Men's Soccer Stops No. 13 Spartan's Shutout Streak in 2-1 Loss

Friday, September 8

Piscataway, N.J.

7:00 PM

Rutgers University

1-3-1, 0-1-0B1G

Michigan State

5-0-0, 1-0-0B1G

Michigan State

Rutgers

Men's Soccer Stops No. 13 Spartan's Shutout Streak in 2-1 Loss

Sep 08 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Scarlet Knights First Squad To Find The Back of the Michigan State Net After Spartans Open With Four-Straight Shutouts

It came right down to the end, but @RUMensSoccer falls to No. 13 Michigan State 2-1. Our @ginadesab speaks with HC Dan Donigan afterwards: pic.twitter.com/5h7bajGJr0
— RVision (@RVisionRU) September 9, 2017

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Despite stopping No. 13 Michigan State's season-opening shutout streak, the Rutgers men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to the nationally-ranked Spartans on Friday night in the Scarlet Knights' home and Big Ten opener at Yurcak Field.

Senior Ryan Peterson made it a one-goal game with a penalty kick in the 82^nd minute ending MSU's streak of 441 scoreless minutes. The Spartans had opened up the 2017 campaign with four-consecutive clean sheets for the first time since 1968.

While the Scarlet Knights still had several chances as the clock was winding down, RU was unable to find the equalizer before regulation expired.

Rutgers, facing its third top 15 opponent in its first five games, fell to 1-3-1 overall on the year. Michigan State, meanwhile, improved to 5-0-0 overall and allowed its first goal after entering the game outscoring its opponents 5-0.

After a scoreless first half, the Spartans' DeJuan Jones and Michael Pimlott tag teamed to put Michigan State ahead 12 minutes into the second half.

The first of Jones' two goals came as Pimlott lofted the ball from the midfield line into the box for a shot that hit the crossbar and bounced into goal in the 48^th minute. The Spartans' second goal came in the 58^th minute as Jones and Pimlott traded passes into the box resulting in Jones' second goal with a shot from seven yards out at the center of the net.

The Scarlet Knights, who ended the evening outshooting the Spartans 19-6, were relentless in trying to tie the game.

Redshirt senior midfielder Erik Sa nearly put away RU's first goal of the night in the 63^rd minute. After being taken down just outside the 18, the Watchung, New Jersey product's free kick was deflected by MSU goalkeeper Jimmy Hague into the crossbar and back into play.

After Peterson's penalty kick saw RU trail 2-1, Sa again had another free kick opportunity in the closing moments. Serving into the box from the left side, he found Ethan Vanacore-Decker in the crowd in front of the Spartan net where Hague came up with another big save for Michigan State.

Hague finished the night with seven saves. Rutgers' netminder Rafael Pereira made three stops in the loss.

"I was very proud of the way they played. I thought we played a good game and played quality soccer against one of the best defensive teams in the country," said head coach Dan Donigan. "Michigan State is very mature and has an imposing keeper and a great defense in front of him too. They are very stingy defensively, but I thought we created a number of chances and could've put a couple into the back of the net. We get a break or a bounce here or there, and it's all different and maybe we walk away with the win. I'm very happy with the way the guys played and the effort they gave."

The Rutgers men's soccer team will take on another nationally-ranked opponent in No. 5 Maryland at Ludwig Field on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. The game will air on BTN with Dan Kelly and Chris Doran on the call.

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-RU-