EAST LANSING- It was alumni day at DeMartin Field on Friday, as Michigan State men’s soccer took on Washington for the Huskies first game in the Big Ten.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Zac Kelly spoke about Alumni Day saying, “To us, that’s everything, it’s why we play, it’s the people before us that kind of pave the way.”
Michigan State came out of the gates flying with high intensity and looking to move the ball down the wings with an early chance at goal within the game’s first minutes by Jake Spadafora that crept just wide of the post.
After the initial surge by Michigan State, Washington would turn the pressure up by rattling off three shot attempts of their own. From the corner, the ball being whipped in could not be placed home by anyone in a black jersey.
Sophomore defender Will Eby would come up big for the Spartans denying the other two shots before they even reached Kelly.
Washington would continue the pressure by forcing another corner, through a nice save by Zac Kelly on the shot from Washington midfielder Richie Aman.
From the ensuing corner, the ball would be played to the edge of the box and shot just over the net by Cooper Brunell.
Washington would continue the pressure with a ball switched over to the left side with a beautiful touch by junior midfielder Richie Aman, he would cut into the box and drill a shot just wide of the left post.
Michigan State would not allow this pressure to go on for long as they would continue to work the ball into the box to create chances that just no one could get on the end of.
The Spartans would have a corner delivered that would be taken care of by the Washington Defense.
The Washington defense would turn their clearance into offense with a free kick just on the left side of the box that would be played into the area with another block by Will Eby.
The game would go into halftime with Michigan State possessing 56% of the ball, whereas Washington held the advantage with seven shots to Michigan State’s three.
Both teams were highly competitive and tenacious to get the game’s first goal.
Coach Rensing would speak on the same team coming out at the start of the new half saying:
“There was good energy and the team was together,…, and they played really well and ride that as long as we could.”
The half would begin with Washington going on the offensive straight off kickoff with a free kick after the foul by junior Cristiano Bruletti that earned the midfielder the game’s first yellow card.
Michigan State would follow this up with their offensive opportunities with beautiful link-up play and excellent counterattack pressure with sophomore forward Richie Ludwig and junior defender Jeremy Sharp not being able to bury the chances coming the Spartans’ way.
Defensive miscues by Washington allowed for a huge chance for the Spartans with junior midfielder Jonathan Stout having a wide-open net with the goalie down on the ground and the Washington defense stepped up to block a huge opportunity for MSU.
MSU would have the breakthrough in the 61st minute as Washington’s miscues would lead to the game’s first goal by Jonathan Stout with a beautiful effort from nearly 25 yards away from the goal that sailed into the top left corner of the net.
Washington would go quickly on the offensive to get that goal back working the ball through Michigan State’s defense and what surely looked like a goal for the Huskies, the freshman defender Brandon Munson would pull off an acrobatic save with his feet to keep this game in the favor of MSU.
Coach Rensing would go on to say, “That (Munson) play was one of the most athletic plays I have seen on a soccer field at any level.”
The Huskies would continue to pile on the pressure to break the defense of Michigan State, but the Spartans would continue to stand tall.
Through the Washington pressure, an opportunity would open for Michigan State as the ball was whipped into the box for forward Jonathan Stout to volley the ball and just went to the outside of the right post.
Washington would be given a penalty kick after a review for a handball by midfielder Cristiano Bruletti and Zac Kelly would come up huge for the Spartans saving the spot kick taken by fifth-year midfielder Peter Kingston on the ensuing corner Zac Kelly would make another save to protect the Spartans’ lead.
Kelly stated postgame, “This game was a game where we found out what we are made of.”
“All 4 defenders and midfielders were blocking shots and sliding all over the place, doing whatever it took.”
Michigan State would hold onto the lead and get their first Big Ten win of the season to knock off Washington to improve their record to to 2-3-2.
Coach Rensing would say postgame that,“Wins like these can potentially change seasons.”
Michigan State heads on the road to Penn State next Friday and UCLA on September 27, both on BTN+.
