Michigan State men’s soccer (3-7-3) took the field against the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-7-1) Saturday night, following the Spartans’ women’s soccer team falling in a close match to Michigan at the same field. The men would not suffer the same fate as their counterparts, as they would go on to rout the Buckeyes 3-1 in a comeback victory, following the goals from sophomore forward Farai Mutatu, freshman forward Conner George and senior defender Michael Wetungu.
Although the Spartans secured a win, the first half started out all Buckeyes. Ohio State was able to get into the net first, 26 minutes into the game. The goal would follow a corner kick. Junior forward Matteo Bennati was able to slip the ball past redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Morse for a Buckeye goal.
It seemed like the Spartans would go into the half down by one, but in the 39th minute, sophomore forward Farai Mutatu was able to make something happen. Following a kick near the net from junior midfielder Michael Miller, Mutatu would slide past the goalkeeper, pushing the ball into the back of the net from the ground.
The Spartans would go into the half against the Buckeyes all tied up at one.
Michigan State was able to carry the momentum sparked by Mutatu at the end of the first half throughout the second, as they would add two goals to their total.
Freshman forward Conner George was able to get the Spartans a lead early in the first half, as he would take a shot from the top middle of the box, just four minutes into the second half. The shot would find its way past the Buckeye goalkeeper on the lower right side of the net, putting the Spartans up 2-1.
The goal frenzy would continue for Michigan State, as their next goal would come just six minutes after George’s. Following a corner kick that bounced off of several heads near the goal, senior defender Michael Wetungu somehow managed to get the ball off a bounce on his right leg and send it into the net, through a sea of Buckeyes.
Michigan State would be up 3-1 after Wetungu’s goal and would keep it that way for the remainder of the game.
The victory would notch the Spartan's third of the year and came with what they have lacked most all season.
Shots.
The Spartans were able to log 19 shots, 10 of which were on goal, both marking season highs for them.
The win puts the Spartans at 3-1-1 in the Big Ten, with three conference games remaining against Northwestern (6-7-1), Michigan (6-4-3) and Indiana (8-2-3).
But first, Michigan State will look ahead to an in-state road test this Tuesday, Oct. 22, against Oakland (6-6-2).
Looking to break out of a two-game losing streak, the Golden Grizzlies will welcome Michigan State to their home turf as an even match. The Grizzlies are even at home with two wins and two losses, the same as the Spartans are away from DeMartin.
Oakland is 4-1-1 in their conference and will look to get back above 500 for the year in the regular season, as Michigan State will look to stay in the win column.
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