ST. LOUIS, Mo. — One goal was enough for Michigan State. The fifth-ranked Spartans beat in-state rival Michigan 1-0 on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Energizer Park to move into the Big Ten Tournament championship game.
Renee Watson supplied the only score in the 40th minute, sending a left-footed shot from a free kick just outside the box into the right side of the net. It was her fourth goal this season, matching her best total from her junior year.
Michigan pushed hard after the break. The eighth-seeded Wolverines finished with a 15-10 edge in shots, 11-5 in the second half alone, and put seven on target. Luciana Latino came closest to an equalizer when her 59th-minute try rattled the crossbar, and Ella Jablinskey led the attack with six shots, four of them on goal.
Spartans keeper Noelle Henning answered with seven saves for her ninth shutout of the season, a new personal best. Her 17 career shutouts rank fifth in program history. Malia Zillman made three stops in goal for Michigan.
Fourth-seeded Michigan State, now 15-3-2, has tied its 2025 win total, the second-highest in program history behind the 17 wins from 2022. The Spartans are in the tournament final for the second year in a row and the third time under coach Jeff Hosler, and the win avenged a 3-1 regular-season loss to the Wolverines.
Michigan falls to 8-6-5 and now turns to the NCAA Tournament bracket reveal, which airs at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16.
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