No. 5 Michigan State defeats Nebraska 4-1 to stay unbeaten

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – The Michigan State women’s soccer team continued to roll with a 4-1 victory over Nebraska on Thursday night in a battle between last season’s co-Big Ten Champions.

The Spartans got out to a 1-0 lead on a goal from Meg Hughes in the 21st minute. The Cornhuskers tied it up late in the first half, but just one minute later the Spartans’ Emily Matthews lofted in a shot from the far right side of the field to give MSU the lead at the half.

In the second half, goals from Jordyn Wickes and Ella Janz helped the Spartans pull away.

It was MSU’s second straight convincing win to open Big Ten play after the team defeated Maryland 5-0 last Thursday.

“If we want to win by multiple goals I’m more than happy with that,” said head coach Jeff Hosler. “It takes a lot of the stress out of the game and those end of game situations and scenarios. To score nine goals against two Big Ten teams in two matches is really difficult to do. This league’s great and Nebraska, they were co-champs with us in the Big Ten a year ago and they return nine starters from that group. They went to the Elite Eight. They went one step further in the NCAA Tournament [than we did]. So they have all that experience back and to score that many goals with a lot of other great chances puts us in a really good spot.”

Wickes’ goal in the second half was her first since returning from a serious knee injury she suffered in the spring. Her reaction and the reaction of her teammates made it evident right away that the goal was especially meaningful.

Wickes has been a key figure in the Spartans’ back-to-back Big Ten Championships and said she was worried how much the injury would limit her senior year. With that in mind, she spoke after the game about the emotions of Thursday’s goal.

“It meant absolutely everything,” she said. “This, I think, has been the hardest year of my life. I get a little emotional everytime I talk about it. I’ve had a brilliant career here and I’m so thankful for the opportunities Michigan State has given me. I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed possible but obviously I had so many goals and hopes and aspirations for a senior season… It’s been really hard to come back from this and to be able to see myself out there making a difference and to watch the ball go in the back of the net like it used to for me, I mean, it was everything. That moment meant so much to me.”

Wickes and the Spartans improve to 7-0-2 on the season with the win. They’ll turn their attention to a big showdown on Sunday on the road against No. 9 Penn State.

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