Najera's Late Goal Gives No. 2 MSU a Win at Illinois

Sunday, October 4

Urbana-Champaign, IL

2 PM ET/1 PM CT

Michigan State University

9-1-2, 5-1-0

Illinois

4-3-5, 1-3-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Michigan State	0	1	1
Illinois	0	0	0

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Bella Najera goes to goal in a road game at North Carolina

10/4/2026 5:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. – Senior Bella Najera scored in the 86^th minute to deliver the only goal of the game in a road victory for No. 2 Michigan State at Illinois, 1-0. The Spartans improve to 9-1-2 and are now 5-1 in Big Ten play; Illinois falls to 4-3-5 and 1-3-2 in conference games.

Najera's score was her second game-winning goal of the season – her first was on the road at North Carolina. The primary assist went to classmate Kayla Briggs, who passed back to Najera above the top of the box and Najera's left-footed shot went into the left-side netting.

The Spartans posted their second straight shutout behind a three-save effort from keeper Noelle Henning, who has played the last two Spartan games since returning from the U20 Women's World Cup.

The home team thought it had the first goal of the game shortly after returning to the field from halftime, but Cayla Jackson's shot from 12 yards was taken off the board on an offsides call. The Illini were whistled for offsides three times on the afternoon and had three yellow cards to MSU's two; the Illini also had nine fouls to MSU's six

The Spartans outshot their hosts 14-6 and had a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.

SCORING

86' – MSU 1, ILL 0 | Off an MSU throw-in by Ava Lutke on the right side at the top of the offensive third, the Spartans looked to set up for a late chance. Emerson Sargeant laid off the ball to Kayla Briggs in the center and Briggs drove to her right and tapped the ball back to Najera with her right heel. Najera took a touch and sent a left-footed shot into the left-side netting with three and a half minutes remaining.

Big - goal Bella! Najera gets the first goal on the board in the 86th minute for a 1-0 MSU lead! pic.twitter.com/5drucvfQmt
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 4, 2026

NOTABLES
MSU is now 3-0 on the road in Big Ten contests and 4-0-1 overall away from DeMartin Stadium.
Michigan State keeps pace at the top of the Big Ten standings, as the Spartans, Ohio State, and UCLA are all 5-1. MSU has a head-to-head victory over UCLA on the road, and will not play the Buckeyes in the regular season.
Najera's goal was critical for the Spartans on Sunday, but it also advanced her into even more elite company in the Spartan record book. It was her 27^th career goal, which is tied for 10^th all-time with Olivia Stander (2009-12). It was her 10^th career game-winner as well, which is tied for fifth place all time. The senior – the most prolific scorer of the Jeff Hosler era at MSU – is now tied for ninth all-time in career points (72).
Noelle Henning has posted back-to-back clean sheets, extending her personal shutout streak to 197:39. She has allowed just two goals this season – (both at North Carolina) in her five games.
Henning now has 12 career shutouts for the Spartans, moving into a tie with Courtney Clem (2010-14) and Kim Owings (1986-88) for eighth in the Spartan record book. Henning has not allowed a goal since returning from the U20 Women's World Cup.
Henning is now 5-0 on the season with a 0.40 GAA and .875 save percentage. She has shutouts in four of her five games, while MSU has recorded seven as a team. The Spartans had 10 shutouts in 2025.
Kayla Briggs had her team-best sixth assist of the season on Najera's game-winner. She went the full 90, the fifth time this season she has done so. Emerson Sargeant also had an assist, her third.

UP NEXT
The Spartans return to DeMartin Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 8 for a game vs. Minnesota (7 pm). Single-game tickets for MSU women's soccer are available by visiting sprtns.co/WSOC26tix.