Friday, September 27
New Brunswick, N.J.
7 PM ET
Michigan State University
1-5-2, 1-0-0B1G
3
at
0
Rutgers
6-1-1, 0-1-1B1G
1
2
F
Michigan State
2
1
3
Rutgers
0
0
0
Team Stats
MSU
RU
Goals
3
0
Shots
13
9
Shots on Goal
9
3
Saves
3
6
Corners
6
5
Fouls
10
8
Scoring Plays
Ferri,Gianni (1)
takeaway from 4 - shot from top of 18
28:11
Ogunwale,Olu (1)
Assisted By: Mutatu,Farai
Pass from right corner of 18 to 6 yards
40:43
Mutatu,Farai (1)
Takeaway outside the box - shot from 8
86:19
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's Soccer
Offensive Outburst Guides MSU Soccer Past No. 22 Rutgers in B1G Opener
9/27/2019 10:24:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Gianni Ferri and Olu Ogunwale score their first career goals in the win.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Three different Spartans found the back of the net as the Michigan State men's soccer team stopped No. 22 Rutgers in its Big Ten opener, 3-0 on Friday night at Yurcak Field.
"I thought it was a great performance for 90 minutes. We stressed that with the guys, and they gave a great effort. It was fantastic to get an early goal. It was great to see a Gianni Ferri get his first goal and the second for Olu. I think that the real story was how this team played together." MSU head coach Damon Rensing said.
Michigan State improves to 1-5-2, while Rutgers loses its first game of the season, falling to 6-1-1 this season. The Spartans pick up three points in Big Ten play, standing 1-0, while the Scarlet Knights are 0-1-1.Â
The Spartans are now 6-0-1 in their last seven Big Ten openers. Michigan State was the last B1G team to start league play. MSU now leads the season series with the Scarlet Knights 5-0-1. This was third-straight season that Michigan State has started B1G action against Rutgers.
MSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute with freshman midfielder Gianni Ferri's first collegiate goal. Ferri intercepted the ball from a Scarlet Knight defender and slipped the ball past RU goalkeeper Oren Asher from long distance. The goal was the first collegiate goal for the freshman and the first in the opening half this season for MSU.
Michigan State remained aggressive on the offensive side of the ball and it paid off in the 63rd minute. Sophomore midfielder Olu Ogunwale also scored his first career goal, returning to his native New Jersey. Sophomore forward Farai Mutatu dished the ball to Ogunwale who drilled the close-range shot to put the Spartans up 2-0.
"It feels good to win the first Big Ten game of the year. We have faced some adversity this year, and I am really proud of how they stuck together. We were able to get a shutout; Hunter Morse was very good tonight. I am very happy to get this win against a very good and well-coached Rutgers team." Rensing said. "I want to give a shoutout to the assistant coaches T.J. Kolba, Joe Ahearn and Micah Collins, who did a great job game-planning tonight."
The second half was much more even with both teams taking six shots. The Spartans added a third and final goal to put the game out of  reach in the 86th minute. Mutatu broke through for his first goal of the season, defeating Asher 1-v-1 to give the Spartans the 3-0 advantage.
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Morse captured his second clean sheet of the season, earning three saves.Â
Mutatu was outstanding on the offensive end with a goal and an assist for three points. He also had a game-high five shots.
Michigan State will now prepare for its Big Ten home opener, facing Penn State on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
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