Spartans Top Maryland 1-0 in Regular-Season Home Finale - Michigan State University Athletics

East Lansing, Mich. – No. 5 Michigan State closed out the home portion of the regular season with a 1-0 victory over Maryland on Sunday.

Renee Watson had the lone goal for MSU (12-3-2, 8-3 B1G) in the 51^st minute on a nifty play. The Maryland defense had collapsed on Kennedy Bell on the right side – she found a sliver of light and switched the field, and it looked like the pass was headed for Ella Janz. Janz instead let it pass her and find the feet of Watson, who was streaking up the left side. With the defense so heavy on the right, Watson had all sorts of time and space – and she buried it into the right-side netting.

Tasked with making just one save on the day, Noelle Henning recorded her seventh shutout of the season, one shy of the eight she had as a freshman a year ago. Her counterpart Faith Luckey had several excellent saves to keep her team in the game. She made eight saves in 72 minutes before making way for Meredith Fisher, who made one stop over the balance of the game. Maryland falls 4-10-3, 1-8-2 in conference play.

Michigan State had the better of chances in the opening half – a 13-2 edge in attempts, and six of those 13 were on frame. MSU continued its push in the second half – spending significant amounts of time in its own offensive end between having to chase down clearing attempts as Maryland pushed 10 back to defend MSU's potent offense.

SCORING

51'' – MD 0, MSU 1 | Bell worked her way out of pressure on the right side, and sent the ball across the top of the offensive third, appearing to be a pass headed for Ella Janz. Janz instead let the ball go past her to a streaking Watson, who was unchecked. Watson took her touch and sent her shot into the right-side netting.

Notables

Michigan State has secured a spot in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, which begins Nov. 4 in St. Louis. Ohio State claimed the regular-season title on Sunday, (30 points). UCLA has 25, and MSU 24.
During Sunday's game, the NCAA Women's Soccer committee announced its Top 16 seeds as of Oct. 24, and the Spartans check in at No. 5. Michigan State owns a 3-0-1 record against teams in the Top 16, with wins over No. 1 North Carolina, No. 6 Colorado, and No. 15 UCLA along with a tie against No. 9 Notre Dame.
Noelle Henning made one save in her seventh shutout of the year (10 games). It is one shy of her eight last year as a freshman and the 15^th of her career, which ranks seventh in MSU's career record book. She is now 8-2 on the year, and today was her 21^st career victory, which ranks 10^th in program history.
Renee Watson's goal in the 51^st minute was her third of the year, one shy of her four a year ago.
Kennedy Bell earned her ninth assist of the year on Watson's score, her career best. She and Kayla Briggs each have nine this season, which is tied for eighth in MSU's single-season record book. Bell's 25^th point ranks 22^nd in a single season.
Senior Ella Janz started on Sunday after a two-game absence.
MSU had a pair of athletes with long-term injuries return to the field on Sunday. Mimi Hallier's appearance was her first in an MSU uniform since her injury in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals last season. Jasmine Boggs also made her season (and Spartan) debut – she was injured in spring ball after transferring to MSU from Tennessee.