Sunday, October 19
1 PM
Michigan State University
9-3-5, 6-1-3
5
vs
1
Illinois
12-4-1, 5-4-1
1
2
F
Illinois
1
0
1
Michigan State
1
4
5
Spartans' Second-Half Explosion Leads to 5-1 Win Over Illinois
10/19/2025 5:38:00 PM | Women's Soccer
East Lansing, Mich. – No. 16 Michigan State broke open a tight game with four second-half scores to earn a 5-1 victory over (RV) Illinois in its regular-season home finale on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans are now 9-3-5 and 6-1-3 in Big Ten play, while the Illini fall to 5-4-1 in Conference action and 12-4-1 overall. It was the most goals conceded by the Illini in a game this season.
In a game that featured a wet field, a steady rain, and increasing winds throughout, both first-half goals came from set pieces – the Spartans opened the scoring with a goal by Maggie Illig off a corner kick just 13 minutes into the game, and the Illini knotted the score in the 25th minute off a free kick from about 23 yards out. Each team had seven attempts in the first half, with four of MSU's on target compared to just two for Illinois. The Illini had nine fouls compared to MSU's three, and each had three corner attempts.
MSU opened the second half with a goal on a penalty kick converted by Kayla Briggs, and then added three goals in six-minute increments – Kennedy Bell's Big Ten-leading 10th goal of the season came on a breakaway, Mimi Hallier scored her first career goal, and Shelby Vaughn closed out the scoring by walking by a defender just above the goal line and scoring her third of the year.
MSU freshman keeper Noelle Henning made four saves for the second consecutive game, while Izzy Lee faced 15 shots on goal on the day, making nine saves. The Illini had one team save as well as the Spartans had 15 second-half shot attempts, 11 on goal.
The Spartans had nine corners to Illinois' three (all in the first half), and had a 22-10 edge in shot attempts on the day. Illinois had 16 fouls compared to just eight for MSU, while the Illini were assessed three yellow cards (one for MSU).
SCORING
13' –ILL 0, MSU 1: Lining up for a second consecutive corner play, Sophia Beerworth served it into the box from the left. Maggie Illig got a head on it over the Illini defenders and headed it into the lower right corner.
25' –ILL 1, MSU 1: Sarah Foley lined up for a free kick about five yards outside the top of the box, and bent a shot into the left upper 90, just beyond the reach of a diving Henning.
.
58' –ILL 1, MSU 2: Kayla Briggs lined up for the penalty kick after Kennedy Bell was fouled by keeper Izzy Lee on a breakaway in the box. Briggs had an open bottom right corner after Lee thought she read left, and Briggs scored her fourth of the season.
61' –ILL 1, MSU 3: Bell, who had been taken down on a one-on-one attempt minutes before, was sprung for another breakaway by Emerson Sargeant. Sargeant got by a defender at midfield and sent her pass to the top of the box for Bell, and Bell's left-footed shot went beneath Lee for her 10th of the season.
67' –ILL 1, MSU 4: MSU lined up for another corner play, and the Illini were able to get it away from the goalmouth – but the ball went to Mimi Hallier at the top right corner of the box. She essentially had all the time of a free kick, and her shot went into the left-side netting – her first career goal.
76' –ILL 1, MSU 5: Shelby Vaughn carried the ball up the right side and into the right corner. She got herself around a defender and drove into the box, where she had no obstacles to a clear look at the net, and she put her shot into the left side for her third goal of the season.
MATCH NOTES
UP NEXT
The Spartans head to Nebraska for the regular-season finale, a game which starts at 1 pm ET next Sunday (10/26). The Big Ten Tournament field, featuring the top 10 teams in the standings, will be released next Sunday evening.
In a game that featured a wet field, a steady rain, and increasing winds throughout, both first-half goals came from set pieces – the Spartans opened the scoring with a goal by Maggie Illig off a corner kick just 13 minutes into the game, and the Illini knotted the score in the 25th minute off a free kick from about 23 yards out. Each team had seven attempts in the first half, with four of MSU's on target compared to just two for Illinois. The Illini had nine fouls compared to MSU's three, and each had three corner attempts.
MSU opened the second half with a goal on a penalty kick converted by Kayla Briggs, and then added three goals in six-minute increments – Kennedy Bell's Big Ten-leading 10th goal of the season came on a breakaway, Mimi Hallier scored her first career goal, and Shelby Vaughn closed out the scoring by walking by a defender just above the goal line and scoring her third of the year.
MSU freshman keeper Noelle Henning made four saves for the second consecutive game, while Izzy Lee faced 15 shots on goal on the day, making nine saves. The Illini had one team save as well as the Spartans had 15 second-half shot attempts, 11 on goal.
The Spartans had nine corners to Illinois' three (all in the first half), and had a 22-10 edge in shot attempts on the day. Illinois had 16 fouls compared to just eight for MSU, while the Illini were assessed three yellow cards (one for MSU).
SCORING
13' –ILL 0, MSU 1: Lining up for a second consecutive corner play, Sophia Beerworth served it into the box from the left. Maggie Illig got a head on it over the Illini defenders and headed it into the lower right corner.
Maggie Illig with her second straight Sunday goal! Its her career-best third of the year to get the Spartans on the scoreboard. Beerworth with the assist from the corner. pic.twitter.com/52LCHQgXnE
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 19, 2025
25' –ILL 1, MSU 1: Sarah Foley lined up for a free kick about five yards outside the top of the box, and bent a shot into the left upper 90, just beyond the reach of a diving Henning.
.
58' –ILL 1, MSU 2: Kayla Briggs lined up for the penalty kick after Kennedy Bell was fouled by keeper Izzy Lee on a breakaway in the box. Briggs had an open bottom right corner after Lee thought she read left, and Briggs scored her fourth of the season.
61' –ILL 1, MSU 3: Bell, who had been taken down on a one-on-one attempt minutes before, was sprung for another breakaway by Emerson Sargeant. Sargeant got by a defender at midfield and sent her pass to the top of the box for Bell, and Bell's left-footed shot went beneath Lee for her 10th of the season.
Maggie Illig with her second straight Sunday goal! Its her career-best third of the year to get the Spartans on the scoreboard. Beerworth with the assist from the corner. pic.twitter.com/52LCHQgXnE
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 19, 2025
67' –ILL 1, MSU 4: MSU lined up for another corner play, and the Illini were able to get it away from the goalmouth – but the ball went to Mimi Hallier at the top right corner of the box. She essentially had all the time of a free kick, and her shot went into the left-side netting – her first career goal.
Mimi Hallier with her first career goal! She settles in the top of the box on the right side and puts it into the side netting. Spartan offense is explosive in this second half. pic.twitter.com/qgNL149ia8
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 19, 2025
76' –ILL 1, MSU 5: Shelby Vaughn carried the ball up the right side and into the right corner. She got herself around a defender and drove into the box, where she had no obstacles to a clear look at the net, and she put her shot into the left side for her third goal of the season.
Do work, Shelby Vaughn.
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 19, 2025
Works around the defender to have all the time she needs in the box - the result is her third of the season. 5-1 MSU. pic.twitter.com/SavhZHusRp
MATCH NOTES
- Michigan State has won back-to-back games – both at home – after suffering its first B1G loss of the season on the road at Iowa last Sunday. MSU completed its regular season with a 6-1-3 record at DeMartin Stadium. Its only loss was to then-No. 2 Notre Dame.
- The Spartans have outscored their opposition 43-20 on the year, including a 27-6 margin in the second half.
- The five Spartan goals are the most allowed by the Illini in a game this season. MSU has scored multiple goals in six of nine Big Ten contests.
- MSU had five different goal scorers in the win and now has 17 different players with at least a goal this season (seven with three goals or more).
- Maggie Illig, who had one goal in each of her first three collegiate seasons, scored her third of the year in the 13th minute. She now has a 3-1-7 scoring line; she entered her senior year with three goals and four assists (10 career points).
- Kayla Briggs' conversion of a penalty kick was her fourth goal of the season. Her 4-7-15 is tied for second on the team in points and two points shy of the 17 points she had in her first two seasons combined at Providence.
- Mimi Hallier's goal was the first of her career. The outside back has all four of her career points this season.
- Kennedy Bell was fouled in the box on her first breakaway attempt on the afternoon, but she converted her second off a feed from Emerson Sargeant. Bell leads the Spartans (and the Big Ten) with 10 goals, which ranks in a tie for 17th in MSU's all-time single season records. It's the most goals for a Spartan since Lauren DeBeau had 11 in 2022. Her 24 points ties her for 21st all-time in a single season, which both Bella Najera and Justina Gaynor had in 2023. DeBeau gad 26 points in 2022.
- Redshirt freshman Shelby Vaughn scored her third goal of the season. She also had an assist in Thursday's win over Indiana.
- Sophia Beerworth's assist on Illig's goal is her second of the season.
- Emerson Sargeant earned her third assist of the year and now has a 4-3-11 scoring line.
- MSU was able to liberally use its bench, going 23 deep.
UP NEXT
The Spartans head to Nebraska for the regular-season finale, a game which starts at 1 pm ET next Sunday (10/26). The Big Ten Tournament field, featuring the top 10 teams in the standings, will be released next Sunday evening.
Team Stats
ILL
MSU
Goals
1
5
Shots
10
22
Shots on Goal
5
15
Saves
9
4
Corners
3
9
Fouls
16
8
Scoring Plays
Maggie Illig (3)
Assisted By: Sofia Beerworth
GOAL by MSU Illig, Maggie Assist by Beerworth, Sofia.
12:28
Sarah Foley (7)
GOAL by ILL Foley, Sarah.
24:20
Kayla Briggs (3)
MSU Kayla Briggs PENALTY KICK GOAL.
57:52
Kennedy Bell (10)
Assisted By: Emerson Sargeant
GOAL by MSU Bell, Kennedy Assist by Sargeant, Emerson.
60:51
Mimi Hallier (1)
GOAL by MSU Hallier, Mimi.
66:07
Shelby Vaughn (3)
GOAL by MSU Vaughn, Shelby.
75:36
Game Leaders
Shots
6
SOG
4
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
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