Sunday, October 26
Lincoln, Neb.
1 PM ET/12 PM CT
Michigan State University
10-3-5, 7-1-3
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Nebraska
8-5-5, 3-5-3
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Michigan St.
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Nebraska
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MSU Downs Nebraska, Secures No. 2 Seed in B1G Tourney
10/26/2025 3:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer
East Lansing, Mich. – On the final day of the regular season, No. 13 Michigan State earned a 1-0 road win at Nebraska, securing the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans improve to 10-3-5 and finish the Big Ten regular season with a 7-1-3 mark. Nebraska had the additional pressure of scoreboard watching all day as they needed a win and some help to make the Big Ten Tournament field; the Huskers see their season come to an end with a 8-5-5 record and finish at 3-5-3 record in Big Ten play.
Emerson Sargeant scored the lone goal of the contest in the 62nd minute as she was fed a perfect ball by Kennedy Bell. Her left-footed effort found its mark for her fifth goal of the season – and all MSU would need to secure the victory. Noelle Henning made four first-half saves to keep this a scoreless tie until the Spartans could find the scoreboard.
Michigan State got off to a fast start with good chances – Bella Najera was stopped by Cece Villa in the opening five minutes, and the speed of Emerson Sargeant and Kennedy Bell created another chance before the game was 10 minutes old. The tide seemed to turn a bit when the Huskers were awarded a penalty kick in the 12th minute, but Henning came up with the big save to keep it scoreless. Despite being stoned on the PK attempt, the Huskers started coming at MSU with some additional chances, forcing Henning to make four saves in the balance of the opening frame. At the break, MSU had a 12-6 edge in attempts, but the Huskers had four on net compared to just two for MSU as well as a 4-2 edge in corners.
The second half saw the desperation growing for Nebraska, as it pushed to solve the Spartan defense and Henning. MSU limited the home team to just four second-half shot attempts (and none on goal), and kept all three corner attempts out of danger. MSU ended up with more fouls (18-17), shot attempts (19-10).
Each keeper finished with four saves, and all four of Hennings's – none bigger than on the PK – came in the first 45. Cece Villa made two saves in each half.
SCORING
61' –MSU 1, NEB 0: Kennedy Bell got control of the ball at the top right corner of the box, and sent a beautiful pass onto the left foot of Emerson Sargeant at the penalty spot. She was able to shoot the ball in stride for her fifth goal of the season.
MATCH NOTES
UP NEXT
The full Big Ten Tournament schedule will be announced later Sunday after all games have been completed. As the overall No. 2 seed, the Spartans will take on the winner of the Thursday's matchup of the No. 7 and No. 10 seeds on Sunday at 3:30 pm in West Lafayette, Ind at Purdue University.
The Big Ten Tournament site will be updated with links and matchups later on Sunday.
Emerson Sargeant scored the lone goal of the contest in the 62nd minute as she was fed a perfect ball by Kennedy Bell. Her left-footed effort found its mark for her fifth goal of the season – and all MSU would need to secure the victory. Noelle Henning made four first-half saves to keep this a scoreless tie until the Spartans could find the scoreboard.
Michigan State got off to a fast start with good chances – Bella Najera was stopped by Cece Villa in the opening five minutes, and the speed of Emerson Sargeant and Kennedy Bell created another chance before the game was 10 minutes old. The tide seemed to turn a bit when the Huskers were awarded a penalty kick in the 12th minute, but Henning came up with the big save to keep it scoreless. Despite being stoned on the PK attempt, the Huskers started coming at MSU with some additional chances, forcing Henning to make four saves in the balance of the opening frame. At the break, MSU had a 12-6 edge in attempts, but the Huskers had four on net compared to just two for MSU as well as a 4-2 edge in corners.
The second half saw the desperation growing for Nebraska, as it pushed to solve the Spartan defense and Henning. MSU limited the home team to just four second-half shot attempts (and none on goal), and kept all three corner attempts out of danger. MSU ended up with more fouls (18-17), shot attempts (19-10).
Each keeper finished with four saves, and all four of Hennings's – none bigger than on the PK – came in the first 45. Cece Villa made two saves in each half.
SCORING
Emerson Sargeant gets the first goal of the day! Her career-best fifth of the season, off an assist from Bell. 1-0 Spartans! pic.twitter.com/IKx3Ia1ouC
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 26, 2025
61' –MSU 1, NEB 0: Kennedy Bell got control of the ball at the top right corner of the box, and sent a beautiful pass onto the left foot of Emerson Sargeant at the penalty spot. She was able to shoot the ball in stride for her fifth goal of the season.
MATCH NOTES
BIG stop from Noelle Henning on this early PK. pic.twitter.com/KMfUWe7aa2
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 26, 2025
- The Spartans finished second in the final Big Ten regular season standings (24 points). Purdue will host the first and quarterfinal rounds Oct. 30-Nov. 2. MSU's match will be the final of six games held in West Lafayette, with all teams eying a spot in St. Louis for the semifinals.
- MSU completes the regular season with a 10-3-5 overall mark, tying the school record with five ties. The Spartans compiled a 4-2-2 record in road games. It is the fifth consecutive season with 10+ wins for MSU under Jeff Hosler, and fifth consecutive top-four finish in the Big Ten standings (with titles in 2022 and 2023).
- Emerson Sargeant's second-half marker established a new career best for the redshirt junior. She had four goals as a sophomore in 2023, and them missed almost all of the 2024 season with an injury. All five of her goals have come in Big Ten play, which ranks in a tie for fourth among league players. Her 12 points in B1G play is tied for fourth as well.
- Kennedy Bell's assist was her fifth of the season, moving her into a three-way tie for second place on the team in that category behind Kayla Briggs (7). She leads the pack with 16 points in Big Ten play, with USC's Maribel Flores (14 points) and Roesch, Kennedy of Northwestern (12 points) still to play on Sunday.
- Noelle Henning stopped a PK early in the first half and finished the day with four saves. She completes the regular season with an 8-3-3 record and six shutouts. In B1G play only, she ranks sixth in save percentage (.804), and goals against average (0.90). Five of her clean sheets have come against Conference opponents (tied for third), one behind the six posted by OSU's Molly Pritchard and Washington's Tanner Ijams. She averages 3.70 saves per game.
- Senior wingback Remini Tillotson made her first start of the season.
UP NEXT
The full Big Ten Tournament schedule will be announced later Sunday after all games have been completed. As the overall No. 2 seed, the Spartans will take on the winner of the Thursday's matchup of the No. 7 and No. 10 seeds on Sunday at 3:30 pm in West Lafayette, Ind at Purdue University.
The Big Ten Tournament site will be updated with links and matchups later on Sunday.
Team Stats
MSU
NEB
Goals
1
0
Shots
19
10
Shots on Goal
5
4
Saves
4
4
Corners
3
7
Fouls
18
17
Scoring Plays
Emerson Sargeant (5)
Assisted By: Kennedy Bell
GOAL by MSU Sargeant, Emerson Assist by Bell, Kennedy.
60:31
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
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