No. 1 MSU plays to 1-1 draw with Rutgers after Scarlet Knights convert late penalty kick

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – No. 1 Michigan State women’s soccer was just four and a half minutes away from victory on Sunday afternoon when a handball in the box gave Rutgers a penalty kick. Scarlet Knights midfielder Gabriela Gil converted the attempt and Rutgers salvaged a 1-1 draw.

The game featured two teams at the top of the Big Ten standings so far this season. Coming in, Rutgers was 4-0 in conference play and sat alone in first place. Michigan State was one of four teams tied for second at 3-0-1 in Big Ten play.

Sunday’s battle was a scoreless stalemate for nearly 80 minutes. With 10:45 to play, MSU’s Mackenzie Anthony finally broke through with a shot into the bottom left corner of the net. It was only the third goal Rutgers had allowed this season.

The handball six minutes later was not initially called on the field but was awarded after a lengthy VAR check.

This was the Spartans’ second consecutive draw and head coach Jeff Hosler was unhappy with how the team finished the game.

“This was not the way that we’re accustomed to playing,” he said. “This is at least three times this year we’ve shot ourselves in the foot late and given gifts to our opponents to secure a different result. It lacks discipline. It lacks effort. It lacks energy. And those aren’t three things that this team has come to be known [by] as the year has gone on. So I’m incredibly disappointed with the result and the way we finished this game today.”

With the result, the Spartans and Scarlet Knights each receive one point in the conference standings. Rutgers remains in first place with 13 points but is now tied with Iowa and USC, who both earned victories on Sunday. Michigan State falls to a tie for fourth place with Ohio State.

Michigan State returns to the pitch next Saturday for a rivalry showdown with Michigan at 7 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.

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