Freshman midfielder, Spencer Thompson, shoots to score the winning goal against Notre Dame on Wednesday afternoon at Old College Field. The Spartans defeated the Fighting Irish 1-0, bringing the Spartans’ record to 8-1-2.
Spencer Thompson’s first goal of his collegiate career was perhaps one of the biggest goals of his team’s season.
The goal, off a nice centering pass from senior forward Kenzo Webster, proved to be the game-winning — and only — goal in the Spartans’ 1-0 upset over No. 3 Notre Dame Wednesday.
“It was unbelievable,” Thompson said. “Once I saw it go in I just ran and started celebrating.”
MSU head coach Joe Baum said he was pleased for Thompson, adding that his freshman midfielder has been getting better all year.
“I thought at times he hasn’t been aggressive enough offensively, but today we needed his help and he stepped up,” Baum said.
Thompson had two shots on goal and four shots for the game, leading the team in both categories, but he said the defense was the biggest reason for the team’s success.
“Our defense was just unbelievable today,” Thompson said. “That’s what won us the game.”
Despite being outshot 17-12 for the game and allowing seven shots on goal to the Irish, overall team defense and spectacular saves kept Notre Dame off the board for the full 90 minutes.
On one play late in the game, senior defender Rauwshan McKenzie made a sliding save to back up senior goalkeeper Chris Austin, who was caught out of position.
“Rauwshan (McKenzie) is an All-Big Ten type player, and he realized in that situation if he doesn’t make that save the game’s over,” Baum said. “He’s a senior, he’s a captain, and that’s the kind of play he can make right now. If he was a freshman I’m not sure he could have made that.”
Baum said senior Ryan Dick stepped up and took on a big role, even though he was playing out of position because of a teammate’s injury.
“Nosa (Iyoha), before he got hurt, shut down (Joseph) Lapira, the leading scorer in the nation last year,” Baum said. “Then Ryan Dick came in, and he’s not even a defender, and he marked him for the last 15 or 20 minutes of the game.”
The play of senior defender John Folino also was instrumental in the win, Baum said.
“I thought it was the best game of his career,” he said.
Despite the big win, the Spartans won’t have much time to celebrate.
No. 21 Michigan is coming to East Lansing on Sunday for a 3:05 p.m. start at Old College Field.
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