Michigan State University
4-5-1, 1-2-0B1G
Michigan
7-1-1, 3-0-0B1G
Michigan State Drops Road Contest to Michigan, 1-0
9/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Michigan State women's soccer team concluded its three game away stretch in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday, Sept. 24. The Spartans fell to Michigan, 1-0, after a late Wolverine goal.
Michigan State fell to 4-5-1 on the 2016 campaign, and 1-2 in the Big Ten Conference, while Michigan improved to 7-1-1 in regular season, and 3-0 in the conference.
"It was a great college soccer match, in front of a great crowd on a beautiful night", said head coach Tom Saxton. We played a great first half and unfortunately, we have to give all credit to Michigan because they put a lot of pressure on us in the second half and came up with the goal."
Michigan took the first shot of the game in the eighth minute, but Michigan State's offense answered quickly in the ensuing minute. Senior Marisa Oleksiak sent back-to-back corner kicks in to the box to connect with freshman Hannah Jones on one of them, but the shot was deflected by Michigan defenders.
The Spartans had their next attempt in the 24th minute, but the shot was saved by the Wolverines' keeper. Warner sent another shot twoard the goal in the 29th, but it sailed high.
Neither team found the back of the net the remainder of the half, and the teams went into the halftime break tied 0-0. Michigan State rounded out the half with five shots, while Michigan recorded eight.
In her first career start as a Spartan, junior Savanna Wojtanowski stopped everything that came her way in the first 45 minutes, and finished the first half with three saves.
The Wolverines started the second with a corner kick and two shots toward the net, but Wojtanowski notched another save. Jones took a shot in the 56th minute, but it soared wide.
After a Spartan attempt, Michigan began to generate its offense. The Wolverines' Reilly Martin sent a cross into the Green and White's territory and connected with Ani Sarkisian who hit a header off the post to score.
MSU trailed the final minutes of the game and were unable to generate a goal to fall to Michigan, 1-0, on the road. Despite the loss, Wojtanowski recorded seven saves in her debut as a Spartan.
"We are looking forward to getting back on our home field," said Saxton. "It will give us some confidence and it will be great to have some Big Ten soccer at home, in DeMartin."
Michigan State returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 29, at DeMartin Stadium to face off against Maryland. The game is slated for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Sarkisian, Ani (5)
Assisted By: Martin, Reilly
Header to near post off cross.
76:53
