Michigan State University
8-0-4, 3-0-2
Rutgers
8-1-2, 4-0-1
No. 1 Spartans Earn 1-1 Draw with Rutgers
9/29/2024 3:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - In a defensive battle, No. 1 Michigan State women's soccer extended its unbeaten streak to 12 games with a 1-1 draw against Rutgers at DeMartin Stadium Sunday afternoon.Â
MSU moves to 8-0-4 (3-0-2 B1G) with the result, while Rutgers moves to 8-1-2 (4-0-1 B1G). Â
The Spartans put on a dominant display on the offensive end, maintaining possession for the majority of the game. MSU registered an 11-10 advantage in shots and held the Scarlet Knights to just one corner kick while earning six of their own. Graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony scored the lone goal for the Spartans in the 80th minute, her third of the season and first since MSU's 3-0 win over Ohio on Aug. 25.Â
In goal, graduate goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks earned the tying decision in a full 90 minutes of play, making five saves.Â
MSU also broke Rutgers' seven-game shutout streak that dated back to Aug. 25. The Spartans' goal was just the third conceded by the Scarlet Knights this season.Â
The opening ten minutes proved to be a physical battle with neither team able to generate much on the offensive end. Rutgers' Shaela Bradley put up the first shot in the 10th minute, but her shot was off target.Â
MSU took over offensively after the Rutgers shot, registering a pair of blocked shots in the 22nd minute from Gabby Mueller and Bella Najera. In the 27th minute, the Spartans got their best look of the half from a shot from Mimi Hallier, who sent a ball past the Rutgers goalkeeper just outside of the six-yard box, but her shot went just wide of the right post to keep the game scoreless.Â
The Spartans continued to control possession for the remainder of the half, but the Rutgers' defense remained strong, holding the Spartans to just two shots for the final 15 minutes. Rutgers got its only shot on goal of the half with five minutes to go, but Parks made a diving save to keep the game scoreless as the teams headed to the break at 0-0.Â
MSU's offense remained in control in the second half, with Parks making a 63rd-minute save in Rutgers' only threating chance in the opening minutes. After nearly 20 minutes without a shot from either side, the Spartans finally broke the ice in the 80th minute with Anthony's goal. Justina Gaynor brought the ball up from midfield and passed to Adelle Francis, who found Anthony just inside the box. Anthony turned and fired a shot off her right foot to the bottom left of the net for the 1-0 MSU lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game. Gaynor and Francis were credited with assists, giving Gaynor a team-leading sixth of the season and Francis her first career point in the Green and White.Â
Parks made a pair of saves over the next five minutes as Rutgers looked to find a late equalizer. In the 86th minute, a review of a handball by the Spartans in the penalty area was confirmed by video review, awarding the Scarlet Knights with a penalty kick. Rutgers' Gabriela Gil netted the penalty kick to tie the game with four minutes remaining.Â
The Spartans pushed again for a late goal but could not generate any chances as time expired.Â
You just have to keep your cool, calm and composure, and a big way of that is just to keep the ball," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "So, you just have to be more disciplined, and you have to make that adjustment on the fly. I think we're probably looking forward to having a few days to train, as opposed to always recovering in a two-game week. We have got to fix some things as were kind of stagnant and we've got to take some steps forward."Â
Up next, MSU takes on rival Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. The game will stream on B1G+.Â
Team Stats
Mackenzie Anthony (3)
Assisted By: Adelle Francis , Justina Gaynor
GOAL by MSU Anthony, Mackenzie Assist by Francis, Adelle and Gaynor, Justina.
79:15
Gabriela Gil (1)
RU Gabriela Gil PENALTY KICK GOAL.
85:49
