After 90 grueling minutes of regulation play, the MSU men's soccer team entered overtime against Northwestern, needing a clutch goal to capture its first Big Ten win of the season.
With less than three minutes remaining in double overtime, MSU junior midfielder Ben Pirmann lifted an impressive pass into the box. and with the game on the line, senior defender Greg Janicki muscled his way passed the Wildcats defense and knocked in a header for the 2-1 win.
"You're so tired going up the field the last couple plays," Janicki said. "I just put myself in the right position at the right time. (Pirmann) got a good cross off, I happened to be there and I just poked it in."
The game-winning shot was Janicki's second goal of the year.
Although MSU (9-5-2 overall, 1-2-2 Big Ten) came away with the victory, Northwestern stayed tough throughout the entire contest and forced the Spartans to play aggressively for more than 117 minutes.
With the rain pouring down on Old College Field, Northwestern (10-6-2, 2-4-0) came into the game hoping to keep MSU winless in the conference. Just 17 minutes into the battle, Wildcats midfielder David Roth scored the first goal with a direct kick.
The Spartans remained resilient throughout the second half, taking control and forcing the Northwestern defense to play on its heels. As a result of the intense pressure, junior forward Kenzo Webster was able to tie the game late in the second half.
With only minutes remaining in regulation, senior goalkeeper Jason Tillman found himself one-on-one in a breakaway with a Northwestern attacker. Tillman dove to the upper right corner of the goal for a clutch save, holding the match at 1-1 and forcing the two teams into overtime.
"These guys were working their ass off," Tillman said. "Whatever I can do to help, we came away with the win."
Although the Spartans were down early, key plays by the defense and another crucial save by Tillman allowed MSU to rally and take the game into overtime, when it was able to complete its comeback.
"It's all character," MSU head coach Joe Baum said. "We had three guys playing hurt. We can't sub much because we aren't a very deep team, and these players just refuse to lose."
The win served as a celebratory farewell to MSU seniors Greg Doster, Greg Janicki, Matt Kreikemeier and Jason Tillman, who were playing their final home game as Spartans.
"They gave 110 percent for this university and the soccer program today," Baum said.
"This is one of my proudest moments as a coach."
The Spartans will resume action on Wednesday when they play Western Michigan in a nonconference game.
