Michigan State University
Bowling Green
Spartans, Falcons Battle to Scoreless Deadlock
10/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 19, 2011
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State hosted Bowling Green on Wednesday afternoon, and both teams battled the elements as much as they did one another in settling on the 0-0 double-overtime deadlock. The Spartans are 4-7-3 overall, while Bowling Green is 7-4-2 on the season.
"I thought that the conditions today made things tough for both teams," said head coach Damon Rensing. "I thought the Bowling Green defense did a nice job while we were pressing late in regulation, and I thought we did pretty well with limiting the scoring chances against. I really would have liked us to be able to step up and get a goal, but in light of all the circumstances today, I think both teams really fought hard."
A consistent, driving rain greeted the teams once they arrived at DeMartin Stadium, and it made the game conditions far less than desirable for both teams. It was a tough day for ball control and passing, as the players were sliding due to a lack of firm footing. The game was physical, with a total of 20 fouls and six yellow cards. The complexion of the game changed a bit in the 41st minute, when BG second-leading scorer Rodcliff Hall picked up his second yellow card of the game, forcing the Falcons to play man-down for the remaining 70 minutes.
Bowling Green had some chances, with four first-half corner kicks and a total of five during regulation and eight in the game. BG's lone shot on net in the half came in the final minute of that frame, from Joey D'Agostino.
The Spartans were playing without two of their top three scorers on the season (Adam Montague and Rubin Bega) due to red cards assessed in last Sunday's game at Wisconsin. MSU had seven shots in the second period, pressing to get a goal before the game went to extra time. The Spartans had four corner kicks in the half and forced Michael Wiest to make three saves.
Most of the best chances came for the teams in the overtime periods - Jeremy Clark was forced to make two of his three saves in the game in the first overtime off shots from Zach Lemke and Danny Baraldi.
With three minutes remaining in the second overtime period, Garret Back had a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar.
The teams battled through until near darkness, but neither team could generate many dangerous scoring chances, thanks in large part to the elements. For Clark, it was his third shutout of the season, and lowered his goals against average to 0.94.
MSU returns to action this Sunday, when it plays at Big Ten rival Indiana. Gametime is 3 p.m. eastern.
