Spartans Topped by No. 2 Akron
11/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 3, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's final regular-season home game of the 2010 season drew a crowd of more than 1,200 people to watch the Spartans against 2009 NCAA runner-up No. 2 Akron. In crisp fall temperatures, the Spartans fell to the Zips, 1-0 in a hard-fought battle that saw scoring chances for the Spartans into the waning moments of the game.
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"We played well, and Akron is a great, great team," said head coach Damon Rensing. "I thought we had some more scoring chances than the shots will reflect on the scoresheet, and I thought we had chances to win this game. "
Michigan State, ranked 22nd in the most recent Soccer Times poll and receiving votes in the NSCAA survey, displayed solid defense throughout. Akron had eight attempts, but Avery Steinlage stopped three and there were several blocks by the Spartan back line.
Seven minutes into the second half, the Zips scored the lone goal of the matchup. Darren Mattocks earned his first goal of the season when he finished a pass from the left side. Darlington Nagbe was given the assist, his 12th helper of the year - he stopped short to elude a defender and got the ball to Mattocks.
The Spartans continued to press into the final minutes, and generated chances late in the game that could have sent the game to overtime. MSU's best chance came from the foot of co-captain Spencer Thompson, who's shot sailed just wide left.
Michigan State has one final regular-season contest on the docket, on Saturday at Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 2 p.m.
