Breaking news
South Africa stripped of their 2023 Rugby World Cup title…U.S. women’s national soccer team starts World Cup with 3-0…Pakistan vs Jordan 0-3: FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier –…World Cup 2023-24 prize money: How much did Mikaela Shiffrin…T20 World Cup 2024: England star Ben Stokes pulls out…Former Michigan football tight end selects transfer destination – Yahoo…Egypt’s Late Goal Denies Mozambique’s Thrilling Comeback in the African…Ghana Suffers Heartbreaking 1-2 Defeat to Cape Verde Islands in…FIFA and Coca-Cola Men World RankingLionel Messi wins football’s Ballon d’Or for the eighth timeTwo individuals tragically lost their lives before the scheduled football…WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: Brazil’s Coach Diniz Praises Neymar and Vinicius.Morocco, Portugal and Spain joint bid FIFA World Cup 2030The Best 2023: Over One Million Votes Cast with the…Euro 2028 to be hosted by Britain and Ireland, while…Portugal secures their inaugural World Cup victoryPreview of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Match: India…Welteji and Kessler achieved world record breaking performancesAsian Games 2023: Gilas Pilipinas win first men’s basketball gold Cricket World Cup 2023: Pakistan beat NetherlandsPakistan vs Afghanistan15 ways to make the most of your new cameraMike Tindall reunites with Rugby World Cup heroes in heartfelt…Hisense named first Official Partner of the FIFA Club World…Why Qua Russaw represents an Alabama football defense beginning to…Indian cricket in free fall: World Cup high turns into…USA Finishes Third at U17 Women's World Cup | Club…

MSU men’s soccer ends regular season with 1-0 heartbreaker to Rutgers – The State News


Sunday, November 3, 2024
In a chaotic turn of events, MSU’s men’s soccer missed a last-minute penalty, sealing a 1-0 defeat to Rutgers in its regular season finale Sunday afternoon.
With only seconds left on the clock, MSU sophomore midfielder Colin Arce was in a spot to score his first goal of the season and secure a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten standings. Instead, his penalty shot sailed wide: a miss will send MSU to the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago on a bitter note.
The Spartans started strong as head coach Damon Rensing brought in junior midfielder Jack Guggemos for freshman forward Mohamed Saad. The shift allowed MSU to field a flexible, attacking lineup. Guggemos and junior attacking midfielder Jonathan Stout alternated in the nine positions, creating an early spark.
MSU took control from the outset, deploying a three-back system that pressed Rutgers high up the field and created multiple opportunities.
Rutgers entered the game off a morale-boosting win against Maryland but struggled against MSU’s relentless pressure. The Spartans held the majority of possession and posed consistent threats in the final third.
Both teams treated the match with intensity, reflective of a Big Ten season filled with fierce competition and high-level soccer.
“This Big Ten is one of the best conferences in the country,” Rensing said. “Us and the ACC, we’re going to finish in the top half of that, which is huge.”
In the second half, Rensing adjusted MSU’s attack, giving Guggemos and senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan free rein to push higher up the field. The Spartans’ pressure continued to build, creating a string of chances that tested the Rutgers defense.
The best opportunity arrived in the 81st minute when a cross by Stout found junior defender Jeremy Sharp, who pulled his shot just wide. Two minutes later, Rutgers capitalized on MSU’s lack of aplomb as sophomore midfielder Francesco Di Ponzio scored in the 83rd minute, putting the Scarlet Knights ahead.
MSU fought back in desperation, launching a final charge that saw close chances from freshman forward Oscar Huerta in the 85th minute and Stout in the 87th.
Then, in the 90th minute, MSU was granted a lifeline as the referee called a handball penalty. With Arce stepping up to take it, anticipation was high for a dramatic equalizer. However, as the clock ticked down, the shot went wide, putting MSU’s chances of securing fourth place in jeopardy.
The penalty miss underscored a season-long challenge for the Spartans: finishing in front of goal. 
“We just lack conviction in the final third. Got in those areas enough but just didn’t do enough to really warrant a goal,” Rensing said.
Despite the bitter ending, Rensing looked ahead with optimism as MSU prepares for the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago.
“Chicago’s a neutral site,” Rensing said. “It’s going to be no road. That’s what’s cool about the Big Ten Tournament and we’ll be ready.”
The Spartans aim to channel their attacking potential into results on the conference’s biggest stage, hoping to put their finishing struggles behind them in the postseason.
Ranked No. 5 in the tournament, MSU will take on No. 4 Washington on Thursday, Nov. 7 in Bridgeview, Illinois at 6 p.m.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

Share and discuss “MSU men’s soccer ends regular season with 1-0 heartbreaker to Rutgers” on social media.
 facebook  twitter

source

Share this post

PinIt

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

scroll to top