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Jo Preci action vs Michigan State 8_31_18
Austin Mariasy
2
Canisius CAN (1-2)
3
Winner Michigan State MSU (2-0-1)
Canisius CAN
(1-2)
2
Final
3
Michigan State MSU
(2-0-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Canisius CAN 0 2 2
Michigan State MSU 2 1 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Falls Short in Upset Bid at No. 5 Michigan State

Canisius used goals from sophomore Filippo Tamburini and freshman Jo Preci late in the second half to pull within one, but No. 5 Michigan State held on for a 3-2 victory in collegiate men's soccer action Friday at DeMartin Stadium in East Lansing, Mich.
 
The Spartans improved to 2-0-1 with the victory while the Golden Griffins slipped to 1-2-0 with the one-goal setback.
 
Trailing 3-0 with less than 15 minutes remaining, Tamburini began the comeback bid for Canisius at the 75:38 mark when he and senior Bjarki Benediktsson teamed up during a set piece opportunity to make it a 3-1 contest.
 
The Griffs continued to pressure and were rewarded a little less than four minutes later as Preci was able to get behind the Spartans defense and beat keeper Hunter Morse in a 1v1 situation to make it a 3-2 contest.
 
Canisius nearly tied the game in the 83rd minute, but Morse turned aside Tamburini's attempt for the equalizer. That would be as close as the Griffs would get as MSU held Canisius without a shot on goal the rest of the way to ensure the victory.
 
Earlier in the contest, Jones staked the Spartans to a 1-0 lead just 6:01 into the match as he put home a rebound resulting from a shot by Guiseppe Barone.
 
MSU had a chance to double its lead a few minutes later when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 13th minute, but Tramuta turned aside Ryan Sierakowski's attempt to keep it a one-goal contest.
 
The Spartans got an insurance marker just before the half when Woodruff scored on a rebound opportunity in the 40th minute to make it 2-0.
 
Barone pushed the MSU margin to 3-0 at the 58:40 mark when he placed the ball into the upper left-hand corner of the net from six yards out, setting the stage for the Griffs comeback bid.
 
Head Coach Dermot McGrane's Postgame Comments
"I thought we came out a little scared in the first half today. However, I feel our second-half performance was much better and we were unlucky not to tie it up late in the game.
 
"It was a great experience for our team to play against the number five team in the country and put a couple of goals in the back of the net. We will draw on this experience later in the year."
 
Game Notes
• Friday's contest served as the third meeting between Canisius and Michigan State. All three contests have taken place on Aug. 31 (1996, 1997 & 2018).
• Michigan State posted a 13-8 shot advantage for the contest, but Canisius enjoyed a 6-5 edge in shots attempted during the second half.
• The Griffs were awarded four of the six corner kicks taken during the contest.
• The two goals scored by Canisius were the first two goals surrendered by the Spartans this season.
• Benediktsson recorded his second assist of the season and 13th of his career on Tamburini's second-half tally, moving him into a tie with Jay Joseph for eighth place on the program's career assists list.
• Freshman Bilel Bai made his collegiate debut and recorded an assist on Preci's marker in the 79th minute.
 
Up Next
• Canisius travels to Ann Arbor for a Labor Day matinee with Michigan.  Opening kickoff for the matchup between the Griffs and Wolverines is set for 1 p.m. at the U-M Soccer Stadium.
 
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