WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Michigan State spent most of Friday night climbing back into the game, only to watch Purdue land the final blow in overtime.
Big Ten Forward of the Year Jaiden Anderson slipped free in the 97th minute and buried the golden goal as Purdue edged No. 3 Michigan State, 4-3, in the Big Ten Championship game. Anderson’s finish came at 96:35 and gave her a B1G-best 20th goal of the season.
The Spartans had already erased two separate deficits before that last swing. Down 2-0 and later 3-1, Michigan State kept pressing until it finally drew level with 1:40 left in regulation.
Renee Watson sent in a corner kick, and Mackenzie Kruer rose to head it home for the equalizer at 3-3. It was the first career goal for Kruer, and it came in the biggest moment of the night.
Michigan State got goals from three different players. Kayla Briggs scored her eighth of the season, Bella Najera added her fifth, and Kruer delivered the late equalizer. Watson and Faith George each finished with two assists.
Purdue opened the scoring with two goals less than six minutes apart in the first half, striking at 33:24 and 39:07. Briggs answered before halftime, finishing a pass from George after a long service from Watson.
The Boilermakers stretched the lead back to two early in the second half when McKenzie Carle cleaned up a rebound off a Megan Santa Cruz shot that hit the crossbar. From there, the Spartans started to take control of the flow. Purdue keeper Grace Miller made four saves in the first half and finished with nine total, including four stops after halftime as Michigan State kept coming in waves.
Najera cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 61st minute, scoring her third goal of the postseason off a feed from George from the right side into the middle of the top of the box. Michigan State kept creating chances after that, but some of the best looks sailed over the crossbar before Kruer finally delivered the tying header in the 89th minute.
The Spartans carried that momentum into overtime and put three shots on frame in the extra period, forcing Miller to make two more saves before Anderson ended it for Purdue. Michigan State outshot the Boilermakers 22-11 and held a 13-5 advantage in shots on goal, while also winning the corner battle 5-2.
For the second straight season, Michigan State was left with a painful finish in the tournament title game. A year after falling to Washington on penalty kicks, the Spartans came up short again in overtime.
Najera and Watson were named to the All-Tournament Team.
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For Michigan State fans, it is the kind of off-field wrinkle that can overshadow the usual pregame routine, especially with the situation still unresolved and no clear timeline for a fix. The travel restrictions are affecting multiple college football teams, but for now the Spartans and their supporters are left waiting to see whether Washington can make the trip and how the schedule might hold up. [Read more 🡒]