Michigan State University
6-10-0, 2-7-0B1G
Michigan
5-5-6, 2-4-3B1G
Spartans Top Michigan, 2-1
10/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - On a wet and windy Sunday afternoon, Michigan State women's soccer battled to defeat Michigan, 2-1, at DeMartin Stadium. Junior forward Lexy Warner and senior forward Kristelle Yewah netted goals in the win. The Spartans improve to 2-7-0 in conference contests, and 6-10-0 overall.
"I am just really, really happy for the team to finish another tough battle with a smile on their faces. I am particularly happy for the seniors; they combined for a great second goal for us. We just kept grinding. Michigan is a very good team, and we just kept our feet and defending well," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said.
Both teams got going early in the first half, with Michigan scoring the first goal of the game in just the sixth minute. Junior forward Reilly Martin broke away from the Spartan defenders, sliding the ball past redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Reilley Ott on the right side. In the ninth minute of the game, senior forward Jamie Cheslik passed the ball up the field to senior forward Kristelle Yewah. Among Michigan defenders, Yewah crossed the ball over to Warner, who managed to push the ball pass Michigan's keeper to tie the game at 1-all.
The second half started off slowly, but Michigan State got its best look of the half in the 59th minute to claim its first lead of the game. Warner slid a pass to Yewah from the right side, and Yewah found the back of the net off a header. The Spartans held on to the lead in the remaining minutes, fending off 17 shots in total in the second half.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Reilley Ott made a career-high 11 saves in the win. MSU improves to 9-3-1 at home against Michigan.
"We are primarily a native Michigan team, so everybody that signs up to play at Michigan State knows that this game has extra meaning. Our kids always come to play no matter what our record is. That is where we have the edge. We know the importance of a rivalry game. They did a great job with that today," Saxton added.
MSU returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 21 against the Maryland Terrapins in College Park. Kick is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on BTN Plus.
Team Stats
Martin, Reilly (5)
Assisted By: Hernandez, Nicki
On the right side, broke from defenders
5:17
Lexy Warner (5)
Assisted By: Kristelle Yewah , Jamie Cheslik
Pushed in on the right side off rebound
8:27
Kristelle Yewah (3)
Assisted By: Lexy Warner
Header on cross inside the box
58:24
