Michigan State University
8-0-3, 3-0-1
Ohio State
7-1-3, 2-0-2
No. 1 Spartans Battle No. 11 Buckeyes to 2-2 Draw in Columbus
9/26/2024 10:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 1 Michigan State women's soccer extended its program-record unbeaten streak to 11 matches with a 2-2 draw at No. 11 Ohio State Thursday night in Columbus.
The Spartans move to 8-0-3 (3-0-1 B1G) with the result, while the Buckeyes move to 7-1-3 (2-0-2).
Graduate forward Meg Hughes and graduate goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks netted goals for the Spartans. Hughes' goal was her sixth of the season and brings her team-leading point total to 16 in 2024. Parks slotted home a second-half penalty kick for the first goal of her career.
In goal, Parks made seven saves in the tying decision.
The first half proved to be a defensive battle between the Spartans and Buckeyes. Despite both squads getting in dangerous spots on both ends, Ohio State and MSU were only able to each get one shot on target in the opening minutes. Ohio State's Amanda Schlueter fired a shot to the right of the goal in the third minute, but Parks made a diving save to keep the game scoreless.
Schlueter sent another shot high in the ninth minute before the Spartans got their first good look of the game from Bella Najera, who forced a save from Ohio State goalkeeper Molly Pritchard in the 15th minute.
The Buckeyes took a 1-0 lead 25 minutes into the game with a goal from Kailyn Dudukovich. MSU responded, with Renee Watson sending a shot that went off the right post before Adelle Francis forced another save by Pritchard, but the Spartans were unable to find the tying goal.
In the 39th minute, a shot from Emily Mathews was blocked, but the Spartans were able to collect the rebound. Sofia Beerworth sent a ball to the middle of the box, where a charging Meg Hughes collected it and fired a strike through the Ohio State defense for the equalizer with just over five minutes remaining in the half. Beerworth was credited with the assist, her third of the season.
The Buckeyes registered two more shots before the end of the half but could not find the back of the net as MSU and Ohio State headed to the break tied at 1-1.
MSU took a 2-1 lead early in the second half after Mackenzie Anthony drew a foul in the box, awarding the Spartans a penalty kick. Continuing to prove herself as one of the best in the nation, Parks netted the penalty kick for MSU's first lead of the game in the 48th minute.
Parks made another pair of saves in the following minutes as the Buckeyes pushed for the equalizier. In the 61st minute, Dudukovich found it, netting her second goal of the night to tie the game at 2-2.
A header from Julia Belli went wide after a Spartan corner kick as the Spartans began to push for another goal in the closing 30 minutes. The Buckeyes made an offensive push of their own with three-straight shots in the 74th minute before MSU got its best look of the second half from a returning Mimi Hallier, who sent a ball just above the crossbar in the 75th minute.
Jordyn Wickes put up the final shot for the Spartans in the game with 10 minutes to go, but her shot went left. MSU and Parks held off a pair of Ohio State shots in the final five minutes to preserve the draw.
Up next, Michigan State returns home to face Rutgers on Sunday, Sept. 29 at noon for Alumni Day at DeMartin Stadium.
Team Stats
Kailyn Dudukovich (10)
GOAL by OSU Dudukovich, Kailyn.
26:00
Meg Hughes (6)
Assisted By: Sofia Beerworth
GOAL by MSU Hughes, Meg Assist by Beerworth, Sofia.
38:50
Kaitlyn Parks
MSU Kaitlyn Parks PENALTY KICK GOAL.
47:35
Kailyn Dudukovich (10)
Assisted By: Peyton McNamara , Amanda Schlueter
GOAL by OSU Dudukovich, Kailyn Assist by McNamara, Peyton and Schlueter, Amanda.
60:58
