MSU trailed early in the contest, after the Buckeyes scored two goals in the opening twenty minutes. It could have been much worse if not for red shirt sophomore goalkeeper Sierra Patton, who made a handful of big saves in the early going.

“First game of the Big Ten, I think there’s always some nerves involved,” Head Coach Helen Knull said. “We have a tendency to try a little bit too hard some games, and we’re letting teams get a lead on us.”

Like a number of other games this season though, the Spartans stood tall and responded with two late goals in the first half. After Stiles opened the scoring for MSU, the Spartans were awarded a penalty corner as time expired in the first half. With Barker taking care of the set up, Ahern cashed in on the opportunity to give her team a big boost heading into the second half.

Ahern didn’t miss a beat heading into the second half, as she scored just over five minutes into the half to give MSU a 3-2 lead. It was her second of the game and sixth of the season, which is good for second on the team behind Barker.

“Abby [Barker] and Allie [Ahern] have been playing together since they were freshmen,” Knull said of their importance to MSU. “They want to set each other up. They want to be our goal scorers. So I think a lot of time with them, they work especially well off of each other.

“They’re both just playing very poised, smart hockey at the moment. And I think that they’re complementing each other very, very well, and it’s great to watch.”

The Spartans were doing their best to avoid another overtime game, but couldn’t hold off OSU’s attack for long. The Buckeyes were able to tie the game in the 59^th minute, and nearly ended it in regulation after being afforded four consecutive penalty corners in the final minute of regulation.

MSU began the first overtime period looking like a team on a mission. Ahern fired three shots on net in the opening 1:15 of overtime, before Barker sealed the victory for her team.

After senior back Michelle Graham ran nearly sixty yards back to retrieve the ball, the Spartans made a quick outlet up field where Barker found herself alone with two defenders. After dribbling her way into the circle, Barker ripped a backhand shot from near the baseline with practically no angle at the net. It was a highlight reel goal for last week’s Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

“It was awesome,” Knull said of the goal. “It was honestly probably one of the best goals I’ve seen in my life.”