Michigan State opened Big Ten play by making Michigan sweat all the way to the finish, but the Spartans came up just short in a 2-1 loss Friday afternoon at Ralph Young Field.
The result sends MSU to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Michigan, which entered the matchup ranked No. 13, improved to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. The Spartans now turn back to non-conference play and head to Ball State on Sunday, September 20, at 12 p.m.
This one was tight from the start. Michigan finished with a slim 10-9 edge in shots and held an 8-7 advantage in penalty corners, but Michigan State spent much of the afternoon forcing the issue and keeping the game within reach.
The first half was a defensive grind, with both teams locked in a scoreless tie after 30 minutes. MSU did its part late in the half, stopping two Michigan penalty corner chances before the break.
Michigan finally broke through in the third quarter, scoring on a penalty stroke in the 32nd minute. Just over a minute later, the Wolverines added another goal off a penalty corner to go up 2-0.
Michigan State answered almost immediately. After Michigan’s starting goalkeeper was sent off with a green card in the 36th minute, the Spartans made the most of the next sequence. Caro Schaefer inserted the penalty corner, Carmen Maudlin gathered the ball and found Caroline Horace, who redirected it in front of the cage to pull MSU within 2-1.
That goal gave the Spartans life, and they kept pressing in the fourth quarter. Michigan State outchanced Michigan in the final period and kept the Wolverines without a shot over the last 15 minutes. The Spartans also earned two late penalty corners, including one in the 51st minute that ended with Maudlin’s attempt getting blocked, but Michigan held on.
There were strong individual efforts throughout the day. Catherine Wolf made a team-high four saves and allowed two goals across 30 minutes of action in the first and third quarters.
Lola Munoz de Verger handled the other 30 minutes, turning away two shots while keeping Michigan off the board in the second and fourth quarters. Schaefer also added a conference-leading fourth defensive save of the season, while Maudlin picked up her second assist of the year on Horace’s goal.
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For Michigan State, the bigger question is how quickly the details tighten up once the level of competition rises. Consistency has to improve, and so does the run defense, because Notre Dame will make the Spartans prove they can hold up across four quarters. Special teams and field position also loom large, giving MSU another area where a clean performance could matter as much as anything else if it wants to turn this early confidence into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]