No. 19 Spartans Tie Valparaiso, 1-1

Oct. 21, 2007

VALPARAISO, Ind. - The No. 19 Michigan State men's soccer team scored after just 28 seconds of play and outshot Valparaiso by a 22-7 margin in a 1-1 tie Sunday afternoon at Valparaiso's Eastgate Field in northwest Indiana. Senior Kenzo Webster scored MSU's lone goal, while VU's Steve Shively found the qualizer in the 27th minute. MSU is now 10-1-2 on the season, while Valparaiso moves to 3-8-3.

Webster took a pass from senior Kevin Reiman on a breakaway and beat VU goalkeeper Ryan Schwartz from 15 yards out at the very beginning of the afternoon to give the Spartans the lead. MSU continued to attack the goal and pressure the Valparaiso defense for the rest of the contest, but couldn't get the goal needed to put the match away.

Valparaiso's Steve Shively answered with a goal at the 27:02 mark on a header off a cross from Adrian Ortiz. Neither team would score for the remaining 82:58 of the match.

MSU owned considerable shots edges in each half, and outshot Valparaiso 4-1 in extra time. Michigan State also held an overwhelming 19-2 advantage in corner kicks. Three Crusaders were issued yellow cards and the Valparaiso was called for 24 fouls. Webster had five shots and Reiman added four to lead MSU. Four other Spartans added two shots apiece.

Schwartz had eight saves in 110 minutes of netminding for the Crusaders. MSU senior keeper Chris Austin, this week's NSCAA National Player of the Week, stopped one shot as Valparaiso managed just two shots on goal against the Spartan defense.

Michigan State returns to action at home against Western Michigan on Wednesday, Oct. 24.