Men's Soccer Hosts BGSU on Wednesday
10/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 20, 2009
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's soccer team (7-4-1) will host the Bowling Green Falcons (2-8-2) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 21) at DeMartin Stadium.
The Last Time Out: Michigan State claimed its third consecutive win over Indiana, downing the No. 23 Hoosiers, 1-0, in double overtime on Sunday in Bloomington, Ind. Jeff Ricondo took a pass from Rubin Bega just over two minutes into the second overtime session and scored to give MSU its first Big Ten win of the year. Avery Steinlage made a season-high eight saves to notch his sixth shutout of the year.
Series History: The Spartans are 15-16-5 all time against the Falcons, including an 8-6-3 mark at home. MSU shutout BGSU, 4-0, in Bowling Green last season and has won the last seven in the series. The Falcons last defeated MSU in 2001, 3-1, in East Lansing.
Conference Honors: Juniors Jeff Ricondo and Avery Steinlage were named Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Monday by the conference office. Ricondo picked up the first weekly conference accolade of his career after scoring the game-winner against IU while Steinlage's eight-save performance against the Hoosiers earned him his fourth career weekly award. MSU's sweep of the weekly awards was the first for the program since Nov. 3, 2008 when Louis Stephens III and Steinlage each garnered the honors.
Defense Still Leads Conference: The Spartan defense has allowed a league-low seven goals this season - four less than second-place Ohio State. MSU's team goals-against average of 0.58 leads the conference by over 0.20. Just three times in the last 24 games has MSU allowed more than one goal while it has posted 17 shutouts in that span.
Steinlage Now Third on MSU Shutout List: Avery Steinlage's sixth shutout of the season on Sunday gave him 19 for his career, moving him into a tie with Jason Tillman (2003-06) and Gary Wilkinson (1974-76) for third place on the all-time MSU shutout list.
Up Next: MSU will host Michigan at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 25) at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans enter Sunday's match having taken five of the last six meetings between the schools.
Sunday's game will also be men's soccer alumni day.
