Michigan State University
6-3-0, 0-3Big Ten
Rutgers
5-1-0, 1-1Big Ten
Women's Soccer falls to Scarlet Knights, 1-0
9/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Michigan State has now dropped their opening three Big Ten games all by just one goal.
"We've been so close in the last three, but it just hasn't gone our way," said MSU head coach Tom Saxton. "Credit to Rutgers today, they took it to us in the second half. We needed to be a better ball-possession team to give ourselves a better chance."
Spartans goalkeeper Courtney Clem was busy in the first half, facing nine shots and making four saves to keep it 0-0.
Michigan State had a late scoring chance when in the final seconds of the half, senior Nicole Caruso sent a free kick into the box that was redirected by freshman Morgan McKerchie, but kept out by a diving Rutgers keeper.
The Spartans came out in the second half with early pressure. In the 59th minute a Rutgers defender played a ball back to the keeper Murphy who picked the ball up thinking it was tipped by MSU. The play resulted in an indirect free kick inside the 18-yard-box, but was hit high and over the bar by defender Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz.
In the 89th minute the Spartans received a yellow card for a late challenge outside the box, setting up a free kick to the right of MSU goalkeeper Courtney Clem. Valiant took it and beamed one top-right corner over the outstretched Clem to make it 1-0.
The Spartans pressed in the final minute but could not find an equalizer.
This was the first ever Big Ten win for Rutgers and the first home win for a Rutgers team as a member of the Big Ten conference.
The Spartans are now 6-3 overall on the year.
"Every team we play in this league is going to be a quality team," said Saxton. "We're a good team too and we'll never be an easy game for anybody, but I think our young players are still adjusting to the physicality of this league."
Michigan State looks to get back on track Sunday afternoon when they travel to College Park, Maryland to take on Maryland. Game time is set for 1 p.m., at Ludwig Field. Fans can follow along online on GameTracker and BTNPlus.
Team Stats
Valliant, Samantha (1)
#14 free kick from 20 yards out on left
88:40
