Tuesday, September 12
South Bend, Ind.
8 PM
Michigan State University
4-0-1, 0-0-0
1
at
0
Notre Dame
4-1-1, 1-0-0
1
2
F
Michigan St.
1
0
1
Notre Dame
0
0
0
Team Stats
MSU
ND
Goals
1
0
Shots
5
11
Shots on Goal
3
4
Saves
4
2
Corners
3
5
Fouls
9
7
Scoring Plays
Sean Kerrigan (2)
Assisted By: Jack Guggemos
GOAL by MSU Kerrigan, Sean Assist by Guggemos, Jack.
34:08
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
Photo by: Matt Cashore
Michigan State Men’s Soccer Takes Down No. 10 Notre Dame Tuesday
9/12/2023 11:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Sean Kerrigan scores his second-straight game-winning goal, as Spartans post first Top-10 upset since 2018.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Behind a stalwart defense and timely scoring, Michigan State men's soccer captured a 1-0 upset of No. 10 Notre Dame on Tuesday night at Alumni Stadium.
"It was such a gutsy performance by our guys," MSU head coach Damon Rensing. "I thought we were really good from start to finish. Our defense was great, and by defense I mean everyone from the forwards, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers. I think we created some of the more dangerous chances during the game. It was just a total team performance."
The win over Notre Dame was MSU's first win over a top-10 ironically since beating No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend, 1-0, in 2018. This was the sixth-straight meeting between the Spartans and Fighting Irish that had a one-goal differential. Michigan State has either beaten or tied a Notre Dame squad that was ranked in the top 12 in four of its last five trips to South Bend, going unbeaten in all five, tying No. 5 UND in 2014, before winning over No. 12 UND in 2016, No. 8 UND in 2018 and Tuesday's win over the No. 10 Fighting Irish, with a win over unranked Notre Dame in 2021.
Overall, the Spartans' last four wins over a Top 25 team have come on the road.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 4-0-1 this season, which is its best start since beginning 8-0-2 during the 2018 season. MSU handed Notre Dame its first loss of the 2023 season, falling to 4-1-1.
Both teams had early chances, but were not able to find the back of the net in the first 15 minutes. In the 19th minute the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Zac Kelly corralled a blast by Notre Dame's Eno Nto to keep the score 0-0.
Michigan State took the lead in the 35th minute with what would be the only goal of the game. Sophomore midfielder Jack Guggemos took a deflection off a Notre Dame defender and found junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, who slipped the ball to the lower left corner past UND goalkeeper Bryan Dowd. The goal was Kerrigan's second in as many games.
At the end of the first period, Notre Dame out-shot Michigan State, 5-2. Despite the difference in shots, the Spartans maintained the 1-0 advantage.
In the 49th minute, sophomore forward Jake Spadafora put Dowd to the test again with a long distance blast.
In the 61st minute, Kelly came to the rescue once again with one of his four saves. For the game, the Fighting Irish out-shot the Spartans, 11-5. Kelly had four saves compared to two by Dowd.
Michigan State had a special visitor on the bench in former player Guy Busch, who will be inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame this weekend on Friday, Sept. 15.
"I want to thank our future Hall of Famer Guy Busch for coming out. I am glad he got to witness a top-10 road win. This gives our guys a ton of confidence, moving forward," Rensing added.
MSU remains on the road for its Big Ten opener, taking on Rutgers on Sunday, Sept. 17. Fans can contact the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information.
"It was such a gutsy performance by our guys," MSU head coach Damon Rensing. "I thought we were really good from start to finish. Our defense was great, and by defense I mean everyone from the forwards, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers. I think we created some of the more dangerous chances during the game. It was just a total team performance."
The win over Notre Dame was MSU's first win over a top-10 ironically since beating No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend, 1-0, in 2018. This was the sixth-straight meeting between the Spartans and Fighting Irish that had a one-goal differential. Michigan State has either beaten or tied a Notre Dame squad that was ranked in the top 12 in four of its last five trips to South Bend, going unbeaten in all five, tying No. 5 UND in 2014, before winning over No. 12 UND in 2016, No. 8 UND in 2018 and Tuesday's win over the No. 10 Fighting Irish, with a win over unranked Notre Dame in 2021.
Overall, the Spartans' last four wins over a Top 25 team have come on the road.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 4-0-1 this season, which is its best start since beginning 8-0-2 during the 2018 season. MSU handed Notre Dame its first loss of the 2023 season, falling to 4-1-1.
Both teams had early chances, but were not able to find the back of the net in the first 15 minutes. In the 19th minute the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Zac Kelly corralled a blast by Notre Dame's Eno Nto to keep the score 0-0.
Michigan State took the lead in the 35th minute with what would be the only goal of the game. Sophomore midfielder Jack Guggemos took a deflection off a Notre Dame defender and found junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, who slipped the ball to the lower left corner past UND goalkeeper Bryan Dowd. The goal was Kerrigan's second in as many games.
At the end of the first period, Notre Dame out-shot Michigan State, 5-2. Despite the difference in shots, the Spartans maintained the 1-0 advantage.
In the 49th minute, sophomore forward Jake Spadafora put Dowd to the test again with a long distance blast.
In the 61st minute, Kelly came to the rescue once again with one of his four saves. For the game, the Fighting Irish out-shot the Spartans, 11-5. Kelly had four saves compared to two by Dowd.
Michigan State had a special visitor on the bench in former player Guy Busch, who will be inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame this weekend on Friday, Sept. 15.
"I want to thank our future Hall of Famer Guy Busch for coming out. I am glad he got to witness a top-10 road win. This gives our guys a ton of confidence, moving forward," Rensing added.
MSU remains on the road for its Big Ten opener, taking on Rutgers on Sunday, Sept. 17. Fans can contact the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information.
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