MSU women's soccer to meet Purdue for Big Ten title after 1-0 semifinal win over U-M

ST. LOUIS — Renee Watson’s goal in the 40th minute stood up as the game-winner in Michigan State’s 1-0 victory over rival Michigan in the Big Ten semifinals on Sunday at Energizer Park in St. Louis.  

The win sends the Spartans to the Big Ten tournament title game for the second straight season on Friday, Nov. 13.

Watson’s goal came on a free kick after a foul call against Michigan when Kayla Briggs was hauled down at the top of the penalty area on the right side. On the free kick, Bella Najera overran the ball as a decoy, and Watson’s left-footed booted curled into the back of the net, out of the reach of a diving Michigan goalkeeper Malia Zillman. 

MSU (15-3-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, will play 3-seed Purdue in the championship game in West Lafayette, Ind., on Friday, Nov. 13 (Time TBD, Big Ten Network).

Michigan (8-6-5), the No. 8 seed, upset top-seeded Ohio State on Nov. 5 to reach the semifinals. The Wolverines now await the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 16 to find out their NCAA tournament fate.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU women’s soccer to meet Purdue for Big Ten title after 1-0 semifinal win over U-M