If the men’s soccer team wanted to prove last year’s Big Ten Tournament win over Michigan wasn’t a fluke, they have unarguably done so. Winning overtime thrillers and having players be named to Big Ten weekly honors is just a typical week for this team that is looking to make another deep run in the conference tournament. Here is what the team has done so far this season on the pitch:
Midseason MVP: Sophomore goalkeeper Zach Bennett
Zach Bennett has started all 12 of the Spartans games this season, and has seven shoutouts. He was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks from Sept. 16-23, and owns a .70 goals against average (No. 21 in the NCAA) and a .862 save percentage (No. 6 in the NCAA).
Breakout freshman: Freshman midfielder Dewey Lewis
Lewis was named “Mr. Soccer” in Michigan after his senior year at Rockford High School, and was a first-team all-state selection that year. His the only true freshman to see the field this season. He netted his first career goal in the first game of the season, a 4-0 win against Western Michigan.
Surprise performer: Junior midfielder Fatai Alashe
It’s not surprising that junior midfielder Fatai Alashe has played well all season, but it’s the way he’s done it. After senior defender and team captain Kevin Cope went down with an injury three games into the season, Alashe was moved from his position in defensive midfield to the back line. He performed well, scoring a goal in the first half against then-No. 2 Creighton.
Game of the season: The 3-2 win vs. Northwestern (2OT)
The victory was the first time the Spartans have won in the regular season in Evanston, Ill. since 2001. Junior forward Adam Montague scored with just 46 seconds left in the second overtime to seal the win and cap off a week that saw him win Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Odds to win the Big Ten:
After a 2-1 double overtime loss to Penn St. on Sunday, the Spartans need some help if they’re going to make a run at the Big Ten regular season title. Still, the two best teams other than MSU in the conference are behind them on the schedule, and all three Big Ten games left are winnable.
Odds for postseason:
The No. 14 Spartans are nearly locked into a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. After a 3-2 double overtime win against then-No. 5 Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. and a 2-2 draw at then-No. 2 Creighton, the Spartans had the No. 1 RPI in the country for the first time in school history. They now sit in 12th in the RPI.
Biggest games coming up: The last five games
They travel to 2010 NCAA national champions Akron Wednesday and play at Wisconsin Sunday afternoon. Even though Indiana is struggling this year, MSU travels to Bloomington, Ind. to take on the defending NCAA national champions. They have two home games against No. 2 Notre Dame and senior day against arch rival Michigan.
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