Spartans Extend Shutout Streak, Down NC State 3-0.

East Lansing, Mich. – No. 20 Michigan State put its first result in the win column on Thursday night, delivering a 3-0 victory over NC State at DeMartin Stadium. MSU improves to 1-0-2, while the Wolfpack is 0-2-1.

With head coach Jeff Hosler stressing the importance of a strong start, the Spartans got on the board before the game was three minutes old on an excellent individual play by junior Kennedy Bell. She applied enough pressure to block a goal kick and redirected it into the back of the net for her second goal of the season. Classmate Kayla Briggs finished an Adelle Francis pass to make it a 2-0 game before the intermission, and freshman Ava Lutke put the icing on the cake by heading home a corner kick in the second half.

MSU earned its second consecutive shutout behind five saves from freshman keeper Noelle Henning. MSU has not allowed a goal since the third minute of the season opener at Colorado.

SCORING
2' – MSU 1 NCST 0: The Spartans had their first corner of the game with just over two minutes elapsed, but Olivia Pratapas collected the ball to end the play. On her ensuing goal kick, Kennedy Bell was there to block it at the top of the box, and tucked it over the goal line for her second goal of the season.

Kennedy Bell intercepts the goal kick, and nets her second of the season to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. #GoGreen⚽ pic.twitter.com/rwLnNYywlI
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) August 22, 2025

36' – MSU 2 NCST 0: Bella Najera sent a pass into the right side of the box for Adelle Francis. She centered it for Kayla Briggs, with the keeper committing to trying to stop the pass; Briggs was there alone in front to post her first goal of the season and give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.

Kayla Briggs with her first as a Spartan! Assists go to Adelle Francis and Bella Najera. #GoGreen⚽ pic.twitter.com/C5oBUOMOMU
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) August 22, 2025

67' – MSU 3 NCST 0: Renee Watson took the corner kick from the far side, and Ava Lutke was able to head it to the back right corner.

First goal, five angles!
Ava Lutke with the header on the corner play for her first collegiate score. pic.twitter.com/EOWfdmxchJ
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) August 22, 2025

MATCH NOTES

The win was the 399^th in the history of the MSU women's soccer program. This is the 40^th season of women's soccer.
Michigan State has posted back-to-back shutouts, with the last goal allowed coming just 3:30 into the game at Colorado in the opener. The shutout streak is now at 266:30.
MSU once again went deep into its bench, with 25 players seeing action against the Wolfpack.
The Spartans improved to 2-0 all-time against NC State in program history.
Kennedy Bell scored her second of the season early in the second half. She had two goals in her first two collegiate seasons at Maryland.
Kayla Briggs scored her first goal as a Spartan to make it a 2-0 game before the intermission. It is her sixth career marker.
Freshman Ava Lutke's header in the second half was her first goal in Green & White.
Noelle Henning earned her first career victory and shutout, making five saves. She and classmate Kennedy Zorn each have one of MSU's shutouts in the active streak.
Adelle Francis picked up her first assist of the season on the Briggs score, and Renee Watson got her first point with the assist on Lutke's. Watson's corner kick went right to the freshman in the box, and Lutke headed it home.
Bella Najera had the second assist on Briggs' score – it was her team-best second goal of the season.

UP NEXT
The Spartans welcome Milwaukee to DeMartin on Sunday for a 1 pm game. The MSU program will celebrate its seniors in a pre-game ceremony.

Next Event

Team Stats

Kayla Briggs

Kennedy Bell

Ava Lutke

Bella Najera