Source: MSUSpartans.com
Posted: Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:48:00 PM EST
Published: Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:51:12 PM EST
Posted: Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:48:00 PM EST
Published: Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:51:12 PM EST
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's soccer team ended its regular-season home slate with a 1-1 tie with San Diego State on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium. MSU is now 10-4-2 while SDSU, currently No. 11 in the latest edition of the RPI, is 6-4-5.
"We just didn't have the sharpness today in possession but we stuck together well as a team and hung on there," said Rensing.
The Aztecs outshot MSU, 6-3, in the first half but neither team generated many threatening scoring chances.
MSU's best opportunity came in the 13th minute when Rubin Bega's shot from 22 yards out just missed the upper right corner.
The Aztecs put the Spartans on their heels to start the second half, but two terrific stops in a one-minute span by Spartan goalkeeper Avery Steinlage and a hit post kept the game scoreless.
MSU weathered San Diego State's early second-half offensive, and after Cyrus Sayde was taken down on a counter attack just outside the penalty area, the Spartans set up for a free kick from 19-yards out in the 61st minute. On the restart, Spencer Thompson set the ball for Bega who sent an arching shot over the wall and the hands of SDSU keeper Brad Byrns for the game's first goal.
"Their keeper looked to be cheating toward the near post and I was able to hit the ball with a good amount of pace and get in there back post," said Bega.
SDSU came back to tie the game however in the 77th minute, as Khadim Diouf took a long pass down the left side and beat the MSU defense and Steinlage with a shot from 8-yards out.
With neither team able to take the lead late in regulation, the game went into overtime where the Aztecs continued to press the Spartans, who were playing their third game in seven days.
Steinlage finished with five saves for MSU while SDSU's Byrns recorded two stops for the game.
"Avery was very good today and made some timely saves," Rensing said.
MSU will face the consensus No. 1 team in the nation on Wednesday (Nov. 4) when it travels to Akron to take on the Zips at 7:30 p.m.
"We just didn't have the sharpness today in possession but we stuck together well as a team and hung on there," said Rensing.
The Aztecs outshot MSU, 6-3, in the first half but neither team generated many threatening scoring chances.
MSU's best opportunity came in the 13th minute when Rubin Bega's shot from 22 yards out just missed the upper right corner.
The Aztecs put the Spartans on their heels to start the second half, but two terrific stops in a one-minute span by Spartan goalkeeper Avery Steinlage and a hit post kept the game scoreless.
MSU weathered San Diego State's early second-half offensive, and after Cyrus Sayde was taken down on a counter attack just outside the penalty area, the Spartans set up for a free kick from 19-yards out in the 61st minute. On the restart, Spencer Thompson set the ball for Bega who sent an arching shot over the wall and the hands of SDSU keeper Brad Byrns for the game's first goal.
"Their keeper looked to be cheating toward the near post and I was able to hit the ball with a good amount of pace and get in there back post," said Bega.
SDSU came back to tie the game however in the 77th minute, as Khadim Diouf took a long pass down the left side and beat the MSU defense and Steinlage with a shot from 8-yards out.
With neither team able to take the lead late in regulation, the game went into overtime where the Aztecs continued to press the Spartans, who were playing their third game in seven days.
Steinlage finished with five saves for MSU while SDSU's Byrns recorded two stops for the game.
"Avery was very good today and made some timely saves," Rensing said.
MSU will face the consensus No. 1 team in the nation on Wednesday (Nov. 4) when it travels to Akron to take on the Zips at 7:30 p.m.
