Michigan State University
4-0-0
Boston
0-3-1
Spartans Defeat Terriers in Double Overtime Thriller, 2-1
9/1/2019 10:40:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Sophomore Gia Wahlberg scored the game winning goal for the Spartans in double overtime.
BOSTON, Mass. – Michigan State women's soccer won a double-overtime thriller over Boston University, 2-1, on the road on Sunday night under the lights at Nickerson Field. Michigan State improves to an unbeaten 4-0-0 this season.
Sophomore forward Gia Wahlberg scored the golden goal for the Spartans with less than four minutes remaining in double overtime to down the Terriers, 2-1. Junior midfielder Danielle Stephan was able to free a ball past the Terriers, resulting in a breakaway, which Wahlberg tapped in past the BU goalkeeper Amanda Fay.
This is the second consecutive season that the Spartans have begun the season with a 4-0-0 record. Last season, MSU defeated Southern Utah, Boston University and Green Bay at home, before defeating Portland on the road, to begin the first four matches of the season.
This was the Spartans' first overtime game this season and the first overtime win since the 2016 season when MSU defeated Purdue, 2-1, on Oct. 26, 2016. This was also the first Spartan double overtime win since the team defeated Maryland, 3-2, on Sept. 29, 2016.
"What it really became was we really had to adjust our style. Boston University played a very direct game; they're a fast team," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "Even before halftime we realized we were going to have to be much more direct and play a counter-pressure game. We talked about hitting the ball in their channels early and having our front six press with our forwards really working hard to pressure the ball and our midfield line coming up to pick up the scraps. We were more and more successful with that as the game went on."
The first half was evenly contested with the Spartans leading in shots, 8-6. Michigan State had various scoring opportunities throughout the first 45 minutes.
Wahlberg had the first scoring opportunity for the Spartans with a shot in the 13th minute, which was saved by Fay. In the 22nd minute, MSU had two opportunities, with a shot by Stephan going off the crossbar, resulting in a header by sophomore forward Camryn Evans that hits the post.
Two minutes into the second half, the ball found its way into the back of the Spartan net off a deflection by a Michigan State player, as the Terriers took the 1-0 advantage. After the Boston University goal, the Terriers found their momentum, tallying 10 shots in the second half.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Lauren Kozal put up a strong fight in goal, keeping the Spartans in the game down the stretch. Kozal finished the game with a season-high four saves, including a crucial save in the second overtime period.
MSU started to find their tempo with less than 10 minutes remaining to pressure the BU defense. With eight minutes to go, Evans got the ball past the Terrier back line, causing Wahlberg to face the goalkeeper one-on-one.
Freshman forward Paige Webber scored her first collegiate goal in the 86th minute to tie the game up at 1-1 with the clock ticking down. Webber found the equalizer with a header off Stephan's corner kick to force overtime. Wahlberg, who had five shots on goal, notched her fifth goal this season while Stephan tallied her second assist of the game and fourth of the season.
"I think most note-worthy for me is the great determination led by our veterans," Saxton said. "We lost or tied a ton of overtimes last year. I knew we could do this because we've been in these situations so many times and come out on the wrong end of it. For our veteran group to have the satisfaction on the road against a good team to be able to win a game in overtime should go a long way for us."
UP NEXT: The Spartans stay on the road for a matchup with Butler on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Kofton, Taylor (1)
15-yard shot off deflection
47:37
Webber,Paige (1)
Assisted By: Stephan,Danielle
header off corner
84:44
Wahlberg,Gia (1)
Assisted By: Stephan,Danielle
Breakaway one touch past GK
106:02
