Lansing Sun

Michigan State suffered a 3-2 double-overtime loss to Ohio on Sunday in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans, now 2-2 for the season, had two goals reversed on review and an apparent overtime game-winner disallowed in the first overtime period. Ohio also stands at 2-2 after securing their second consecutive OT victory.

Michigan State outshot Ohio 24-14 overall. The game-winning goal came 2:32 into the second overtime period when Anouk Plaehn scored following three consecutive corner opportunities for Ohio. Plaehn capitalized on a shot by Meela Kopp to secure the win.

Despite being down a player due to a yellow card against Emma O'Neill late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State's defense was strong through the first overtime frame. Caro Schäfer disrupted a 2-on-1 attempt, and Ellie Rutherford redirected a potential game-ending shot to force the second overtime.

The Spartans led 2-1 at halftime. Bianca Pizano scored late in the first quarter with her team-best third goal of the season after redirecting a blocked shot into the net. Meela Kopp equalized for Ohio early in the second quarter with her first score of the year from a penalty shot. Maddie Lawlor assisted Rutherford's backhand shot at 24:12 to regain MSU's lead.

Ohio tied up the game again in the fourth quarter after MSU had a goal disallowed that would have extended their lead to 3-1. Sasha Dikotia then scored her second goal of the season at 53:56 for Ohio.

Ohio goalie Macy Lotze made nine saves, including five crucial ones in the second quarter. Lyra Gavino recorded two saves for Michigan State.

Next weekend, Michigan State will split its schedule between road and home games. They travel to Kentucky for a match against Bellarmine on Friday at noon before returning home for an encounter with Colgate on Sunday morning at 11 am.

Notes:

MSU has lost six straight OT games dating back to early last season.

Bianca Pizano’s goal is her career-best third of this season.

Ellie Rutherford recorded her first goal of this season.

Senior Maddie Lawlor is now second on MSU’s scoring list with today's assist.

MSU took fourteen shots in the first half but was limited to seven by Ohio’s defense in the second half; six of Ohio’s fourteen shots came during OT.