Nov. 2, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Sixth-ranked Northwestern's bid for a Big Ten regular season title came up just short as No. 25 Michigan State held off the Wildcats 1-0 to give the Spartans their first conference regular season crown under longtime coach Joe Baum in an emotional contest at DeMartin Stadium.
NU (12-2-2, 3-2-0 Big Ten) put seven shots on goal but was unable to tally the goal it needed.
With Baum coaching in the final regular season home match in his 32-year career at MSU, a capacity crowd of 2,844 saw the Spartans (11-5-1, 5-1-0) get the decisive goal from Louis Stephens III at the 53:20 mark.
Doug DeMartin, the Big Ten's leading goal scorer, took a shot from a tough angle at the right flank which Misha Rosenthal was able to save. The rebound came directly to Stephens in front of the net. Rosenthal got up from the initial save in time to get a good hand on Stephens' shot, but the ball hit off the post and barely crossed over the goalline to give the hosts the lead.
Northwestern kept the pressure on to try to notch the tying goal, but never was quite able to convert. The closest call came with six and a half minutes left when the Wildcats drew a foul 25 yards out. However, the ensuing free kick clanged off the far post.
It was the final good chance for NU which saw Michigan State finish with a 16-13 edge in shots.
NU had a 7-4 edge in corner kicks, including three in the first six-plus minutes of the match as the Wildcats pressured the Spartans right out of the gate. But Northwestern was unable to cash in as Avery Steinlage made four of his seven saves before the intermission. Each team had six shots in the opening half, including a pair by MSU that hit the post.
The Spartans eventually got the go-ahead goal just over eight minutes into the second period and then held on the rest of the way.
Northwestern closes out its 2008 regular season Friday as it travels to Indiana for a 5:30 p.m. Central time kickoff. Big Ten Network is televising the contest live.