Thursday, September 18
East Lansing, MI
5:00 PM PT
UCLA
at
Michigan State
Kara Croone
Photo by: Scott Chandler
Women's Soccer Rallies to Tie Michigan State, 1-1
September 18, 2025 | Women's Soccer
East Lansing, Mich. - No. 4 UCLA rallied to take one point on the road with a 1-1 tie against Michigan State on Thursday night. The Bruins fell behind in the 20th minute but tied the game in the 59th minute on a second-chance goal by Kara Croone.
The host Spartans (3-2-4, 0-0-2) struck first at 19:19 after Kayla Briggs intercepted a throw-in just past midfield. Briggs dribbled up the field before finding Kennedy Bell, who sped past the Bruin defense and fired with her right past goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor for the game's first goal.
Down 1-0 at the half, the Bruins (5-2-1, 1-0-1) quickly came back to tie. Lexi Wright started the play in the 59th minute by sending a cross that ended up bouncing to Oruha Hayashi at the top of the box. Hayashi fired a low shot that was stopped by Spartan goalkeeper Noelle Henning, but Henning could not hold onto the ball, and Croone pounced on the rebound and sent it past Henning from close range for the equalizer. The goal was Croone's first of the season.
Wright very nearly scored the game-winner in the final minute with a shot in front of the box, but Henning made a big save to preserve the tie.
Nakfoor also came up big late in the game with saves in the 78th and 80th minutes on headers off corner kicks. She finished with five saves in the contest on 12 Spartan shots. Henning had six saves on 13 Bruin shots.
UCLA continues its road trip on Sunday with a 1pm ET/10am PT contest at Michigan.
The host Spartans (3-2-4, 0-0-2) struck first at 19:19 after Kayla Briggs intercepted a throw-in just past midfield. Briggs dribbled up the field before finding Kennedy Bell, who sped past the Bruin defense and fired with her right past goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor for the game's first goal.
Down 1-0 at the half, the Bruins (5-2-1, 1-0-1) quickly came back to tie. Lexi Wright started the play in the 59th minute by sending a cross that ended up bouncing to Oruha Hayashi at the top of the box. Hayashi fired a low shot that was stopped by Spartan goalkeeper Noelle Henning, but Henning could not hold onto the ball, and Croone pounced on the rebound and sent it past Henning from close range for the equalizer. The goal was Croone's first of the season.
All tied up in the 59th minute! Kara Croone knocks in the rebound after Oruha Hayashi's shot is saved.
โ UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) September 19, 2025
??: @BigTenNetwork #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/2OmYV3kOUR
Wright very nearly scored the game-winner in the final minute with a shot in front of the box, but Henning made a big save to preserve the tie.
Nakfoor also came up big late in the game with saves in the 78th and 80th minutes on headers off corner kicks. She finished with five saves in the contest on 12 Spartan shots. Henning had six saves on 13 Bruin shots.
UCLA continues its road trip on Sunday with a 1pm ET/10am PT contest at Michigan.
Players Mentioned
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