves on the day, extinguishing several Spartan chances.

The Cardinals took a first-quarter lead with a goal at 8:58 on a corner play by Grace Clokie, her first score of the season. The teams battled through a driving rain, but the Spartans had the better of play in the second quarter as well, keeping the Cardinals without a shot on goal and generated four late corner plays.

MSU continued to pour on the shots, looking to tie the game but Johnston kept the home team in the game. The Spartans poured on eight fourth-quarter shots with five corners as they pushed for the tying goal, which finally came at 57:10. Schafer scored the equalizer with just under three minutes remaining in regulation, set up by Ellie Rutherford on a corner play. It was the first career goal for the freshman, and it sent the Spartans into extra time.

Freshman Ashley Hebert made her first career start for MSU, and she finished with one save.

MSU returns home for a pair of home games in the coming week – Tuesday will be a matinee matchup with Miami at 2 pm, and Sunday will be another non-conference tilt against Kent State.

NOTES

MSU earned its first overtime win this season in three tries. It was MSU's first overtime win since a 1-0 victory over Indiana late in the 2022 season.
The Spartans dominated in all statistical categories – the Green & White had 24 shot attempts to BSU's 4 and had a 15-2 edge in shots on goal. MSU had 17 corners to Ball State's one.
MSU has surpassed last year's win total before the final day of September this season.
The Spartans snapped a two-game skid after B1G losses to Ohio State and Michigan last week.
Caro Schafer scored at 57:10 of the fourth quarter to send the game into OT. It was the first goal of the freshman's career.
Lilian Knorr's game-winner was her second goal of the season. She now has 2-2-6 on the year.
Ellie Rutherford picked up her fourth assist of the season to push her season total to eight points.
Senior Jillian Bonczewski had a team-high nine shots, and tied for the game lead od three shots on goal with Maddie Lawler, Ellie Rutherford, and Carmen Pucheta.
Ashley Hebert's first collegiate start saw her face four shots, and she had one save.

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Team Stats

Lilian Knorr

Caro Schafer

Ellie Rutherford

Jillian Bonczewski

Players Mentioned

Jillian Bonczewski

Lilian Knorr

Carmen Pucheta

Ellie Rutherford

Caro Schafer

Players Mentioned

Jillian Bonczewski

Lilian Knorr

Carmen Pucheta

Ellie Rutherford

Caro Schafer