Oregon Soccer (5-8-1, 1-5-1 Big Ten) took on the No. 5 ranked Michigan State (9-0-5, 4-0-3 Big Ten) for its penultimate home match of the season. The Ducks met and even exceeded the Spartans’ intensity and were able to keep Michigan State scoreless for the first time this season in a 0-0 draw.

It was a brisk evening at Papé Field but the Spartans came out of the gates hot. Michigan State's Sofia Beerworth got a shot off from inside the 18-yard box in the first minute. The ball just barely skied over the crossbar. After that Oregon cleaned up its defense and even held control of the ball for most of the first 10 minutes. 

In the 12th minute, Oregon had its best scoring opportunity. Lauren Kenny attempted a shot off of a crosser from Hailey McWhirter. However, it sailed mere inches to the right of the goalpost. Oregon's intensity never fizzled out.

“I loved the fight, I loved the spirit, I loved the ability to really compete on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Graeme Abel. “I thought the energy from the group for the entire 90 minutes was excellent.”

In the 24th minute, Oregon’s Taylor Bryan and Michigan State’s Renee Watson collided in a fight for possession of the ball. Watson was slow to get up, after a few minutes on the ground she headed to the locker room with an apparent injury. Bryan was issued a yellow card. 

In the 45th minute, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Anna Solomon, making her first career start, faced a one-on-one with Spartan forward Meg Hughes. Hughes had a clear shot on goal, but Solomon was calm under pressure and made a crucial save. It was her second stop of the first half, keeping Oregon in the game.

The two teams headed into the locker room tied 0-0. Michigan State attempted eight shots, two of which were on goal. Oregon attempted four with one being on goal. The Ducks also committed nine first-half fouls. 

After a slow start for both teams in the second half, Oregon had a prime opportunity to break the scoreless tie. In the 62nd minute, McWhirter tried a contested shot from 12 yards out but a Spartan was able to get their head on it and it found the gloves of goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks.

Spartans forward Jordyn Wickes found herself with a prime scoring opportunity just ten yards out in the 70th minute. Wickes unleashed a shot, but Duck goalkeeper Solomon reacted quickly, diving to her left to make an impressive stop. Oregon would clear it out and keep the game scoreless. It was a brilliant effort from the fill-in keeper, continuing her standout performance.

“I was definitely nervous and very excited,” said Solomon. “I have been training so hard for such a long time, waiting for my moment and tonight was.”

The last five minutes of the match were chaotic. It looked like Michigan State was finally going to pull through. Oregon’s defense came through with multiple slide tackles deep in its own territory that would put the Spartans to a halt. The final buzzer rang with the ball at midfield and that was the end of a tense 90-minute match. 

Oregon is the first team to hold Michigan State scoreless since Colorado did so on Aug. 23, 2023 a span of 31 matches.

Michigan State attempted 19 shots and committed eight fouls while attempting 13 corner kicks. Oregon committed 15 fouls — a season-high — and tried 10 shots, only two being on goal. Solomon finished the night with five saves in her first career start in goal.

Oregon will be back at home on Sunday for Senior Day and its final home match of the season against Michigan.