The beginning of the game saw both teams struggle to get their respective offenses going. It wasn't until nearly 15 minutes in at the 14:21 mark that MSU got their first shot off, a header shot wide by senior midfielder Fatai Alashe. 

At the 17:29 mark in the first half senior forward Adam Montague went down with an apparent injury, spending several minutes laying flat before standing up and walking away with the team trainers to be further evaluated. 

"We got the offense going we just couldn't score goals...obviously not having Adam (Montague) is a big part of that...when he goes out (17) minutes in, that's a big factor," said Rensing.

Neither team could get much going through most of the first half with most of the shots, of the few that were taken, being off target. Only one save was recorded in the first half, coming at the 22:48 mark from MSU junior goalkeeper Zach Bennett.

The end of the first half saw things get interesting though, as Valparaiso thought they had one at the 40:45 mark, but it was not counted as the whistle was blown for offsides. MSU also had a chance late with freshman midfielder Ken Krolicki shooting one that just sailed over the top of the net at the 43:04 mark.

At the 53:38 mark, the Spartans managed to get off their first shot that required a save on a near breakaway by senior forward Tim Kreutz, but it was scooped up by Valparaiso sophomore goalkeeper Nico Campbell.

Minutes later, Valparaiso got things going scoring the only goal of the game at the 57:13 mark on a goal from sophomore defender Omar Lawrence. This goal ended MSU's streak of three consecutive games without giving a goal and also served as the first goal scored on the Spartans this season.

"There was a guy screening me it went through his legs, the guy in front of me, and went through mine before I could really see what happened," said Bennett after the game. "It was an unfortunate goal, and you know, it happens in soccer."

This loss, the first of the season for MSU, moves the team to 2-1-1 overall heading into Sunday's game against Loyola-Chicago. Bennett offered some words on the importance of the next game for the team.

"We're looking for the win...there's no thought otherwise, coming off a loss you want to bounce back quickly," said Bennett. 

"Sunday is now that much bigger....not trying to look to far ahead, but obviously the Big Ten season is coming up and we don't want to be dropping games before that starts...Loyola is a good squad and you have to come out flying and we're going to get those three points(a win)," Bennett said.