Friday, November 28
Stanford, CA
5 pm ET / 2 pm PT
Michigan State University
15-4-6, 7-1-3
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Stanford
20-1-2, 9-0-1
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Michigan St.
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Stanford
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Women's Soccer Season Concludes With Loss to No. 1 Stanford In Elite Eight
11/28/2025 8:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Palo Alto, Calif. – No. 9 Michigan State saw its history-making season come to an end with a 5-1 loss to No.1 ranked Stanford in the NCAA quarterfinals on Friday afternoon.
The Spartans (15-4-6) were making their first-ever Elite Eight appearance after back to back Sweet 16's.
The Cardinal - the No. 1 ranked-offense in the nation – continued to score goals in bunches. Stanford has offensively dominated opponents this season – it has scored 21 goals in its four NCAA Tournament games this season, allowing just four. Stanford is the top-ranked offense in the country, averaging 4.0 goals per game.
Stanford turned a 2-0 halftime lead into another lopsided score, as two more goals in the run of play and a penalty kick score led to a 5-0 lead. Bella Najera had the Spartan score in the 76th minute off an impressive run. Regan Dalton threw it in from the near sideline to Kennedy Bell, who settled the ball and sent the pass into space for her classmate. Najera dribbled to the top of the box and placed an excellent shot between three defenders and into the left-side netting. It was her eighth goal of the season.
The stat sheet greatly favored the home team, who had a 14-9 edge in shot attempts (9-3 on goal) and also had a 6-2 advantage in corners. Noelle Henning made four saves in the game, and her counterpart Caroline Birkel made two.
The loss completed the collegiate careers of six seniors: Sofia Beerworth, Regan Dalton, Taya Hjorth, Maggie Illig, Allie Mairn, and Remini Tillotson. The group has been a part of two Big Ten regular-season titles, four NCAA Tournament bids (which includes two Sweet 16 and one Elite Eight performance).
Notables
The Spartans (15-4-6) were making their first-ever Elite Eight appearance after back to back Sweet 16's.
The Cardinal - the No. 1 ranked-offense in the nation – continued to score goals in bunches. Stanford has offensively dominated opponents this season – it has scored 21 goals in its four NCAA Tournament games this season, allowing just four. Stanford is the top-ranked offense in the country, averaging 4.0 goals per game.
Stanford turned a 2-0 halftime lead into another lopsided score, as two more goals in the run of play and a penalty kick score led to a 5-0 lead. Bella Najera had the Spartan score in the 76th minute off an impressive run. Regan Dalton threw it in from the near sideline to Kennedy Bell, who settled the ball and sent the pass into space for her classmate. Najera dribbled to the top of the box and placed an excellent shot between three defenders and into the left-side netting. It was her eighth goal of the season.
The stat sheet greatly favored the home team, who had a 14-9 edge in shot attempts (9-3 on goal) and also had a 6-2 advantage in corners. Noelle Henning made four saves in the game, and her counterpart Caroline Birkel made two.
The loss completed the collegiate careers of six seniors: Sofia Beerworth, Regan Dalton, Taya Hjorth, Maggie Illig, Allie Mairn, and Remini Tillotson. The group has been a part of two Big Ten regular-season titles, four NCAA Tournament bids (which includes two Sweet 16 and one Elite Eight performance).
Notables
- MSU finishes its season with a 15-4-6 record, while No. 1 Stanford is now 20--1-2 and advances to the College Cup. It is the second-most wins in a season for the Spartans in program history.
- MSU-Stanford was the only Elite Eight game which featured the top two seeds in that quadrant of the bracket.
- The three Big Ten teams which advanced to the quarterfinal round all saw their seasons end on Friday.
- MSU allowed more than one goal for the first time in 10 games, and for just the fourth time this season.
- Bella Najera scored in the 76th minute, her eighth of the season. It was her third goal in the last two games.
- Najera's score was her eighth of the year, putting her in a three-way tie for second place on the team (with Emerson Sargent and Kayla Briggs). It was her 25th career score – tied for 12th all-time in a season at MSU – while her 64 points is 12th.
- Kennedy Bell had the primary assist on Najera's tally, tying her for the team lead with Kayla Briggs (7). Bell's 29 points moves her into a tie for 12th place in the single season record book (Karen Winslow, 1993).
- Wingback Remini Tillotson played all 90 minutes in her final collegiate game. Kayla Briggs also played all 90.
- Noelle Henning made four saves to wrap her freshman season.
Team Stats
MSU
STAN
Goals
1
5
Shots
9
14
Shots on Goal
3
9
Saves
4
2
Corners
2
6
Fouls
10
12
Scoring Plays
Eleanor Klinger (8)
Assisted By: Charlotte Kohler
GOAL by STAN Klinger, Eleanor Assist by Kohler, Charlotte.
14:41
Charlotte Kohler (12)
Assisted By: Elise Evans
GOAL by STAN Kohler, Charlotte Assist by Evans, Elise.
24:54
Andrea Kitahata (16)
Assisted By: Charlotte Kohler , Jasmine Aikey
GOAL by STAN Kitahata, Andrea Assist by Kohler, Charlotte and Aikey, Jasmine.
59:02
Andrea Kitahata (16)
STAN Andrea Kitahata PENALTY KICK GOAL.
62:54
Jasmine Aikey (20)
GOAL by STAN Aikey, Jasmine.
67:25
Bella Najera (8)
Assisted By: Kennedy Bell , Regan Dalton
GOAL by MSU Najera, Bella Assist by Bell, Kennedy and Dalton, Regan.
75:51
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
D
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