It was a game of two halves — and a few definitive extra minutes. In the first 45, the Bruins ran riot, taking the reins and punishing the Spartans for every error. The Spartans managed to hold on for only 10 minutes before UCLA took the lead through a hard shot into the bottom left by Emma Egizii. 

The Spartans didn’t do themselves any favors, gifting UCLA chance after chance through sloppy passing and fouls in dangerous areas. Freshman goalkeeper Noelle Henning came out to make a huge save with three minutes to go in the half to keep the deficit minimal for MSU. Henning posted six saves, five of which came in the first half, tying her career-best. 

The Spartans regained control in the second half, bringing a much-needed sense of urgency to the pitch. The chances — and good ones at that — came pouring in.

MSU got their golden opportunity when junior midfielder Renee Watson sent a near-perfect ball over the top of UCLA’s defensive line to junior forward Kennedy Bell, who beat her defender easily with her speed, running into the box. Bell sent a pass to a completely open and waiting Sargeant, who sent it high into the back of the net. 

MSU had many more opportunities to win it as the clock ticked down, finally looking like the highest-scoring team in the Big Ten. Redshirt freshman forward Shelby Vaughn and junior midfielder Kayla Briggs were among the players who found themselves in one-on-ones with UCLA goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor, but could not capitalize. Both Nakfoor and Henning had impressive showings for their respective sides, especially as freshmen on the big stage.

As the match remained level once the full 90 was played, the teams went into golden goal. Tie games in knockout rounds in the competition are played with two periods of extra time with sudden-death and a penalty shootout following if the game stays even. 

The Spartans finished the game with better momentum than UCLA and carried it into extra time. Sargeant nearly won it for the Spartans a few seconds into the first sudden-death period, with a shot that hit the inside of the far post. Then, just a few minutes later, Sargeant capitalized on an error from Nakfoor and ended the game with a bang. 

The Spartans were the first team all season to score more than one goal on the Bruin's defense — a defense that allowed only six goals in their first 18 games.

MSU will look to go one step further than it did in 2022, when the Spartans lost in the final, and make history by winning the program’s first Big Ten women’s soccer championship.