Junior defender Zach Carroll celebrates after scoring a goal during the game against Northwestern on Oct. 26, 2014, at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field. The game ended with a draw of 1-1. Aerika Williams/The State News
The men's soccer team (9-3-3 overall, 3-1-2 Big Ten) tied the Northwestern Wildcats (7-2-5 overall, 2-1-3 Big Ten) 1-1 on a sunny Sunday afternoon without a cloud in the sky.
"I thought today we were pretty solid," junior defender Zach Carroll said. "To tie today felt like a loss for us, I thought we outplayed them the whole game, except for maybe a couple of minutes here and there."
The first half, much like a lot of the Spartans games this year, was a mostly defensive battle each team had a few opportunities but neither could capitalize. MSU finished the half with five shots and three corner kicks compared to three shots and four corner kicks from the Wildcats.
The Spartans have held the opposition scoreless through the first 45 minutes in 13 of the teams 15 games this season, a credit to the stout MSU defense and junior goalkeeper Zach Bennett.
A foul by Northwestern senior defender Grant Wilson on sophomore midfielder Andrew Herr at the 60:31 mark set the MSU offense up with a penalty kick opportunity. Head coach Damon Rensing gave Carroll the nod for the PK and he did not disappoint sending it through the back of the Northwestern net giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead. The PK goal was Carroll's second of the season and fourth goal overall.
"It was kind of lucky the way it worked out...(Grant Wilson) who wasn't even defending me just came out of the back and pushed me from behind, (I) go down (and we got a) PK," Herr sad.
The Wildcats wouldn't stay down for long though, Northwestern equalized less than five minutes later at the 64:43 mark on a goal by sophomore forward Mike Roberge making it 1-1.
Neither team could do much more during regulation, sending the game into overtime with the teams tied at one a piece. MSU finished regulation with 12 shots and five corner kicks compared to seven shots and nine corner kicks for Northwestern.
A scary moment for the Spartans left Bennett down on the ground for a moment in the first ten minute overtime period, after Bennett made a great save taking a ball straight to the face at the 92:30 mark. Despite the hard ball to the face, Bennett did not leave the game.
"It was a great save, it shows the commitment of (Zach Bennett)," Rensing said. "That's part of the goalkeeping position that's probably not glamorous but he was willing to do it so I thought it was a great save."
110 minutes wasn't enough to establish a winner as neither team could score in overtime, ending the game with a 1-1 tie.
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