Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
9-4-7, 4-2-5
#9 Michigan State
11-3-5, 7-1-3
Northwestern Falls 1-0 to No. 9 Michigan State in Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal
11/2/2025 6:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Northwestern's Big Ten Tournament run concluded in a 1-0 quarterfinal loss to No. 9 Michigan State at Folk Field on Sunday afternoon.
The 7-seeded Wildcats (9-4-7, 4-2-5 Big Ten) fended off consistent attacking pressure from the 2-seeded Spartans (11-3-5, 7-1-3 Big Ten), but Kayla Briggs' 73rd-minute strike marked the difference between the two sides.
"It's good to play against a really good team," coach Michael Moynihan said. "There's a lot we can pull from it. This experience is something where we can talk through and work on some things to be ready for the next opponent we face like this."
The result ended Northwestern's five-match unbeaten run, which had stretched back to Oct. 12.
The Wildcat backline drew a tough assignment in Michigan State forward Kennedy Bell, who entered the matchup with a Big Ten-best 10 goals and 25 points. With junior defender Maddie Finnerty and senior defender Brooke Miller marking the potent scorer, Bell managed just two shots — neither of which were on target.
Moynihan said he was especially pleased with his team's defensive effort against Bell.
"She had one good look, but other than that, we contained her pretty well in their attack," Moynihan said.
Junior forward Megan Norkett orchestrated the Wildcats' best look at goal in the match, unleashing a powerful effort from distance in the 14th minute. But Norkett, whose late-goal against USC on Thursday night vaulted NU into the quarterfinal round, saw her shot parried away by Spartan goalkeeper Noelle Henning.
First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson's three first-half saves and a steady defensive showing kept Michigan State at bay beyond the hour-mark, but Briggs' breakthrough left the Wildcats in a 1-0 deficit with just 17 minutes to find an answer.
Ultimately, Northwestern's push for an equalizer fell short, ending the team's first trip to the Big Ten Tournament since the 2022 campaign.
"We fought hard all the way to the end," Moynihan said. "To come away 1-0, we had a couple of good looks and one of those goes the right way, maybe it's a little different. We're better in terms of the overall performance than what we showed tonight. That's what we have to get back to for the NCAA Tournament."
The Wildcats, who sit 29th in the NCAA DI Women's Soccer RPI, return to the training ground in the coming days as they await their NCAA Tournament fate. The NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed during the annual Selection Show on Monday, November 10 at 3 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Kayla Briggs (5)
Assisted By: Regan Dalton
GOAL by MSU Briggs, Kayla Assist by Dalton, Regan.
72:53
