Najera’s Equalizer Results in Attract B1G Opener

East Lansing, Mich. –  A purpose within the 66^th minute by junior Bella Najera helped Michigan State to a 1-1 draw at Rutgers on Friday afternoon within the first Big Ten recreation of the season for each squads. 
 
Rutgers (2-0-4) took benefit of a Spartan defensive miscue that led to its purpose within the 17^th minute of the sport. Nata Ramirez launched an extended shot from the highest of the offensive third for her second purpose of the season. Remini Tillotson stored the Scarlet Knights from taking a 2-0 lead with seven minutes remaining within the first half, as she headed away a harmful ball from the purpose line off a nook play.  The groups every had 4 pictures within the opening interval,
 
The Spartans (3-2-3)  had the higher of play for a lot of the second half, with Najera’s purpose serving because the equalizer within the 66^th minute.  She collected the ball off a tipped move by the protection, and launched a low, exhausting shot into the underside left of the web.  MSU had the momentum all through a lot of the second half, outshooting their hosts 10-7 and delivering seven nook kicks (5 after the Najera rating) for an 11-4 benefit general within the recreation. 
 

Bella Najera knots this recreation at 1-1 in Piscataway! New ballgame between MSU and the Scarlet Knights. pic.twitter.com/lQWwcFKrMb

— Michigan State Women’s Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) September 12, 2025

 
Maggie Illig had a pair of makes an attempt within the second half that have been turned away by keeper Olivia Bodmer – one shortly after Najera tied it up on a header off a nook play the place Illig practically beat her within the low left nook, and one other with simply 23 seconds remaining that went over the crossbar.  Kayla Briggs – who’s effort crossing into the attacking third helped arrange the Najera purpose – had an opportunity with underneath a minute remaining as nicely.    Rutgers’ finest alternative to interrupt the impasse got here with 5 minutes remaining, when Rodriguez’s bid for the game-winner was punched over the crossbar by freshman keeper Kennedy Zorn. 
 
   Zorn made three saves, with two stops credited to the Spartans on the purpose line.  Bodmer additionally had three saves, and two workforce saves have been credited to the Rutgers protection. 
 
 
SCORING
17′ – MSU  0,  RU  1:    An unlucky error on a clearing try left Nata Ramirez alone with the ball about 30 yards out, and he or she launched the ball into the higher left nook from lengthy distance for her second purpose of the season. 
66′ – MSU  1,  RU  1:    Shelby Vaughn went to purpose trying to end off a move from Kayla Briggs, nevertheless it was tipped by the Rutgers defender Marcia Ojo.  Bella Najera collected the ball on the left aspect of the penalty field and put her shot into the decrease left 90 to tie the sport. 
 
MATCH NOTES

• MSU allowed its opponent the primary purpose of the sport for the fifth time this season, and is 1-2-2 in these video games. 
• The Spartans at the moment are 0-1-2 on the highway.
• Bella Najera scored her fourth of the season within the 66^th minute, tying the sport that the Spartans had trailed for practically 40 minutes. 
• Najera is now tied with Kennedy Bell for the workforce lead in objectives (4).
• Najera’s 21^st profession marker ties her for 14^th all-time within the Spartan annals with Camryn Evans 2018-22), Jennifer Huegli (1988-89) and Jamie Cheslik (2014-17).  Her 53 profession factors strikes her right into a tie for 17^th all-tme with Erin Konheim (15-23-53, 2002-05). 
• Kennedy Zorn had three saves and is now 2-0-2 on the season.  She owns a 0.44 GAA and .833 save proportion in 405 minutes.