Michigan State University
Oregon State
DeMartin, MSU Blank Oregon State, 1-0
8/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 31, 2007
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Junior Doug DeMartin scored the match's lone goal in the 12th minute to give the Michigan State men's soccer team a 1-0 season-opening victory over Oregon State Friday afternoon at Old College Field. Senior goalkeeper Chris Austin posted his first career shutout for the Spartans, who are hosting the MSU/Radisson Soccer Classic for the eighth straight year.
DeMartin's game-winner came at the 11:29 mark on a touch pass from fellow senior Kenzo Webster on the right wing.
"Kenzo tapped a beautiful ball and Doug just buried it," head coach Joe Baum said.
Junior Zac Scaffidi set up the play and also was credited with an assist on the goal.
Neither team wasted much time generating scoring chances as Oregon State's Brett Gardner and Scaffidi each fired shots off the post in the first two minutes of the contest. Michigan State kept the pressure on as a DeMartin header hit the crossbar at the 7:27 mark, setting a fast pace throughout the contest.
Oregon State (0-1) created several good scoring opportunities and actually held a 10-7 shot advantage during the match, but the Spartan defense tightened at the opportune moments.
"Oregon State has a nice team and they had a lot of good chances," Baum said. "We played very solid team defense and we worked together well. It was certainly our brand of Spartan soccer."
Senior goalkeeper Chris Austin, making his first career start in goal, got the shutout while posting six saves. It was his first career win as a Spartan.
"Our defense played great, so I just did what I could to help," Austin said. "We shut them down and it was a good way to start off with a win."
DeMartin led all players with three shots. His goal was his 10th career tally.
MSU will shoot for its fourth consecutive 2-0 start on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 3:30 p.m. against Western Kentucky, who lost a 1-0 double-overtime contest to Wright State in the earlier match of the day.
