EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Rutgers men's soccer team did not make it easy for the Big Ten's top ranked offense on Friday night in a 2-1 loss to No. 5 Michigan State at DeMartin Soccer Stadium.

Rutgers (1-5-1, 0-2-0 Big Ten) kept the Spartans (7-0-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten), fresh off a win over No. 8 Notre Dame, off the scoreboard until midway through the second half.

Playing down by a pair of goals, Scarlet Knight leading scorer Jordan Hall made it a 2-1 game with 10 minutes to go. Then with two minutes remaining in the game, it looked as if Miles Hackett had headed in an equalizer at the far post, but the ball had crossed the end line out of bounds prior to the cross by Bryce Washington.

"The guys fought hard, fought back and really learned something about themselves tonight," said head coach Dan Donigan. "We unfortunately go home without the points, but it certainly showed our guys that we are very capable to battle to the very end. I thought we had some really good chances, especially in the second half, and had some great contribution from the bench and got our depth into the mix. I was happy with the resilience they showed and we have to do that every time, every half, every minute."

Michigan State got onto the scoreboard in the 64^th minute on the first of two Ryan Sierakowski scores. Off a Spartan restart from the right side of the field, the bounce of the ball inside the box in the scramble led to a handball and Sierakowski to convert the penalty kick.

The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the 80^th minute with Sierakowski hitting the left post and in from eight yards out off a feed from DeJuan Jones.

Rutgers, however, continued to apply pressure and finally broke through with six minutes remaining. Redshirt senior Miles Hackett controlled a throw-in deep in Michigan State territory and dribbling through the left side of the box, found Hall to slot the ball into the left post.
 

Jordan Hall puts #RFutbol onto the scoreboard at No. 5 Michigan State pic.twitter.com/xChG4UjiU7

— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 22, 2018

After fending off two Spartan corner kicks and Scarlet Knight netminder Rafael Pereira thwarting the late attempt by Michael Miller, Rutgers countered with two minutes left in regulation.

Redshirt junior Brian Hawkins dribbled down the left side of the field with a pass deep inside the 18 to Washington. Washington made the cross at the end line, but was called out of bounds just as Hackett headed the feed into left post of the Michigan State goal.

Pereira finished the night with three saves, including a diving stop against the Spartan's Sierakowski in the first half.  His counterpart, Jimmy Hague, made one save in the win.
 

👀 Take a look back at the big save by Rafael Pereira to keep the No. 5 Spartans off the scoreboard in the first half pic.twitter.com/E52HzooZJe

— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 22, 2018

While it was Hall, the junior forward, putting away his fourth goal of the season for the Scarlet Knights, Hawkins led RU with five of its 10 shots on the night. Sierakowski, meanwhile, accounted for eight of Michigan State's 15 shots.

The Rutgers men's soccer team returns home on Wednesday, Sept. 26 to host Maryland at 7 p.m.

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