Michigan State University
Bowling Green
Men's Soccer Opens Season With Impressive Effort
9/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 1, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Michigan State men's soccer team opened the season with a 3-0 victory at Bowling Green on Wednesday afternoon. Senior forward Jordan Gruber (Beverly Hills) scored twice, while goalkeepers sophomore Jason Tillman (Brighton) and freshman Chris Austin (Livonia) combined on the shutout. The victory marks the fifth-straight year that MSU has opened with a victory. Bowling Green falls to 0-1 on the year.
Gruber opened the scoring with a goal in the 22nd minute, on an assist from junior midfielder John Kaczmarek (Plymouth). Although that was the only goal of the half, Michigan State outshot Bowling Green, 11-0, in the half. The Spartans were equally dominating in the second half, outshooting the Falcons, 13-2. A goal by senior forward John Minagawa-Webster (Monroe) in the 61st minute gave the Spartans some breathing room. Senior defender Kellen Kalso (Oxford) assisted on Minagawa-Webster's goal.
MSU put the game away at the 71:56 mark as Gruber scored his second goal of the game, with assists from Minagawa-Webster and junior midfielder Ryan McMahen (Munster, Ind.).
Tillman started the game in goal for the Spartans, playing the first 77:26. Austin played the final 12:34 in net. Neither goalkeeper was required to make a save.
Michigan State returns to action this weekend as it hosts the MSU/Radisson Fall Soccer Classic on Sept. 4-5 at Old College Field. On Sept. 4, MSU will face St. Francis at 2:30 p.m. Prior to that contest, Michigan will play Western Illinois at noon. The following day, Michigan plays St. Francis at 1:15 p.m., followed by MSU vs. Western Illinois at 3:30 p.m.
Team 1 2 TotalMSU 1 2 3BGSU 0 0 0
Scoring Summary1. 21:54 (MSU) Gruber (Kaczmarek)2. 60:58 (MSU) Minagawa-Webster (Kalso)3. 71:56 (MSU) Gruber (Minagawa-Webster, McMahen)
