After the physical MSU/Radisson Soccer Classic over the weekend, the men’s soccer team holds a 1-1 record on the season.
The squad kicked off the season by defeating Wright State 4-0 on Sunday. Three different Spartans scored in the game, with sophomore midfielder Jordan Gruber putting two between the posts and adding an assist. Gruber led MSU with three goals and one assist for the weekend.
“I’m just finishing everything, the team’s playing well,” Gruber said. “The chances are there, and I’m just the lucky one that’s around to finish it (this weekend).”
Junior forward Thomas Trivelloni was the first Spartan to score, shooting one past Raider goalie Chris Schiavone a mere 1:30 into the game. Trivelloni’s shot was followed by Gruber’s first goal just before half, on an assist from junior defenseman Kevin Wittig.
The Spartans struck again in the second half when senior forward Brett Konley put one in net. The Spartans ended it’s scoring assault with another goal from Gruber, assisted by senior defenseman Scott Babinski.
MSU outshot the Raiders 15-8, and senior goalie Tyler Robinson earned his first career shutout in the victory.
On Monday, MSU squared off against UC Santa Barbara. In 2001, the Spartans shut out UCSB ending the Gauchos NCAA Tournament run. In a heated match where several players on both teams suffered minor injuries, UCSB emerged the victor 3-2 in double-overtime in the rematch.
“They came at us really physical, and I think we responded well to the physical challenge,” head coach Joe Baum said. “I tell my players that soccer is physical. It’s almost like a war.
“If they didn’t know that before, they know it now.”
The Spartans spent the majority of the first half struggling to defend their own net. After pummeling junior goalie Mike Robinson with nine shots, the UCSB squad was finally able to sneak one by at the 39:28 mark. Forward Matt Bly was credited with the goal.
This seemed to spark the sleepy Spartan offense, as Gruber put one in the net just two minutes later to knot the game at one.
At the 71:04 mark in the game, Gaucho forward Rob Friend scored an unassisted goal with a bicycle kick to break the tie.
Eight minutes later, MSU was awarded a penalty shot when Trivelloni was taken down illegally in front of the UCSB goal. Sophomore defender Kellen Kalso took the penalty kick and scored on a shot to the middle of the net to deadlock the match at two.
“I was pretty confident (about the goal). I hit the same shot in practice all the time,” Kalso said. “I knew where I was going. I figured he didn’t have a chance if I hit it right down the middle.”
Gaucho goalie Danny Kennedy was ejected from the game immediately after the goal for throwing the ball at a Spartan player, forcing UCSB to finish the game with just 10 players on the field.
Kalso’s goal sent the game into sudden-death overtime.
Both teams remained scoreless in the first overtime, but Gaucho forward Drew McAthy ended the game at 105:33 when he scored while Mike Robinson was caught out in front of the net.
“(The team) has built a lot of character this weekend,” Gruber said. “We’re going to use this and hopefully move on to a great season.”
The Spartans face off next against Indiana-Purdue Indianapolis at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Old College Field.
