Michigan State University
Wisconsin
Men's Soccer Falls In Home Finale, 2-1
10/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 27, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Despite a 12-shot second-half surge, the Michigan State men's soccer team fell to Wisconsin, 2-1, Sunday (Oct. 27) afternoon at Old College Field. The loss drops MSU to 10-6 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten while the Badgers improve to 8-8 and 2-3 in conference play.
"I thought in the first half we were even," said MSU head coach Joe Baum. "I thought we played as hard as we could in the second half. It was one of the best halves we've played all year."
Wisconsin grabbed a 1-0 lead at the 18:50 mark as Nick Van Sicklen took the ball in all alone and scored from just outside the top of the 18-yard box. State fought back but could not convert and the Badgers extended their lead to 2-0 in the 32nd minute, scoring off a header.
A nice individual effort by Jordan Gruber (So., Beverly Hills) gave MSU its best scoring opportunity of the first half as he dribbled in and around Wisconsin defenders but couldn't put the ball past UW goalkeeper Eric Hanson.
A fired up MSU team came out strong in the early going of the second half, outshooting the Badgers 9-0 20 minutes into the second half. After dominating the play most of the half, the Spartans finally had something to show for it when Nick DeGraw (Jr., Clinton Twp.) beat Hanson with a header into the upper right-hand corner to make the score 2-1. It was DeGraw's fourth goal in the last three games. Kevin Wittig (Jr., Newton, Pa.,) and Kellen Kalso (So., Oxford) each drew assists on the goal.
The game got rougher down the stretch, with six cards being handed out in the final 15 minutes. State nearly tied the game late in the half but a shot by Brett Konley (Sr., Plymouth) went just wide of the goal.
MSU closes out the regular season Friday (Nov. 1) when it travels to Bowling Green for a 3 p.m. match with the Falcons.
Game SummaryTeam 1st 2nd TotalWisconsin 2 0 2Michigan State 0 1 1
Scoring Summary1. 18:50 UW Nick Van Sicklen (unassisted)2. 31:16 UW Phil Doeh (Van Slicken)3. 71:35 MSU Nick DeGraw (Wittig, Kalso)
Shot AttemptsWisconsin 7 2 9Michigan State 7 12 19
Goalkeeper SavesHanson (UW) 7T. Robinson (MSU) 3
Corner KicksWisconsin 2Michigan State 7
Cautions and EjectionsYC-MSU Babinski (31:16); YC-MSU Wittig (41:56); YC-UW Nord (68:41); YC-MSU Konley (73:19);YC-MSU Kalso (75:36); YC-UW Goerlitz (79:24); YC-MSU DeGraw (79:30);RC-UW Epp (83:42); RC-MSU Babinski (85:45); YC-MSU TM (85:45).
