For the first 10 minutes, the Spartans proved they belonged. Both teams began cautiously, looking to understand each other’s tactical setup. Stanford adapted faster. Once the Cardinal adjusted to Michigan State’s high press and shifted to attack from wide areas, the match turned in their favor.

Stanford broke through in the 15th minute when Eleanor Klinger headed home a cross from Charlotte Kohler. MSU’s back line struggled to handle the pressure and overloads in the final third.

Once Stanford gained momentum, it began to resemble the team that had dominated the entire postseason. Kohler doubled the lead in the 25th minute, latching onto a lofted ball from Elise Evans and finishing past freshman goalkeeper Noelle Henning with no chance to react.

Trailing and with little to lose, MSU opened the second half with more aggressive numbers forward. It created space for Stanford to exploit without the heavy traffic the Cardinals faced earlier.

Andrea Kitahata scored Stanford’s third in the 60th minute on a half-volley through traffic. She converted a penalty three minutes later for her second goal.

Jasmine Aikey made it 5-0 in the 68th minute with a bending free kick from outside the box. It capped a dominant spell in which Stanford tallied 14 shots and nine on goal.

Even within Stanford’s control, the Spartans found moments of quality. They finished with nine shots and three on target. Junior midfielder Kayla Briggs continued to stand out, just as she has throughout the season.

Junior midfielder Bella Najera pulled one back in the 76th minute with a curling finish past Stanford’s Caroline Birkel after a well-placed ball into space from junior forward Kennedy Bell.

Ultimately, Michigan State did not fold or lack skill. It was simply outplayed by a team that dictated tempo and controlled nearly every phase of the match. Fatigue and frustration became factors in the second half as the Cardinal continued to punish small errors.

MSU struggled to clear danger in the defensive third, allowing Stanford to keep possession and sustain attacks. Even when the Spartans were positioned well, inconsistency on clearances invited pressure.

In possession, MSU pieced together extended spells but lacked final product against a Stanford defense that closed every space. Wherever the Spartans tried to operate, Stanford was there first. The organization and physical presence across the field made chances difficult to create.

While it ended on a sour note, MSU’s season was one for the record-books. With positives all over the pitch and pride in making it further into the postseason than ever before, the Spartans finish not as losers, but as history-makers.

Although the season ends without hardware, head coach Jeff Hosler and his team achieved a major milestone. The Spartans became part of the national conversation.