Emerson Sargeant delivered the finish Michigan State needed, striking in the 87th minute to break a 2-2 deadlock and lift No. 2 MSU past Nebraska, 3-2, on Thursday night at DeMartin Stadium.
The Spartans had built a 2-0 cushion before the Huskers clawed all the way back, but Sargeant’s late winner kept Michigan State moving at 7-1-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play. Kennedy Bell and Shelby Vaughn also scored for MSU, and Bella Najera chipped in two assists. Bella Schopp finished with two saves.
The winning sequence came only minutes after Nebraska’s Ella Guyott tied the match from the penalty spot at 83:34. Michigan State answered almost immediately.
Julia Belli lined up a free kick just beyond midfield in front of the Spartan bench and played it ahead to Najera, who needed just one touch before slipping the ball into the middle for Sargeant. The senior drove toward the top of the box, took her touch, and sent the shot into the bottom right corner.
Nebraska tried to set an early edge with a physical start and managed a few shot attempts, but Michigan State’s back line kept those looks from reaching Schopp. The foul count told the story of the first half: nine against Nebraska, two against MSU. By the end, the Huskers had been whistled for 21 fouls to the Spartans’ four.
Michigan State’s first real opening came in the 14th minute when Ella Janz found Bell, but keeper Avery Gillahan smothered the chance near the penalty spot. Bell threatened again in the 23rd minute on a run down the left side, only to have a defender poke the ball away at the last moment. Gillahan then made a diving save on Sargeant in the 25th minute before Bell finally broke through in the 31st minute to put MSU in front.
Bell’s goal came after a sharp passing sequence started by Najera from MSU’s defensive third. Kayla Briggs collected the ball and sent Bell in stride, and Bell lifted her shot over the keeper for her sixth goal of the season.
Michigan State kept pressing after halftime and finished with a 12-8 edge in second-half shots. Sargeant nearly added another in the 65th minute, but her effort drifted just wide right after threading through three defenders. Two minutes later, Vaughn pounced on a Nebraska slip, raced into the box, and fired home her second goal of the season for a 2-0 lead.
The Spartans couldn’t close it out cleanly. Nebraska got one back in the 72nd minute on Ava Makovica’s goal off a throw-in from the right side, then forced the equalizer when a box foul led to Guyott’s penalty kick at 83:34.
Nebraska dropped to 2-3-5 overall and 0-2-2 in conference play. Gillahan made eight saves for the Huskers, who also gave up a late goal in last Sunday’s 2-2 tie against Washington.
For Michigan State, Sargeant’s winner was her fourth goal of the season and her second straight game with a score. She now has 50 career points, with 16 goals and 18 assists, and the goal was her seventh career game-winner.
Bell’s tally was her team-leading sixth of the season. She now has 17 goals in 35 career games at MSU and 44 career points.
Najera’s two-assist night gave her 18 for her career, tying Sargeant for 12th on MSU’s all-time assist list, and pushed her to 70 career points, tied for 10th in program history. Vaughn’s goal was her second of the season, and Briggs and Najera are now tied for the team lead with four assists apiece.
Belli picked up her first point of the season on the game-winner.
Michigan State closes its three-game homestand on Sunday against No. 18/17 Washington at 1 p.m. The matchup is a rematch of the 2026 Big Ten Tournament championship game, which Washington won on penalty kicks.
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