Thursday, November 20
6 pm
Michigan State University
14-3-6, 7-1-3
1
vs
0
Wake Forest
11-5-4, 4-3-3
1
2
F
Wake Forest
0
0
0
Michigan St.
0
1
1
Briggs' Second-Half Score Propels Spartans into NCAA Sweet 16
11/20/2025 10:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
East Lansing, Mich.  -- No. 9 Michigan State defeated Wake Forest 1-0 at DeMartin Stadium on Thursday night to advance into the NCAA Third round for the third consecutive season. Kayla Briggs scored the game-winner at 68:56, finishing off a nifty pass from Shelby Vaughn to find her alone in the penalty area.  Noelle Henning finished with three second-half saves in the shutout.
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MSU dominated everywhere but on the goal counter throughout the game – MSU outshot its guests 23-6 (10-3 in shots on goal), but Wake Forest was kept in the game with exceptional play by its keeper, Valentina Almeral. She turned away five shots in the opening half, but was stymied by a rising shot by Briggs that just cleared the crossbar. She finished with nine saves.Â
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Michigan State improves to 14-3-6 on the season, while the Demon Deacons – national semifinalists a year ago – finish at 11-5-4.Â
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SCORING
69' –MSU 0, WFU 0  -- After a near miss minutes before, the Spartans once again held position deep in the offensive zone. Shelby Vaughn drove to the left side of the box, and found an unmarked Kayla Briggs at the top of the penalty area. She was unmarked and she took one touch, with her shot rising out of the reach of a leaping Almeral. Â
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NOTABLES
UP NEXT
Michigan State hosts Colorado on Sunday for a spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The game starts at 1 pm at DeMartin Stadium.      Â
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Charlotte Terbrack caught up with Kayla Briggs post-game to recap her big goal that sent the Spartans to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season! pic.twitter.com/BJkWNNkQRe
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 21, 2025
MSU dominated everywhere but on the goal counter throughout the game – MSU outshot its guests 23-6 (10-3 in shots on goal), but Wake Forest was kept in the game with exceptional play by its keeper, Valentina Almeral. She turned away five shots in the opening half, but was stymied by a rising shot by Briggs that just cleared the crossbar. She finished with nine saves.Â
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Michigan State improves to 14-3-6 on the season, while the Demon Deacons – national semifinalists a year ago – finish at 11-5-4.Â
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SCORING
One touch is all Kayla Briggs needs.
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 21, 2025
Vaughn from the side of the box feeds Briggs at the top near the penalty area. Money.
Eighth of the year for the Junior. pic.twitter.com/VJ7xR8Sceq
69' –MSU 0, WFU 0  -- After a near miss minutes before, the Spartans once again held position deep in the offensive zone. Shelby Vaughn drove to the left side of the box, and found an unmarked Kayla Briggs at the top of the penalty area. She was unmarked and she took one touch, with her shot rising out of the reach of a leaping Almeral. Â
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NOTABLES
- This is the first time in program history that MSU is hosting second and third-round NCAA games.|
 - The Spartans have reached the NCAA Round of 16 for the third straight season.   The Spartans improve to 9-7 all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
 - The Spartans will take on Colorado (which advanced with a win over Xavier) on Sunday at 1 pm. MSU and Colorado faced off in the first game of the season back on Aug. 14, finishing in a 1-1 deadlock.Â
- The Spartan unbeaten streak has reached a season-best eight games (7-0-1), the longest streak of any team in the Big Ten. It began Conference play in September with a seven-game stretch (4-0-3) without a loss.
- The Spartans will play their 24th game of the season on Sunday against Colorado – tying the most in a season in program history. The 2008 team also played 24 games.Â
- Nov. 23 will be the latest date for MSU to play a home game in school history, and will be one day shy of the latest game overall in program history, Last year's Sweet 16 game vs. Duke was played on Nov. 24Â
- MSU's 23 shot attempts were one shy of its season best. MSU put up 24 shots against Milwaukee in August.Â
- Briggs' goal was her eighth of the year, and she now has 23 points as a junior – that is good for a tie for 25th all-time in a single season in program history.Â
- Briggs has scored the game-winner in each of the Spartans' NCAA tournament games. She now has five on the year – tied for fourth in a single season at MSU and two shy of the top 10 in career game-winners for the Spartans.Â
- Briggs is tied with Emerson Sargeant for second on the team in goals (8), behind Kennedy Bell's 11. Briggs leads the Spartans with seven assists, which ranks in a tie for 18th in a single season at MSU.Â
- Briggs and Bella Najera tied for the team lead in shots on goal, with three each. Sofia Beerworth had two, while Kennedy Bell and Ava Lutke accounted for the two others.   Â
- Shelby Vaughn recorded her second assist of the season. It was her eighth point of the year.
- Noelle Henning made three saves for the Spartans and recorded her eighth shutout of the season. That clean sheet is tied for fifth-best all-time in a single season at MSU.
- Maggie Illig played all 90 minutes for the 11th time in 23 games. Â She was joined on the field for the duration by Sofia Beerworth, Renee Watson, and Ava Lutke.Â
UP NEXT
Michigan State hosts Colorado on Sunday for a spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The game starts at 1 pm at DeMartin Stadium.      Â
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Team Stats
WFU
MSU
Goals
0
1
Shots
6
23
Shots on Goal
3
10
Saves
9
3
Corners
2
11
Fouls
10
10
Scoring Plays
Kayla Briggs (8)
Assisted By: Shelby Vaughn
GOAL by MSU Briggs, Kayla Assist by Vaughn, Shelby.
68:56
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
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