EAST LANSING- In a heavy defensive battle throughout all 90 minutes, No. 1 Michigan State walks away from the match against Rutgers with a 1-1 draw ending the Rutgers shutout streak. 

The first 10 minutes of the game were very physical, and the score remained 0-0. Rutgers registered one shot in those opening minutes. 

Late into the 12th minute, graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony had a header that went wide, giving MSU’s first goal-scoring chance of the game. 

The Spartans continued to maintain heavy possession of the ball and tallied three shots by the 25th minute but struggled to find the back of the net.

Sophomore defender Mimi Hallier registered a shot that was just wide of the goal in the 27th minute. 

“The details matter, and we didn’t take care of the very specific details that we knew we had to be successful today,” MSU head coach Jeff Hosler stated. 

With five minutes remaining in the first half, Rutgers sent a shot flying past Spartan defense, but graduate goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks kept the game scoreless with a diving save.

Michigan State racked up seven shots compared to the Rutgers three, both teams headed into the break scoreless. 

Rutgers opened up the second half firing a dangerous shot that Parks saved in the 63rd minute to keep the game scoreless.

The next 20 minutes of the game would be a heavy defensive battle between the two squads.  

To gain momentum, graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor passed a ball from the midfield to redshirt freshman forward Adelle Francis who slotted it to Anthony just inside the box. 

Anthony was able to find the bottom left of the net for a massive goal that would give the Spartans a 1-0 lead and end the Rutgers shutout streak. 

Parks continued to rack up two saves in the following five minutes, but the game would remain in the Spartans favor.  

In the 86th minute, the Spartans were called for a handball in the box after several minutes of video review. This allowed Rutgers to tie up the game with a penalty kick scored by redshirt freshman Gabriela Gil with just four minutes remaining in the match. 

“After the goal was scored, you just have to keep your cool, calm and composure, and a big way that is just to keep the ball,” Hosler said. “If you keep it and move it, they don’t have it, you can’t be called for a foul if you’re in possession.” 

In the remaining minutes, the Spartans scrambled to gain their lead back but were not able to find the net by the time the clock ran out. 

MSU outshot Rutgers 11-10 by the end of what was an extremely physical and defensive match by both squads. The Spartans remain undefeated in play this year with a record of 8-0-4. The Scarlet Knights move to 8-1-2. 

No. 1 Michigan State will host their rivals, Michigan, on Saturday, October 5 at 7 p.m.