Michigan State University
Marquette
Spartans Tie at Marquette, 1-1
9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 16, 2011
East Lansing, Mich. - Freshman Fatai Alashe's first collegiate goal came at an opportune time for the Spartans, as his late marker forged a 1-1 deadlock with Marquette on the road on Friday night. The game was the first in the weekend's Big Ten-BIG EAST Challenge. The Spartans and Golden Eagles each have identical 1-4-1 records on the season.
The teams were scoreless at the intermission, and it took until the 60th minute for the fans in attendance to see a goal. The home team got on the board first, when Calum Mallace converted a penalty kick.
The teams battled on into the waning moments, with the home team trying to put the game away and the Spartans looking for their first score of the night to knot the score. It was MSU which would impose its will, as Mark Barone's shot was saved, and the rebound came back out to Alashe. Alashe redirected the shot into the back of the net to knot the game at one in the 82nd minute.
Nearly 30 more minutes of scoreless play followed Alashe's equalizer, but the teams were forced to settle on a 1-1 deadlock. Jeremy Clark made four saves for the Spartans.
MSU outshot their hosts by a 24-15 margin, and had a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. The teams each had three corner kicks, and Marquette held a slim edge in fouls, 16-13.
The Spartans will return home to complete play in the Challenge, and will host No. 22 Notre Dame on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Irish were 2-1 overtime winners over Michigan on Friday evening in South Bend.
