GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Jake Marsh (So., Okemos, Mich.) scored with seven seconds left in regulation to break a 6-6 tie, earn Player of the Game honors and give No. 5-nationally ranked Michigan State University a 7-6 victory over No. 11 University of Texas in the second round of the National Collegiate Club Championship at the University of Florida.

Trailing 6-5 entering the fourth period, the Longhorns needed 6:32 to even the scoreboard as Matt Johnson (Jr., Houston, Texas) ripped in a wing-shot with 28 seconds left on the clock to pull Texas even at 6-6.  However, Michigan State had too much time and too much talent down the stretch as Marsh blasted a direct shot into the cage with the shot clock winding down for the eventual game-winner. 

Texas had seven seconds to retie the game, but the MSU defense was able to stiffle the scoring attempt to a lob from half-tank to hang on for the one goal victory.

The game, played in Meng Pool in the shadow of UofF's Griffin Stadium, known in college football as "The Swamp", was nip-tuck throughout as Michigan State trailed for only 48 seconds, while neither team led by more than two goals at any point during the contest to set up the climatic finish.

In the first period, Andrew Weichman (Jr., Ann Arbor, Mich.) opened the scoring with a laser from two-meters to put MSU in front 1-0 with 5:55 on the clock.  Texas countered with a perimeter shot by Johnson at the 4:42 mark to even the score and an exclusion marker by John Littlepage (Gr., Trinidad) with 2:13 standing on the clock to put the Longhorns ahead 2-1.

The advantange last for 48 seconds as Andrew Olesnavich (Sr., Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) connected on a counter goal in which he buried the shot cross cage for tie the game before Tim Wickes (So., Chicago, Ill.) broke away from the Texas' defense to go coast-to-coast for a tally with 22 seconds remaining in the period.

Texas pulled even with 2:37 left in the second period as Brett Jensen (Sr., Nassau Bay, Texas) whipped in a man-up goal, but MSU regained the lead before halftime thanks to an advantage score by Matt Graziano (Fr., Ann Arbor, Mich.) with three ticks left to put the Spartans in front 4-3 at the break.

Marsh cushioned the lead in the third period with the first of his two goals in the game as he rattled the aluminum pipes with an advantage goal at the 4:33 mark.  The Longhorns trimmed the margin to a single score at 2:24 with a man-up goal by Bryan Byrnes (Jr., San Antonio, Texas).  MSU and Texas traded goals to the closing horn of the third period as Eddie Rogers (Jr., Beverly Hills, Mich.) and Jackson Gould (Fr., Houston, Texas) found the back of the cage at 1:08 and 47 seconds, respectively, to set the score at 6-5 after 21 minutes of play.

The goals marked the final scoring until the climatic conclusion of the fourth period as both squads defensive efforts intensified down the stretch before Johnson and Marsh traded goals to close out the game.

In cage, Ben Shantz (Jr., Rockford, Mich.) made four saves for MSU, while Hunter Henderson (Sr., Dallas, Texas) blocked 11 for Texas.

A key to the game were the number of exclusions as the Spartans went two-for-two on man-up chances, while Texas converted on just three-of-eight man-up bids.

The win places the Spartans into the semfinals at 5:10 p.m. where Michigan State will face the winner of a second round game between No. 3 Florida International University and No. 2 University of Utah.  MSU, which is seeking to become the first team since the 2001-02 California Polytechnic State University Mustangs to repeat as National Champions as the Spartans captured the title last year with a 15-13 victory over Cal Poly at the 2008 National Collegiate Club Championship hosted by Ohio University.

In addition, Michigan State is striving for the program's fourth National title as the Spartans previously captured the 2000, 2006 and 2008 crowns.  Over the past five years, MSU has appeared in all five National Collegiate Club Championships with four title game appearances, a mark the Spartans hope to improve on with a victory in the semfinals.

Texas will next be in action at 4:00 p.m. today in the consolation bracket against the loser of the FIU-Utah game as the Longhorns will battle for a berth in the fifth place game.

MSU Goals: Jake Marsh (2); Andrew Olesnavich; Matt Graziano; Tim Wickes; Eddie Rogers; Andrew Weichman

Texas Goals: Matt Johnson (2); Jackson Gould; Bryan Byrnes; Brett Jensen; John Littlepage

Saves: MSU - Ben Shantz (4) ; Texas - Hunter Henderson (11)

Exclusions: MSU - 8 ; Texas - 2

Advantage Opportunities: MSU - 2-for-2 ; Texas - 3-for-8

Sprints: MSU - 0-for-4 ; Texas - 4-for-4