No. 2 Syracuse will host the first round match against MSU on Saturday.

Ahern’s offensive production slowed after a hot early-season start, but over the last few games, she has upped her level of play when the team needed it.

“I just looked at how I had been playing all year and I wanted to keep it simple because that’s when I seem to score,” Ahern said. “So today I kept it simple, and the whole team played really well and their passes seemed to help me score.”

Junior forward Abby Barker added a goal, and senior goalkeeper Molly Cassidy had three saves. Junior midfielder Alli Helwig, junior forward Heather Howie and senior midfielder Katherine Jamieson each recorded an assist.

The Spartans displayed great pressure in the first half, attempting sixteen shots and earning six corner penalties. On the other end, Miami managed a shot or a corner penalty.

Ahern converted the lone goal of the first half, a straight shot from the top of the circle that was assisted by Helwig.

Miami goalkeeper Sarah Mueller had eight saves.

The Spartans would go on to attempt six more shots, including the goal by Ahern, before the clock hit the 35-minute mark.

Since the tournament run began, MSU has shown greater poise in the second half, which has allowed them to hold onto leads. Head coach Helen Knull said the added intensity of the games has helped improve the mindset of the team.

“I told the girls after (the game), its survive and advance,” Knull said. “They’ve got a mentality of you’ve gotta go 100% and you’ve gotta risk everything. Whether it’s right or wrong, you’ve got to just go for it. They’ve been doing that instead of waiting to see what happening going into halftime.”

MSU scored two additional goals on five shots to seal the trip to Syracuse. Miami attempted five shots and earned four corner penalties.

Ahern scored her second goal of the game with 38:21 remaining. Mueller dived early, creating an empty net for Ahern to send the ball into. Howie was credited with the assist for the goal.

Nine minutes later, Barker entered the score sheet. Her one-timer from the left side gave the Spartans a 3-0 lead.

“Being up 2-0 is definitely comfortable, but being up 3-0, I think that was making a statement,” Barker said. “I think we definitely got more comfortable being up by three and just played it out from there.”

MSU only attempted one shot for the rest of the game, but their job was done. MSU left Ralph Young Field with a win and a first round matchup with Syracuse.

“They’re quick, they’re aggressive,” Knull said of Syracuse. “We’ve gotta come up sharp, execute the game plan. We’ve really got to utilize our speed, especially in the attacking (area of the field).”

MSU will face No. 2 Syracuse at Syracuse on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.