Michigan State University
Big Ten Tournament
Men's Soccer Upends Ohio State, 3-2
11/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 14, 2002
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -
With just under four minutes to play in the opening game of the Big Ten Men's Soccer Championship, Michigan State's Jordan Gruber (So., Beverly Hills) ensured the Spartan men's soccer team a spot in the semifinals, scoring the game-winning goal to propel MSU past Ohio State, 3-2. Gruber beat OSU goalkeeper Chad Brown with a shot that sailed into the upper corner of the near post at the 86:39 mark. Derek Ornekian (Sr., Novi) and Jeff Krass (Jr., Brighton) each drew assists on Gruber's goal.
MSU is now 12-6 while OSU falls to 11-7-1.
The Spartans came out determined in the first half, creating more scoring opportunities and outshooting the Buckeyes by a count of 9-1. However, the teams went into halftime tied at one due to two own goals. The Spartans took a 1-0 lead when an Ohio State defender tried to clear the ball from his own zone and headed the ball into his own net. The Spartans suffered their own misfortune as well though, as OSU tied the game when a Spartan defender headed the ball into his own net to tie the game in the 40th minute.
State reclaimed the lead in the 57th minute as Brett Konley (Sr., Plymouth) scored his ninth goal of the season, unassisted, chipping the ball over Brown's head for a 2-1 advantage. Just over five minutes later, the Buckeyes knotted the game back up, as Kevin Nugent made the score 2-2, setting the stage for Gruber's game winner.
Spartan goalkeeper Tyler Robinson (Sr., Lansing) made five saves in the win, while the Spartans outshot the Buckeyes by a count of 15-10 for the game.
With the win, MSU will take on the winner of today's Northwestern-Michigan game at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Nov. 15).
Game SummaryTeam 1st 2nd TotalMichigan State 1 2 3Ohio State 1 1 2
Scoring Summary1. 4:27 MSU Own Goal2. 39:46 OSU Own Goal3. 56:32 MSU Brett Konley (unassisted)4. 62:12 OSU Kevin Nugent (Tamporello)5. 86:39 MSU Jordan Gruber (Ornekian, Krass)
Shot AttemptsMichigan State 9 6 15Ohio State 1 9 10
Goalkeeper SavesT. Robinson (MSU) 5Brown (OSU) 4
Corner KicksMichigan State 2Ohio State 4
Cautions and EjectionsYC-MSU Wittig (31:13), YC-OSU Grossnickle (35:48).
