Briggs' Late Goal Spurs 1-0 Win over Loyola

Wednesday, August 19

7:30 PM

Michigan State University

2-0-0, 0-0-0

Loyola

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Loyola Chicago	0	0	0
Michigan State	0	1	1

8/19/2026 11:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. – No. 5/6 Michigan State outlasted a determined Loyola squad at DeMartin Stadium on Wednesday evening, with senior Kayla Briggs getting the game-winner in the 83^rd minute to post a 1-0 victory over the Ramblers.

Loyola played a conservative defensive game, looking to frustrate MSU in its offensive third. The Ramblers were able to disrupt MSU's offensive flow with extra bodies and blocked shots. Still, the Spartans had 21 shot attempts and 14 corners, consistently providing pressure on a very crowded penalty area. Just six of MSU's shots got on net, with Loyola keeper Allison Deardorff making three saves.

Kayla Briggs with her second of the year - and the first goal of the game! Spartans up 1-0 with under 8 to play. pic.twitter.com/rAJ28HqESf
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) August 20, 2026

The Spartans stayed patient and broke through with the Briggs tally in the 83^rd minute. MSU's talented offense kept pushing the visitors, and were set up deep in the Loyola end. MSU was strong in its possession, with Ava Lutke feeding it to Bella Najera at the top of the box. While a defender was able to redirect Najera's offering, Briggs was on the case on the left side to put the Spartans on the scoreboard.

Noelle Henning had a somewhat quieter night than in the opener a week ago, when she made five saves. She made one save on Wednesday, which was enough to preserve MSU's victory.

The teams battled through a scoreless first half, but MSU had the better looks – the Spartans had nine shot attempts to just two for Loyola, and had a 5-2 edge in corners in the opening 45. It was more of the same as the game rolled over the 60-minute mark, with the Spartans getting looks but finding an overloaded defense in front of them.

MSU had a great opportunity in the 68^th minute, when Najera fed Briggs in front. Deardorff made the save on Briggs, and Sargeant was there for a chance at a putback. She got tangled up with the keeper, but no foul was called despite a review and the teams played on. Kennedy Bell and Sargeant had another look in the 71^st, but Deardorff came up with a big save to keep zeroes on the scoreboard.

SCORING

83' – MSU 1, LOY 0 - Ava Lutke corralled a pass from Kennedy Bell on the left side and she slid it to her left for Bella Najera. Najera's shot was blocked by a defender at the left post, but it came out to the feet of Briggs. She eluded the defender by faking a shot, touching it to the right, and going back across her body to her left to bury her second goal of the season in the bottom left corner.

Notables

Michigan State honored its senior class in a pregame ceremony. Eden Bretzer, Bella Schopp, Kennedy Bell, Kayla Briggs, Mimi Hallier, Ella Janz, Sophia Piotrowski, Bella Najera, and Renee Watson were joined on the field by their families prior to the contest.
Briggs' goal was her second of the season, and also her second game-winner. She led the team in that category a year ago (5).
Briggs went all 90 minutes for MSU, while Kennedy Bell recorded 87 and Faith George 84.
Noelle Henning recorded her second straight shutout to start the year, pushing her career total to 10. Ten clean sheets move her into a tie for 10^th place in program history.
MSU finished with 21 shot attempts, which was more than they had in all but one game a year ago; the Spartans had 22 shot attempts in a win at home over Illinois last October.
MSU finished with 14 corners in the game, tying its season high in 2025 which was set in the season opener against Colorado.
The last meeting with Loyola (in 2024) was also settled by a late Spartan score. Briggs' Wednesday night game-winner came in the 83^rd minute, while in 2024 it was Justina Gaynor in the 84^th minute off an assist from current junior Grace Jackson.
Freshman LJ Pearcy made her collegiate debut as a starter in the second half. Junior Grace Jackson made her first appearance after missing all but three games in 2025.

UP NEXT
Michigan State heads to Chapel Hill for a top 10 showdown against No. 8 North Carolina on Sunday. The game kicks off at 1 pm and will air on the ACC Network.
Single-game tickets and season memberships for MSU Women's Soccer are available by visiting sprtns.co/WSOC26tix.