'Cats Strike Late, Not Enough to Top No. 20 Michigan State

10/22/2016 5:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Northwestern's Elo Ozumba scored in the 88^th minute to cut into No. 20 Michigan State's lead, but it was not enough as the Spartans would go on to defend home turf with a 2-1 victory Saturday afternoon.

"Michigan State played very well in the second half and scored two great goals," said head coach Tim Lenahan. "I thought Cisco Tomasino played very well to keep us in the game, but I didn't think we showed the urgency we needed to show with 15 minutes to go until the last few minutes. We were able to battle to get one back but it was not enough. Michigan State had a great game plan, executed it and was the better team on the day. We didn't play well enough to win a Big Ten game on the road."

The setback snapped Northwestern's two-game winning streak and moved the 'Cats to 4-10-1 overall and 2-4-1 in Big Ten Conference play. The win improves Michigan State to 11-3-1 on the campaign and 4-2-1 in league play.

Michigan State remained unbeaten at home in 2016 with an 8-0-1 mark.

The contest was even through the first 45 minutes with both sides tallying three shots, two of which were on net, in the first half.

Junior goalkeeper Frnacisco Tomasino, who made his 13^th appearance of the season in net for NU, kept the Spartans off the scoreboard until the 52^nd minute when Giuseppe Barone scored the first goal of the game to put MSU in front, 1-0.

Tomasino would go on to finish the contest with seven saves.

The Spartans picked up an insurance goal in the 74^th minute after Ryan Sierakowski headed a cross from Connor Corrigan to the near post to send Michigan State up, 2-0, with just over 15 minutes to play.

Trailing by two goals, Northwestern upped its offensive attach down the stretch, which eventually led to the team's first goal. Following a loose ball in the box off a Northwestern cross, Jeffrey Hopson pushed a ball forward to Ozumba, who finished it off for his third goal of the season.

Northwestern will close out the final week of the regular season with a pair of home matches against No. 15 Loyola-Chicago (Oct. 26) and Penn State (Oct. 30).