Friday, September 16
Seattle, Wash.
10 pm ET
Michigan State University
2-4-1, 0-0-0
1
at
4
No. 4 Washington
5-0-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Michigan St.
1
0
1
Washington
2
2
4
Team Stats
MSU
WAS
Goals
1
4
Shots
5
26
Shots on Goal
2
11
Saves
7
1
Corners
0
15
Fouls
7
9
Scoring Plays
Jacob Cromer (1)
Assisted By: Will Perkins
GOAL by MSU Cromer, Jacob Assist by Perkins, Will.
00:50
Omar Grey (1)
Assisted By: Chris Meyers
GOAL by WAS Grey, Omar Assist by Meyers, Chris.
18:10
Lucas Meek (3)
GOAL by WAS Meek, Lucas.
36:47
Ilijah Paul (7)
Assisted By: Lucas Meek
GOAL by WAS Paul, Ilijah Assist by Meek, Lucas.
54:50
Ilijah Paul (7)
Assisted By: Imanol Rosales
GOAL by WAS Paul, Ilijah Assist by Rosales, Imanol.
61:58
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartan Men’s Soccer Battles No. 4 Washington Tough Before Falling Friday Night
9/16/2022 11:59:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MSU opens Spartans vs. Huskies futbol and football weekend in Seattle.
SEATTLE -- Michigan State men's soccer got the Spartans vs. Huskies weekend started with a hard-fought battle at No. 4 Washington Friday night at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle.
A packed, spirited crowd with a large contingent of Green & White fans, plus Sparty were in attendance at Friday night's match, that served as an unofficial pep rally before Saturday's Spartan football game vs. Washington.
Junior midfielder Jacob Cromer got the Spartans on the board in the first minute of action, off a long throw-in from senior defender Will Perkins, that took a big bounce in the box and Cromer headed it into the net. The Spartan paid the price for his first career goal, sustaining an injury on the play.
"I think obviously, it was a dream start, we scored within a minute into the game against a nationally-ranked team on the road, you couldn't have asked for a whole lot more," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "Huge credit to Cromer he was putting his body on the line to score the goal.
MSU's early 1-0 lead marked the first time this season that Washington has trailed this season, as UW improved to 5-0-1 with the win, while the Spartans are now 2-4-1 with the loss. Friday night was just the third meeting all time between MSU and UW, and first since 2019 in East Lansing.
"I thought our goal kind of woke Washington up, they're obviously a very good team. I thought they were very, very sharp tonight," Rensing said. "I thought our leaders led and played well, I think our younger guys this was a lot for them, and they've got to go back and figure out where they can get better, but I thought it was a bit much for younger guys tonight."
Rensing and the Spartan squad was appreciate of the large contingent of Green & White fans and Sparty supporting the team, and applauded their supporters after the match.
"You never doubt Spartan nation, they're unbelievable. To see everybody come out tonight was great," Rensing said. "It's always disappointing because you want to give them more than what we're able to give them tonight. But just to support us, it doesn't matter where, you can be in Seattle, Washington; Tampa, Florida; New York or East Lansing, they show up and it's an unbelievable fan base, and to me it's the best in the country."
The home team Huskies tied the score in the 19th minute on a header by Omar Grey off a corner kick, launching and propelling himself over a defender for the header and getting the ball past the out-stretched dive of Spartan graduate goalkeeper Owen Finnerty.
Washington continued pressure, but the Spartan defense holding strong, with Finnerty making a spectacular save in the 35th minute, pushing a line drive shot wide and out. The Huskies broke through the Spartan line in the 37th minute with Lucas Meek scoring off a deflection in the box and firing a shot that was deflected off an MSU defender and into the net for a 2-1 lead.
That remained the score the rest of the half and into the second half, when Washington added to its lead in the 55th minute, on a deflection after a save by Finnerty, and another in the 62nd minute for the 4-1 advantage.
Finnerty finished with a season-high seven saves.
The Spartans open Big Ten Conference action taking on nationally-ranked Indiana on Friday, Sept. 23 in a 7:30 p.m. ET kick at Bloomington, Ind.
A packed, spirited crowd with a large contingent of Green & White fans, plus Sparty were in attendance at Friday night's match, that served as an unofficial pep rally before Saturday's Spartan football game vs. Washington.
Junior midfielder Jacob Cromer got the Spartans on the board in the first minute of action, off a long throw-in from senior defender Will Perkins, that took a big bounce in the box and Cromer headed it into the net. The Spartan paid the price for his first career goal, sustaining an injury on the play.
"I think obviously, it was a dream start, we scored within a minute into the game against a nationally-ranked team on the road, you couldn't have asked for a whole lot more," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "Huge credit to Cromer he was putting his body on the line to score the goal.
MSU's early 1-0 lead marked the first time this season that Washington has trailed this season, as UW improved to 5-0-1 with the win, while the Spartans are now 2-4-1 with the loss. Friday night was just the third meeting all time between MSU and UW, and first since 2019 in East Lansing.
"I thought our goal kind of woke Washington up, they're obviously a very good team. I thought they were very, very sharp tonight," Rensing said. "I thought our leaders led and played well, I think our younger guys this was a lot for them, and they've got to go back and figure out where they can get better, but I thought it was a bit much for younger guys tonight."
Rensing and the Spartan squad was appreciate of the large contingent of Green & White fans and Sparty supporting the team, and applauded their supporters after the match.
"You never doubt Spartan nation, they're unbelievable. To see everybody come out tonight was great," Rensing said. "It's always disappointing because you want to give them more than what we're able to give them tonight. But just to support us, it doesn't matter where, you can be in Seattle, Washington; Tampa, Florida; New York or East Lansing, they show up and it's an unbelievable fan base, and to me it's the best in the country."
The home team Huskies tied the score in the 19th minute on a header by Omar Grey off a corner kick, launching and propelling himself over a defender for the header and getting the ball past the out-stretched dive of Spartan graduate goalkeeper Owen Finnerty.
Washington continued pressure, but the Spartan defense holding strong, with Finnerty making a spectacular save in the 35th minute, pushing a line drive shot wide and out. The Huskies broke through the Spartan line in the 37th minute with Lucas Meek scoring off a deflection in the box and firing a shot that was deflected off an MSU defender and into the net for a 2-1 lead.
That remained the score the rest of the half and into the second half, when Washington added to its lead in the 55th minute, on a deflection after a save by Finnerty, and another in the 62nd minute for the 4-1 advantage.
Finnerty finished with a season-high seven saves.
The Spartans open Big Ten Conference action taking on nationally-ranked Indiana on Friday, Sept. 23 in a 7:30 p.m. ET kick at Bloomington, Ind.
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