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Bell's First as a Spartan Forges 1-1 Tie at Colorado
8/15/2025 12:07:00 AM | Women's Soccer
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State settled on a 1-1 draw at Colorado on Thursday in the opening game of the season for both teams. Kennedy Bell had the Spartan score.
MSU overcame an early goal by the Buffaloes , getting the Bell goal in the 50th minute. The Spartans dominated all aspects of the stat sheet in the second half, but Colorado was able to hold off the furious attack from MSU. The Spartans had 15 shots and 10 corner kicks in the final 45 minutes, forcing keeper Jordan Nytes to make five saves to preserve the tie.
Hope Leyba got Colorado on the board 3:30 into the game, with a shot off her own rebound from the left side for the opening goal of the season. The Buffs had a 6-5 edge in shots in the opening frame, but the Spartans had four corners to just one for the home team. Bell had the best chance of the first 45, but her rising shot in the 32nd minute cleared the crossbar. She would get the better of Nytes just over five minutes after the intermission break, receiving the ball at the top of the box from Bella Najera, sending the ball to its target for the equalizer at 50:57.
After 45 minutes of play, the Spartans opened the second half with a ton of offensive pressure – Kayla Briggs pushed one just wide left two minutes before Bell 's goal.
From there, MSU kept coming in waves, finishing with a 20-9 edge in shots in the game and took 14 corners to just two for Colorado.
The home team had its best look of the second half when Henning was able to punch a ball over the crossbar in the 67th minute - on a free kick from the cusp of the middle third by the keeper Jordan Nytes. Nytes' ball landed in the box and bounced high, but Henning knocked it out of harms way and the teams played on into the final 20.
Colorado had a brief flurry of activity in their own offensive end in the 84th minute – after a Jace Holley shot was blocked by Regan Dalton, Reagan Kotschau's shot sailed wide. MSU was able to counter and dominated the final four minutes of play with several chances – MSU had three throw-ins and three corner kicks. Bell sent a beautiful centering pass into the box, but the Spartans were unable to settle it for a clean shot. Moments later, Renee Watson's shot was smothered by Nytes. MSU's pressure led to three straight corners in the 88th minute, and MSU's final attack was a shot by Najera that sailed wide.
SCORING
3' – MSU 0, COL 1: Hope Leyba raced up the left side collected the lead pass, cutting in toward the box. Her initial shot caromed off a Spartan defender, and Leyba collected the ball and put a shot into the upper right 90 for a 1-0 lead.
50' – MSU 1, COL 1: The Spartans had a throw-in on the right side, and Regan Dalton put it right at the feet of Bella Najera. Najera's pass barely skimmed the bottom of the foot of a lunging CU defender, and perfectly fell at the top of the box at the feet of Kennedy Bell, who slid it into the bottom left corner for the first goal of the MSU season.
MATCH NOTES
UP NEXT
The Spartans officially open the 2025 home slate when they host Dayton on Sunday evening at 7 pm. Tickets are available at MSUSpartans.com. It is Youth Soccer Day, and children wearing their team jersey can receive free admission.
MSU overcame an early goal by the Buffaloes , getting the Bell goal in the 50th minute. The Spartans dominated all aspects of the stat sheet in the second half, but Colorado was able to hold off the furious attack from MSU. The Spartans had 15 shots and 10 corner kicks in the final 45 minutes, forcing keeper Jordan Nytes to make five saves to preserve the tie.
Hope Leyba got Colorado on the board 3:30 into the game, with a shot off her own rebound from the left side for the opening goal of the season. The Buffs had a 6-5 edge in shots in the opening frame, but the Spartans had four corners to just one for the home team. Bell had the best chance of the first 45, but her rising shot in the 32nd minute cleared the crossbar. She would get the better of Nytes just over five minutes after the intermission break, receiving the ball at the top of the box from Bella Najera, sending the ball to its target for the equalizer at 50:57.
After 45 minutes of play, the Spartans opened the second half with a ton of offensive pressure – Kayla Briggs pushed one just wide left two minutes before Bell 's goal.
From there, MSU kept coming in waves, finishing with a 20-9 edge in shots in the game and took 14 corners to just two for Colorado.
The home team had its best look of the second half when Henning was able to punch a ball over the crossbar in the 67th minute - on a free kick from the cusp of the middle third by the keeper Jordan Nytes. Nytes' ball landed in the box and bounced high, but Henning knocked it out of harms way and the teams played on into the final 20.
Colorado had a brief flurry of activity in their own offensive end in the 84th minute – after a Jace Holley shot was blocked by Regan Dalton, Reagan Kotschau's shot sailed wide. MSU was able to counter and dominated the final four minutes of play with several chances – MSU had three throw-ins and three corner kicks. Bell sent a beautiful centering pass into the box, but the Spartans were unable to settle it for a clean shot. Moments later, Renee Watson's shot was smothered by Nytes. MSU's pressure led to three straight corners in the 88th minute, and MSU's final attack was a shot by Najera that sailed wide.
SCORING
3' – MSU 0, COL 1: Hope Leyba raced up the left side collected the lead pass, cutting in toward the box. Her initial shot caromed off a Spartan defender, and Leyba collected the ball and put a shot into the upper right 90 for a 1-0 lead.
50' – MSU 1, COL 1: The Spartans had a throw-in on the right side, and Regan Dalton put it right at the feet of Bella Najera. Najera's pass barely skimmed the bottom of the foot of a lunging CU defender, and perfectly fell at the top of the box at the feet of Kennedy Bell, who slid it into the bottom left corner for the first goal of the MSU season.
MATCH NOTES
- MSU outshot its hosts 20-9 overall, and 15-3 in the second half. The Spartans had 10 corners in the second half and 14 in the game, limiting Colorado to one corner in each half.
- Freshman keeper Noelle Henning made her first collegiate start and made two saves, one in each half.
- Kennedy Bell scored her first goal as a Spartan. She had three scores in her first two collegiate seasons at Maryland.
- Bella Najera assisted on Bell's goal, her 10th career helper.
- Kayla Briggs, Bella Najera, and Renee Watson led the Spartan offense with four shots each.
- A total of 20 players saw time for MSU, including freshmen Addison Baldus and Ava Lutke, who came off the bench for their collegiate debuts.
UP NEXT
The Spartans officially open the 2025 home slate when they host Dayton on Sunday evening at 7 pm. Tickets are available at MSUSpartans.com. It is Youth Soccer Day, and children wearing their team jersey can receive free admission.
Team Stats
MSU
COLO
Goals
1
1
Shots
20
9
Shots on Goal
5
3
Saves
2
4
Corners
14
2
Fouls
13
8
Scoring Plays
Hope Leyba (1)
GOAL by COLO Leyba, Hope.
03:30
Kennedy Bell (1)
Assisted By: Bella Najera
GOAL by MSU Bell, Kennedy Assist by Najera, Bella.
50:57
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
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