MSU Drops 5-2 Road Decision at Xavier

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State had a rough start to Sunday's game at Xavier, falling behind 5-1 after 30 minutes and suffered its first loss of the year, 5-2.

Kennedy Bell and Shelby Vaughn had the scores for the Spartans (3-1-2), scoring in the first three minutes of each half.

Elin Hansson had three goals and Peyton Kohls had a goal and two assists for the home team in the first half. MSU had six shots on net, but keeper Maria Galley came up with five saves – the lone exception was Bell's fourth goal of the year in the third minute of play. Noelle Henning had three saves in that first half.

MSU came out with renewed fire in the second half, which led to a second goal just two minutes into the frame by Shelby Vaughn, set up by Emerson Sargeant, The shots on net in the second half were 2-2, with keeper Kennedy Zorn stopping both Musketeer attempts.

SCORING

2' – MSU 0 XU 1: The home team took an early lead. A shot by Samantha Erbach was stopped, but the ball was collected by Peyton Kohls, who's shot hit the crossbar and redirected down into the back of the net.
3' – MSU 1 XU 0: Taking a pass from Emerson Sargeant across the top of the box, Bella Najera put a shot on net and keeper Maria Galley made the stop. She could not hold onto the ball, as it went right onto the foot of Kennedy Bell, who sent it into the bottom left corner of the net to tie the game just 30 seconds after the initial Xavier score.
11' – MSU 1 XU 2: Peyton Kohls had the ball by the right sideline, and tried to cross it in front. A Spartan defender got a foot on the pass but it skimmed her foot and it went to Emma Flick, and she scored the go-ahead goal for the Musketeers.
18' – MSU 1 XU 3: Ellin Hansson's shot from 18 yards out on the right side eluded a diving Noelle Henning, and went into the bottom left corner.
25' – MSU 1 XU 4: Kohls once again looked for Hansson from near the left sideline, and found her in the top if the box. Hansson headed it into the bottom right side of the net for her second goal of the game
29' – MSU 1 XU 5: Hansson completed her hat trick off a corner play. Natalie Bain volleyed the ball into the center from the corner of the box, and Hansson was there to score her second header of the day and third straight goals.

47' – MSU 2 XU 5: Emerson Sargeant carried the ball up the left side off a throw-in by Sofia Beersworth and from the end line found Shelby Vaughn in front for the redshirt freshman's second goal of the season.

MATCH NOTES

MSU's loss was its first regular-season setback since Oct. 13 of last year on the road at Washington.
Each of MSU's last five losses, dating back to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, have been away from DeMartin Stadium.
The five goals by Xavier was the most allowed in the tenure of Jeff Hosler, and the most since a 7-3 loss to Michigan in the Spring 2021 COVID-shortened campaign.
MSU surrendered a season-high 19 shots. Xavier had 11 first-half attempts, (eight on goal), and scored five. The Spartans had 12 attempts (eight on goal), with keeper Maria Galley finishing with six saves.
MSU had seven corners compared to four for Xavier.
Kennedy Bell notched her fourth goal of the season three minutes into the game, off a rebound of a Bella Najera shot. Bell had scored three goals in her first two collegiate seasons at Maryland.
Shelby Vaughn recorded her second goal of the season, scoring a goal for the second straight Sunday.
Emerson Sargeant had her first point of the season, setting up Shelby Vaughn's second-half tally. She played a team-high 61 minutes.
Adelle Francis had four shots (two on net) in her 40 minutes to lead the team.
Kennedy Zorn made two saves in the second half for MSU, while Noelle Henning made three stops in the first half.

UP NEXT
The Spartans return home for a showdown with No. 6 Notre Dame on Thursday at 7:30 pm. The game will air live on Big Ten Network.

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Team Stats

Shelby Vaughn

Kennedy Bell

Emerson Sargeant

Adelle Francis

Players Mentioned

Kennedy Bell

Adelle Francis

Noelle Henning

Bella Najera

Emerson Sargeant

Shelby Vaughn

Kennedy Zorn