Michigan State senior forward Kennedy Bell (24), Michigan State senior midfielder Emerson Sargeant (19), and Michigan State senior midfielder Kayla Briggs (9) celebrate after scoring during the Michigan State vs. Colorado women's soccer game at DeMartin Stadium in East Lansing, Mich., on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
In a rematch from last season’s NCAA tournament, No. 3 Michigan State Women's Soccer topped No. 12 Colorado Sunday at DeMartin Stadium, 3-2, in slick conditions.
After a disheartening tie on Thursday against Eastern Michigan, the Spartans once again looked like a top team. While MSU’s potent attack was on full display, the Buffs tested the Spartan defense and proved dangerous in a second-half turnaround.
In the opening minute, senior Kayla Briggs found the back of the net in an offside position. The goal was waived, but it gave the Spartans a needed shot of confidence after failing to score Thursday.
“The moment that went in, it was a deep breath,” graduate midfielder Emerson Sargeant said. “If that can go in, then other ones can go in. Every time we start fast, we have a good game.”
The game started testily until the Spartans found the back of the net through an own goal in the 21st minute. The rain assisted MSU when a dangerous cross into the area by junior defender Faith George was turned in by a Colorado defender.
“I thought we had a great response today,” head coach Jeff Hosler said. “Great first half, clearly not the second half we would desire, but at the end of the day, the result is gonna matter as the season progresses.”
MSU doubled its lead four minutes later with another dangerous ball into the box by George, this time finding Sargeant, who tucked it away neatly into the bottom corner for her first goal of the season.
Sargeant got her second goal of the game in the 32nd minute, after pouncing on a loose ball that Colorado goalkeeper Jamie Campbell spilled from senior forward Kennedy Bell’s stinging shot.
“It feels good,” Sargeant said. “My first two of the season, I’m glad to get it out of the way. The first one is the hardest, so I’m glad I can do that and keep going, hopefully.”
The generous lead allowed the Spartans to play with more freedom, creativity and substitutions. In a complete turnaround from Thursday’s scoreless draw, the lack of caution gave MSU the confidence to run riot.
“I think sometimes the expectations and worrying about what could go wrong seeps in with our group, and then it tends to go wrong,” Hosler said. “When we do play with confidence, it allows us to do the things that we do; I think we’re one of the top teams in the country, and when we don’t, anybody can beat us. We saw that on Thursday and in our second half today.”
With a 3-0 lead going into the second half, the Spartans trusted one another, enabling a more dangerous attack. But it was the same confidence that made room for the Buffs to mount a comeback.
Colorado’s Reagan Kotschau found the back of the net in the 58th minute with a shot from outside the area, giving the Buffs a lifeline and the Spartans a reality check. With the lead reduced to just two goals, MSU looked less comfortable as Colorado gained momentum.
Sunday's rainy match featured top talent on both ends. Leading the line for the Buffs was forward Hope Leyba, the No. 1-ranked player in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. Her twin sister Faith Leyba comes in at No. 22 MSU’s Bell is the Spartans’ highest at No. 17, and senior midfielder Kayla Briggs is placed at No. 31. The sisters scored in the two meetings between the teams last season, proving to be a tricky force. That same skill found its way into this afternoon's match.
Hope Leyba found her moment in the 77th minute, finishing a cross from Faith Leyba to give Colorado belief going into the final minutes. Hope Leyba was kept quiet for the majority of the game as MSU's Julia Belli put in a great shift to keep her under wraps.
“We knew their whole team was going to be physical. We were definitely ready for it.” Belli said. “It was fun to be able to slide with the rain … it was a fun game to play.”
Belli spent last season on the sidelines after an impressive season as a freshman, when she was named All-Freshman Big Ten and started all 22 matches. Her return in the heart of defense brings stability and strength to the Spartans.
“It was a long season last season, being out,” Belli said. “Being back on the field and having all the support from my team, they make it so much fun. I’m grateful I can come back and have an impact.”
“(Belli) is still not game fit, with all the things she's been through, with the year she’s had,” Hosler said. “She is gutting out 75 to 90-minute performances right now and doing it in succession. It shows her resilience and her toughness, so I’m super proud of her for that.”
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Led by Belli in defense and undeterred by the Buffs’ imminent goal-scoring threat, the Spartans continued with promising chances that kept Colorado on its heels. With this team effort, the Spartans hung on to the lead until the final whistle.
“When we're connected and there's a vibe to us, an energy about us, I think we’re tough to beat — I don’t know if we can be beaten,” Hosler said. “But when we don’t have it, it tends to fall apart pretty quick.”
The Spartans will travel to No. 25 Notre Dame on Thursday in a continuation of their tough preparation schedule. The next match at DeMartin Stadium is Sept. 20 against rival Michigan.
