Michigan State University
14-2-5, 7-1-3
Texas
17-4-2, 6-3-1
Anthony’s Golden Goal Sends No. 5 Spartans Past No. 4 Texas in NCAA Second Round
11/22/2024 9:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. - A golden goal from graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony secured a 3-2 overtime victory over No. 4 Texas and sent fifth-seeded Michigan State to the NCAA Third Round Friday evening at Duke's Koskinen Stadium.
MSU moves to 14-2-5 with the win, while Texas ends its season at 17-4-2. The Spartans will make their second all-time appearance in the NCAA Third Round on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. against No. 1 seed Duke at Koskinen Stadium. It will be MSU's second-straight appearance in the tournament's third round.
Anthony scored the opening goal and the game-winner for the Spartans, while sophomore forward Bella Najera scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season in the second half. Najera also added an assist on Anthony's first goal for a three-point night. Graduate midfielder Gabby Mueller and redshirt freshman forward Adelle Francis registered assists on Najera's goal.
In the box score, Texas held a narrow 17-16 advantage in shots, while MSU posted an 8-7 edge in shots on goal. Spartan goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks earned her 12th win of the season in goal, making five saves.
"I mean, what a tough battle," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "It's our first overtime win in the postseason. I thought we played well enough for long portions of the game to secure the win earlier. Tons of credit to Texas. They kept fighting their way back, pulling out big goals, making big plays. It was kind of an ebbs and flows game. I think we settled in the latter portion of the second half and really put the pressure on them. Obviously conceded the goal, but found our way in overtime."
Texas got the first shot of the game early, but the Spartans took over around the five-minute mark into the game. MSU had an early chance from graduate midfielder Emily Mathews, whose shot just outside of the six-yard box rattled off the crossbar in the seventh minute. An Anthony follow-up off the rebound went high.
A minute later, Anthony got the Spartans on the board after MSU was awarded a free kick near the top right corner of the 18-yard box. Sophomore midfielder Bella Najera's free kick found Anthony just outside the six, who sent a right-footed blast just past Texas goalkeeper Mia Justus for the early 1-0 MSU lead.
GOOOALLL MSU!
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 22, 2024
Mackenzie Anthony scores off the Bella Najera free kick, and it's 1-0 Spartans!
7:49 | MSU 1, UT 0#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/12uPeoUp6G
Texas' attack came to life after the MSU goal, but the Spartan defense and Parks held off a flurry of Longhorn chances over the following 20 minutes. In the 33rd minute, Texas' Amalia Villareal found the back of the net for the Longhorns for the equalizer.
MSU took over again after the Texas goal, with graduate midfielder Gabby Mueller recording a pair of chances in the 34th and 36th minutes. Neither side was able to generate any chances in the closing minutes of the half as the two squads headed to the break even at 1-1.
The Spartans and Longhorns traded possession and chances back-and-forth for the majority of the opening 20 minutes of the half. MSU had its best chance of the early portion of the half in the 66th minute after Anthony headed another Najera free kick to the bottom of the net, but Justus got a hand on it to keep the game level. After Justus tapped the ball away, graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor collected the rebound off the post and shot again, but her shot went high.
Still pushing for a go-ahead goal, a goal in front of the net from Adelle Francis was called back after video review ruled the Spartans offside in the 67th minute. Minutes later, Mueller brought the ball into the box and passes to Francis, who sent the ball to Najera for Najera's eighth goal of the season and a 2-1 Spartan lead in the 73rd minute.
BELLAAAAAAAAA
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 22, 2024
Gabby ▶ Adelle ▶ Bella ➡ 2-1 Spartans! 🤩
72:24 | MSU 2, UT 1#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/67WDpqb0gi
Texas' Holly Ward responded with a goal of her own in the 79th minute to level the score at 2-2 with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Gaynor and Anthony put a pair of shots on goal in the final 10 minutes, but both were saved by Justus, sending the two teams to golden-goal overtime.
Just two minutes into overtime, Illig sent a ball from sophomore defender Renee Watson at the top of the box into the hands of Justus. After the ball slipped out of Justus' gloves, Anthony collected the ball and shot to the bottom right corner of the net past a diving Justus to end the game.
MACKENZIE ANTHONY!!!!! IT'S OVER!!!!!!
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 22, 2024
FINAL (OT): MSU 3, UT 2#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/HNfS4k1XFN
"I'm super thrilled for our team," said Hosler. "We got a lot of experienced players, a lot of players that came back intentionally for this weekend, specifically, and to go get the result we did today. Give us another chance to play on Sunday, in the Sweet 16. It's pretty special."
MSU will make its second-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Third Round on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. against Duke. The match will stream on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Mackenzie Anthony (6)
Assisted By: Bella Najera
GOAL by MSU Anthony, Mackenzie Assist by Najera, Bella.
07:49
Amalia Villarreal (9)
Assisted By: Jilly Shimkin
GOAL by TEX Villarreal, Amalia Assist by Shimkin, Jilly.
32:50
Bella Najera (8)
Assisted By: Gabby Mueller , Adelle Francis
GOAL by MSU Najera, Bella Assist by Mueller, Gabby and Francis, Adelle.
72:24
Holly Ward (9)
Assisted By: Lexi Missimo
GOAL by TEX Ward, Holly Assist by Missimo, Lexi.
78:59
Mackenzie Anthony (6)
Assisted By: Maggie Illig
GOAL by MSU Anthony, Mackenzie Assist by Illig, Maggie.
92:11
