EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — In a tightly contested NCAA women’s soccer match Sunday, the Michigan State Spartans defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 2-1, avenging a season-opening draw between the two teams.

Playing before a crowd of 1,898, the Spartans improved their record to 8-2-3, while the Buffaloes, who entered the match with just two losses on the season, fell to 13-3-3.

The game’s outcome was heavily influenced by a standout performance from Michigan State forward Bella Najera, who scored both of her team’s goals. Najera’s brace proved decisive in a match that defied a pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 2-1 victory for Colorado.

The first half saw both teams probing for an opening, but it was the Spartans who broke through late in the period. Najera found the back of the net for the first time, giving Michigan State a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. The goal was assisted by defender Sofia Beerworth.

Najera struck again early in the second half, doubling the Spartans’ advantage and putting significant pressure on the visiting Buffaloes. Colorado managed to pull one goal back, but the Michigan State defense held firm against a late push to secure the victory.

The match was a reversal of the teams’ first meeting on Aug. 14, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Colorado. The result also continued contrasting trends for the two programs. The Buffaloes saw a four-match unbeaten streak snapped, a run that included a 2-1 win over Utah Valley in their previous outing. Their last loss prior to Sunday was a 2-1 defeat to Kansas on Nov. 5.

For Michigan State, the win extends their own unbeaten streak to three matches. The Spartans had previously defeated Northwestern 1-0 on Nov. 2 and Nebraska 1-0 on Oct. 26. Their defensive solidity has been a hallmark of this run, with Sunday’s match marking the first time they have conceded a goal in three games.

Both coaches utilized their benches extensively, with a flurry of substitutions occurring throughout the match, particularly around the 45-minute mark and again in the final quarter-hour as the teams sought to shift momentum.

The victory provides a significant momentum boost for Michigan State as they continue their season, while Colorado will look to rebound from a rare defeat when they return to action.