Michigan State University
Buffalo
Men's Soccer Team Blanks Buffalo, 1-0
9/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 12, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's soccer team broke a three-game losing streak and handed Buffalo its first loss of the season, defeating the Bulls, 1-0, Friday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium. In his first career start, sophomore goalkeeper Avery Steinlage picked up the win, recording three saves.
"Avery was rock-solid and I thought his air game was outstanding today," said MSU head coach Joe Baum.
Early on, the Spartans generated a great scoring opportunity when Louis Stephens III fed Doug DeMartin inside the box, but DeMartin fired wide.
Stephens again set up another scoring chance in the 12th minute, beating a Buffalo defender to a ball in the corner, just to the right of the net. Stephens then hit a streaking Jeff Ricondo, who found the back of the net for his first goal of the season to give MSU the only goal it would need.
"Getting the first goal sure helped. A lot of times when teams score early on us, they packed it in on us. With us scoring first, Buffalo had to stay more offensive and that gave us a chance to possess the ball a little more," added Baum.
The Bulls best chance of the first half came in the 26th minute when Lee Catchpole hit the post. DeMartin nearly doubled MSU's lead in the 41st minute, directing a header off the crossbar.
In the second half, the Bulls took over control of the game, keeping a majority of the play in MSU territory. A giveaway inside the box by the Spartan defense in the 75 minute lead to the best scoring opportunity of the day for the Bulls, but Mateo Escobar fired a shot wide of the net.
"I felt like we got back to Spartan soccer. All week, we emphasized defense, defense, defense and I thought we defended really well today. It was a blue-collar win and that is what we're all about," Baum said.
The Spartans will return to action on Sunday (Sept. 14) when they host UIC at 2:30 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
