Lansing Sun

Michigan State secured a 5-0 victory over Colgate at home on Sunday, marking head coach Helen Knull's 100th career win. Bianca Pizano scored twice for the Spartans (4-2), while sophomore Lyra Gavino earned her first career shutout.

MSU led 1-0 at halftime and held a 5-2 advantage in shots during the first half. The Spartan offense surged in the second half, scoring twice in both the third and fourth quarters, totaling 16 shots while limiting Colgate (1-4) to five shots overall. Gavino made two saves, and Claire vanKempen recorded ten saves for the Raiders.

Pizano scored the only goal of the first half by dribbling past a defender and shooting past vanKempen at 9:56 of the first quarter.

In the third quarter, seniors Jillian Bonczewski and Emma O'Neill extended MSU's lead to 3-0. Bonczewski deflected an Ellie Wheatley feed for her second goal of the season at 40:13, and O'Neill tipped a Carmen Pucheta shot on MSU's second consecutive corner play with one second remaining in the period.

Sophomore Brynn Shaffer assisted Pizano for her second goal of the game at 54:25 in the fourth quarter, bringing her season total to five goals. Freshman Lilian Knorr scored her first career goal with just 2:30 remaining off an assist from Ellie Rutherford, finalizing MSU's lead at 5-0.

The Spartans will begin Big Ten play next weekend with a game against Ohio State on Friday, airing on BTN+.

NOTES:

Michigan State has matched its win total from last season (4) within six games this year. Both losses this season have occurred in overtime.

Helen Knull achieved her 100th career victory during her 14th season as head coach. She is now the longest-tenured coach in program history and holds the second-most wins since the program began in 1972.

The Spartans have significantly improved their offensive performance compared to last year, scoring 19 goals through six games this season versus just 17 goals across all of last season's sixteen games.

Bianca Pizano had her second two-goal game of this season; her five goals would have led last year's team.

Sophomore Lyra Gavino earned her first career shutout with two saves. She has started every game this season and maintains a goals-against average of 1.76.

Emma O'Neill scored her second goal of this season today and leads MSU with four assists. Her eight points are close to matching her career-best ten points set in 2022.

Jillian Bonczewski’s three goals mark a career high for both goals and points as a senior.

Ellie Rutherford assisted Lilian Knorr’s first collegiate goal; she now has three assists along with two goals for seven points this season.