Friday, September 12
Piscataway, NJ
4 PM
Michigan State University
3-2-3, 0-0-1
1
at
1
Rutgers
2-0-4, 0-0-1
1
2
F
Michigan St.
0
1
1
Rutgers
1
0
1
Najera's Equalizer Leads to Draw in B1G Opener
9/12/2025 8:36:00 PM | Women's Soccer
East Lansing, Mich. – A goal in the 66th minute by junior Bella Najera helped Michigan State to a 1-1 draw at Rutgers on Friday afternoon in the first Big Ten game of the season for both squads.
Rutgers (2-0-4) took advantage of a Spartan defensive miscue that led to its goal in the 17th minute of the game. Nata Ramirez launched a long shot from the top of the offensive third for her second goal of the season. Remini Tillotson kept the Scarlet Knights from taking a 2-0 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first half, as she headed away a dangerous ball from the goal line off a corner play. The teams each had four shots in the opening period,
The Spartans (3-2-3) had the better of play for much of the second half, with Najera's goal serving as the equalizer in the 66th minute. She collected the ball off a tipped pass by the defense, and launched a low, hard shot into the bottom left of the net. MSU had the momentum throughout much of the second half, outshooting their hosts 10-7 and delivering seven corner kicks (five after the Najera score) for an 11-4 advantage overall in the game.
Maggie Illig had a pair of attempts in the second half that were turned away by keeper Olivia Bodmer – one shortly after Najera tied it up on a header off a corner play where Illig nearly beat her in the low left corner, and another with just 23 seconds remaining that went over the crossbar. Kayla Briggs – who's effort crossing into the attacking third helped set up the Najera goal – had a chance with under a minute remaining as well. Rutgers' best opportunity to break the deadlock came with five minutes remaining, when Rodriguez's bid for the game-winner was punched over the crossbar by freshman keeper Kennedy Zorn.
Zorn made three saves, with two stops credited to the Spartans on the goal line. Bodmer also had three saves, and two team saves were credited to the Rutgers defense.
SCORING
17' – MSU 0, RU 1: An unfortunate error on a clearing attempt left Nata Ramirez alone with the ball about 30 yards out, and she launched the ball into the upper left corner from long distance for her second goal of the season.
66' – MSU 1, RU 1: Shelby Vaughn went to goal looking to finish off a pass from Kayla Briggs, but it was tipped by the Rutgers defender Marcia Ojo. Bella Najera collected the ball on the left side of the penalty box and put her shot into the lower left 90 to tie the game.
MATCH NOTES
Rutgers (2-0-4) took advantage of a Spartan defensive miscue that led to its goal in the 17th minute of the game. Nata Ramirez launched a long shot from the top of the offensive third for her second goal of the season. Remini Tillotson kept the Scarlet Knights from taking a 2-0 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first half, as she headed away a dangerous ball from the goal line off a corner play. The teams each had four shots in the opening period,
The Spartans (3-2-3) had the better of play for much of the second half, with Najera's goal serving as the equalizer in the 66th minute. She collected the ball off a tipped pass by the defense, and launched a low, hard shot into the bottom left of the net. MSU had the momentum throughout much of the second half, outshooting their hosts 10-7 and delivering seven corner kicks (five after the Najera score) for an 11-4 advantage overall in the game.
Bella Najera knots this game at 1-1 in Piscataway! New ballgame between MSU and the Scarlet Knights. pic.twitter.com/lQWwcFKrMb
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) September 12, 2025
Maggie Illig had a pair of attempts in the second half that were turned away by keeper Olivia Bodmer – one shortly after Najera tied it up on a header off a corner play where Illig nearly beat her in the low left corner, and another with just 23 seconds remaining that went over the crossbar. Kayla Briggs – who's effort crossing into the attacking third helped set up the Najera goal – had a chance with under a minute remaining as well. Rutgers' best opportunity to break the deadlock came with five minutes remaining, when Rodriguez's bid for the game-winner was punched over the crossbar by freshman keeper Kennedy Zorn.
Zorn made three saves, with two stops credited to the Spartans on the goal line. Bodmer also had three saves, and two team saves were credited to the Rutgers defense.
SCORING
17' – MSU 0, RU 1: An unfortunate error on a clearing attempt left Nata Ramirez alone with the ball about 30 yards out, and she launched the ball into the upper left corner from long distance for her second goal of the season.
66' – MSU 1, RU 1: Shelby Vaughn went to goal looking to finish off a pass from Kayla Briggs, but it was tipped by the Rutgers defender Marcia Ojo. Bella Najera collected the ball on the left side of the penalty box and put her shot into the lower left 90 to tie the game.
MATCH NOTES
- MSU allowed its opponent the first goal of the game for the fifth time this season, and is 1-2-2 in those games.
- The Spartans are now 0-1-2 on the road.
- Bella Najera scored her fourth of the season in the 66th minute, tying the game that the Spartans had trailed for nearly 40 minutes.
- Najera is now tied with Kennedy Bell for the team lead in goals (4).
- Najera's 21st career marker ties her for 14th all-time in the Spartan annals with Camryn Evans 2018-22), Jennifer Huegli (1988-89) and Jamie Cheslik (2014-17). Her 53 career points moves her into a tie for 17th all-tme with Erin Konheim (15-23-53, 2002-05).
- Kennedy Zorn had three saves and is now 2-0-2 on the season. She owns a 0.44 GAA and .833 save percentage in 405 minutes.
Team Stats
MSU
RUT
Goals
1
1
Shots
14
11
Shots on Goal
6
6
Saves
3
3
Corners
11
4
Fouls
10
15
Scoring Plays
Nata Ramirez (2)
GOAL by RUT Ramirez, Nata.
17:19
Bella Najera (4)
GOAL by MSU Najera, Bella.
66:35
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
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