The nation's second-best team now sits at 7-1-2 with a 3-1-0 conference mark. All week, MSU used the rivalry loss as momentum to work even harder. "Those are emotions you can lean into," head coach Jeff Hosler said on Wednesday.

Against Nebraska, a stronger, perseverant spirit was key to getting back in the win column. 

“I had all the emotions,” Sargeant said. “Sunday was actually a difficult result for us. We had a lot of things to work through, it was a challenging week in a lot of ways.”

Senior forward Kennedy Bell opened the scoring in the first half before junior forward Shelby Vaughn doubled the lead shortly after halftime. Nebraska erased both goals in the final 20 minutes, scoring in the 72nd and 84th minutes and converting a penalty kick to level the game.

Then Sargeant settled it. The Hartland, Michigan, native received the ball, drove forward and fired a right-footed shot into the top-right corner to put MSU back in front with less than four minutes remaining.

MSU controlled much of the first half, using quick combinations and short passes through the middle to create chances, while Nebraska struggled to keep possession. Bell gave the Spartans the lead in the 30th minute after senior midfielder Kayla Briggs and senior midfielder Bella Najera combined to move the ball through the center of the field.

The Spartans carried the 1-0 lead into halftime and continued pressing after the break. Hosler said MSU didn't want to sit back to protect the lead; they aimed to attack for a second and third goal.

“We’d rather see games out by scoring a second or third goal and creating greater distance between us and our opponent,” Hosler said. “Sometimes when you lose that attacking mentality, you absorb more pressure. For a game in which Nebraska didn’t have any box entries until we scored our second goal, I thought we were pretty close to that.”

The Spartans created several opportunities early in the second half before Vaughn, who entered as a substitute, doubled the lead in the 67th minute. Vaughn took advantage of a Cornhuskers defensive lapse and lobbed the ball over the keeper for the finish.

“It’s just great,” Vaughn said. “It’s my role as someone who plays different positions. You have to bring the intensity to step up on the field, and that’s what I try to bring to every game.”

Hosler said Vaughn’s impact went beyond the goal.

“Obviously having a goal is massive, but I think it was all the other things,” Hosler said. “It was moving off the ball. She wants to be in combination play, be involved with the ball. There were moments we needed to get hold of play. That’s what Shelby can do for us.”

Nebraska cut the deficit to one when Ava Makovicka found the bottom of the net in the 72nd minute. Twelve minutes later, Ella Guyott converted a penalty kick to tie the game at 2-2. The comeback was familiar territory for the Cornhuskers, who had already shown an ability to fight back after falling behind ranked opponents. Nebraska went up 2-1 against No. 11 Washington on Sept. 20 before surrendering the lead late.

Meanwhile, MSU had a choice to make: protect the draw or push for another goal. The Spartans pushed, and the attacking approach paid off.

Sargeant’s goal came after Nebraska gave MSU an opening for her to take advantage. She dribbled forward before finding the top-right corner with a composed finish.

“If we’re not disciplined, we’re not going to go very far. I think all these moments are things that can fuel you later in the season," Hosler said. "There’s gonna be other moments when you’re down a goal. Maybe you’re chasing a game, and that’s when you remember moments like these."

MSU now turns its attention to No. 18 Washington on Sunday, looking to rewrite the ending of last season’s Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament championship game.