Michigan State University
4-1-2
New Mexico
2-5-0
Spartans Vanquish New Mexico in Overtime
9/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Sunday afternoon saw yet another overtime period at DeMartin Stadium as the Spartan women's soccer team shut out the New Mexico Lobos (2-5-0) 1-0.
It was only a matter of time before Allyson Krause found the back of the net this season. The senior was all smiles as she put the finishing touch on an assist from sophomore Kristelle Yewah and senior Kelli Timar for her first goal of the season and 14th of her career just over seven minutes into overtime as the Spartan bench erupted.
Sunday's game marked the second time this week that the Spartans (4-1-2) took gameplay into extended time after drawing 1-1 with the University of San Francisco Sept. 11.
The first half featured a quick start from the Spartan offense which slowed after freshman Lexy Warner exited the field due to a hard foul. Nonetheless, fellow freshman Michaela Kovacs and Jamie Cheslik continued to pressure the Lobo backline, trying to coordinate midfield and offensive fluidity.
Michigan State head coach Tom Saxton said that despite getting a better result, there are still issues to be corrected with the offense.
"I think we came out with the right crispness on a Sunday after a Friday game," Saxton said. "I think we showed great improvement in the second half against San Francisco, and I think we regressed a little bit today."
Saxton cited ball movement, circulation and possession on areas where the team will look to improve.
The second half saw the Spartans put the ball in the back of the Lobo net only to be declared offsides. New Mexico had a solid back-and-forth with the Spartans, almost scoring in the 61st minute when Gauruder executed a crucial save as the ball rolled across the front of the Spartan net.
Gauruder finished with fives saves for her second shutout of the season.
In the 98th minute a mad scramble finally allowed Michigan State to get the golden goal, what Saxton called a "grinder's goal."
"Honestly, I was just in the moment," Krause said. "Kristelle [Yewah] battled her butt off in the box to keep the ball alive, and I was able to get on the end of it. I had to do it for my team because a lot of players have stepped up and scored some big goals for us."
Krause is one of eight Spartans who have tallied goals this season.
Notable, too, were the defensive prowess of seniors Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz and Alexandra Gjonaj to limiting the Lobo offense as well as Timar in helping orchestrate momentum for the Spartans.
Big Ten conference play begins on Friday at home against Iowa.
Team Stats
Krause, Allyson (1)
Assisted By: Yewah, Kristelle , Timar, Kelli
Picked up loose ball in box. Shot from 1
97:17
