FIU MEN'S SOCCER FALLS TO MSU IN DOUBLE OVERTIME

9/15/07

ANN ARBOR-FIU's men's soccer team dropped yet another tough decision, this time losing to Michigan State 1-0 in double overtime.



Once again, The Golden Panthers (0-4-1) defense did a stellar job, but was done in by the offensive drought. Junior goalkeeper Kyle Thomas (Jensen Beach, Fla.) recorded eight saves, but it was the one error he made in the second overtime that led to the winning Spartan goal. FIU has now lost three consecutive matches by the same score.

As all of FIU's games this season have been, this was a defensive struggle. Although FIU was outshot 25-16, the Golden Panther again proved to be as good as any in the nation as they kept Michigan State off the scoreboard for over 103 minutes.

However, FIU's defense took a hit in the 68th minute when junior defender Cory Kendall (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) received a red card. FIU would play a man down the rest of the game, but still managed to stand toe to toe with the Spartans.

The Golden Panther defensive stand finally faltered in the 104th minute when MSU's Raushawn Mckenzie fired a long distance shot that perhaps could have been stopped by Kyle Thomas, but nonetheless found the back of the net giving the Spartans the 1-0 win.

FIU returns to action on Sunday when they face the host Wolverines of Michigan, who are currently ranked 18th