Michigan answered less than five minute later from a corner kick that deflected off of sophomore keeper Courtney Clem and into the net.

With just over half an hour to play in the game, a shot by Michigan hit the crossbar and ricocheted down towards the goal line, but the ref didn’t rule it a goal.

MSU outshot Michigan 9-7 in the second half, but just couldn’t capitalize.

The game-winning goal was scored off a corner kick with under one minute to
play in the first overtime.

Head coach Tom Saxton said this was one of the best games the Spartans have
played all season, and that it’s all about momentum when it comes down to it.

“Just a hell of a game all around,” Saxton said. “I really felt like we had momentum down the stretch in regulation and thought we should have put it away.”

The Spartans were outshot by Michigan, 21-15, but Saxton said they played just as well as they did when they were defeated by Illinois on Thursday.

“I like our team, I really do,” he said. “I feel very similar to, unfortunately, last Thursday because it was the same thing.”

He said the loud and rambunctious atmosphere of U-M Soccer Stadium was almost a help to the players as they looked forward to playing in such a high-pressure environment.

“This is what it’s all about and this is what the kids work for to play college sports,” he said. “We’re certainly not at the top of the pyramid in the college sports world as a women’s soccer team, but when you get into this environment against our arch rivals with this much buzz in the air, that’s what you play for.”

Freshman forward Allyson Krause said the team feels down, but definitely not
out.

“I felt like we dominated the whole second half,” Krause said. “We just ended up getting scored on at the end, which is a pretty crappy feeling.”

For most of the game, MSU only had four upperclassmen on the field, but Krause said she didn’t think that had an effect on the outcome.

“I feel like that we just all have chemistry together already even though it’s still the first year for some of us freshmen,” she said. “We’re still learning the game and I feel like we connected well, we just didn’t come out with the win.”

Saxton expects MSU to keep their heads up and focus on the game against
Indiana at 12 p.m. Sunday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.

“It’s all going to be psychology for the next day or two,” he said. “We’ve got to look at some things. We just have to lick our wounds and show some resilience. Knowing this team and how they show resilience in games, I guarantee you they’ll bounce back.”