Michigan rues missed chances in 1-0 defeat to Michigan State

EAST LANSING — Traveling to its unbeaten in-state rival’s home to win in front of a sold-out crowd was always going to be a tall task for the Michigan women’s soccer team. And although it was on the cusp of a statement win, the Wolverines couldn’t get the job done to upset 5,145 Spartans’ faithful. 

Considering Michigan’s (2-5-1 overall, 1-5-0 Big Ten) poor form this season, it wasn’t supposed to overcome No. 5 Michigan State (9-0-4, 4-0-2) in Spartan territory. So Saturday night’s game plan was clear: stay organized, soak up the pressure and try to capitalize on a counter attack. That pressure ultimately culminated in a late penalty for Michigan State, which it took advantage of to prevail 1-0. It all went according to plan for the Wolverines except for one crucial part — finding the back of the net.

“It was about coming out, playing to our very best and bringing them a game. And I thought we did,” Michigan coach Jennifer Klein said. “There were moments we had them scrambling. We just gotta be a little bit more dangerous in and around their goal.” 

The Wolverines exhausted much of their energy in the opening 10 minutes of the contest, pressing high in the Spartans’ defensive half. As a consequence of that sustained pressure, Michigan State found it difficult to play through the lines and find the feet of its forwards. While the visitors struggled to force any significant errors, Michigan found success in keeping the Spartans away from its 18-yard box.

Michigan State couldn’t quite find control of the game until the 15th minute, when an overlapping run from Spartan defender Sofia Beerworth was rewarded with a one-on-one opportunity. Beerworth had time and space to pick her spot, but Wolverines graduate goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski came up big to keep the competition scoreless.

After squandering the chance, Michigan State largely dominated the subsequent phase of play, moving the ball around comfortably in Michigan’s half. But the Wolverines stood strong to prevent any more meaningful chances. 

It seemed like all the dirty work was about to pay dividends when Michigan was presented with the most clear-cut chance for either side in the half. In the 35th minute, freshman forward Elle Ervin found herself with acres of space and only the keeper to beat. But an aggressive Spartan goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks came off her line to make the crucial stop, leaving nothing to separate the two sides going into the halftime break.

“You put those away and it changes the game,” Klein said. “It gives you a little more confidence. So we gotta find a way to score those.”

Michigan State came out in the second half looking it they smelled blood. The home side generated chance after chance, exploiting the left flank and sending balls into the box. The Spartans won the aerial battles in the box by a landslide, but fortunately for the Wolverines, the bulk of the shots they conceded were off the mark. Much like the first half, Michigan was happy to sit back, crowd the box and invite the pressure as long as their opponent couldn’t get a significant look at goal. 

The Wolverines remained patient in their search for an opening, which eventually fell in their lap at the 58th minute. When the ball found its way to junior forward Kali Burrell’s weaker left foot inside the penalty area, the Michigan State crowd held their breath. Her shot beat the goalkeeper, but a collective sigh ensued after her shot was cleared off the line by a Spartan defender.

“We’re getting ourselves into good places,” Klein said. “We tell them it doesn’t need to be pretty, it just needs to be in the back of the net.”

The mood shifted from there on out, as Michigan began committing unnecessary fouls, giving Michigan State dangerous set piece opportunities. 

It all boiled over with 15 minutes left in the game, after the Spartans found their first and only big chance of the half; a through ball found its way to Michigan State midfielder Emily Mathews, who went down in the box after feeling the contact from senior midfielder Avery Kalitta. The referee deemed it enough for a foul, and awarded the Spartans a penalty. Midfielder Justina Gaynor converted from the spot, scoring the game’s only goal.

While Michigan’s performance wasn’t “pretty,” it largely did what it set out to do against a top Michigan State side. But if the Wolverines want to start getting better results, they’re going to have to be more clinical in front of goal.

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