Head Coach Jeff Hosler said that the green and white defense failed to cover the Penn State leading scorer in the box which allowed her to perform so well.

"She's lethal in the air," Hosler said. "She's definitely the best player in the country in the air at scoring goals, in the conference if not the country. You can't leave her wide open or even with a body. It's hard, it's tough to defend. ... The final goal she got a running head start, you're not gonna win that battle."

The game went back and forth between both sides as MSU got on the board first with a PSU own goal, but then Penn State came right back with a score by redshirt sophomore Kaitlyn MacBean. Schlegel then put her first of the match in the back of the net which was then answered by senior forward Lauren DeBeau. Ultimately, Schlegel put the game away in the last 10 minutes with her second score of the afternoon.

Hosler said that the team has to be more aggressive after conceding.

"We have got to stop scoring goals and then just conceding territory and intensity and pressure," Hosler said. "We've got to find a way to better flip the switch to score and generate momentum from that. We tend to sink in and not be as sharp and kind of try to catch our breath as opposed to being more aggressive and going forward.

"I think a scramble game in the box benefits them. ... 34 (Schlegel) is a monster in the air and if the ball is in the air in the box, there's a good chance they're gonna capitalize, which she did twice. To be able to get right back to it, keep possession, try to get forward again and go for that next goal as opposed to sitting back in to try and sustain whatever we were doing."

DeBeau's answer was the highlight of the night for the Spartans. While everyone in the stadium knew the ball was going to MSU's leading goal scorer, she still performed.

"DeBeau showed up and made a big play again," Hosler said. "She has a flair for making big plays in tough or big moments and she certainly did that. I'll take 30 Lauren DeBeaus. The intensity she plays with, the competitor she is, the ability to make plays. When things are hard, she seeks the ball and wants to try to perform in those big moments. Everyone in the stadium knew DeBeau was the one we were going to go through to try and beat them, and she still did it. To have that ability, that confidence and supreme execution is just remarkable."

Despite the disappointing loss, Hosler noted that he was proud of his team's effort throughout the long weekend.

"I am really proud of the fight this group has," Hosler said. "This is the biggest of stages for our group. Thursday, I think we were a little shell shocked at the environment. Such a great facility, such a big moment. I don't think we played our best soccer or played with the same intensity we typically do and today I think we came out ready to go. I think this will be really valuable for not just this team, but our program moving forward to have this experience to be playing for a second trophy in the same season. To do it on a stage like this, not just here in Lower.com but on national television once again. Collectively we are obviously disappointed for the result but it's really hard to to win games if you concede three goals and you don't capitalize on a couple of chances."

Now, the squad's focus shifts to the NCAA Tournament, and Hosler said that this tournament helped the team get a taste of what postseason soccer is really like.

"I think the experience of this past week, playing three knockout games certainly helps," Hosler said. "It's obviously the same structure with the NCAA and again, playing quality opponents along the way with very different styles of play, very different strengths. Penn State's a team that has a lot of pedigree and has been in postseason play year in and year out. I think the way we prepped, the way this group is wired as I just told them in the locker room, that's the opportunity we have. This isn't season ending. This isn't the end of the line. This isn't moving on to the offseason or on to the next phase of your life. It's us coming back, resting and recovering. We come back together on Tuesday having that refocus and maybe that frustration or disappointment can help drive us or reignite some additional fire."

Michigan State will find out its draw tomorrow at 4 p.m. during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show at Munn Ice Arena.