Men's soccer beats U-M, brings home rivalry trophy

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The Big Bear Trophy is back in East Lansing following the MSU men’s soccer team’s 1-0 win against Michigan.

The chilly Sunday afternoon saw a typical rough-and-tumble game between the two teams before MSU (6-7-4 overall, 2-2-2 Big Ten) was able to get the game-winner with 17 minutes left on the clock.

Both MSU and U-M (5-12-1, 1-4-0) have struggled this season after making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament this season and were looking for momentum builders heading into the postseason. The Spartans got the win on an emotional Senior Day at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.

“(The win felt) awesome, last game at Demartin Stadium, great way for us seniors to go out,” senior goalkeeper Jeremy Clark said. “We’ve had a rough season, but getting the Bear back and winning in a great fashion, I’m still speechless about it.”

The game’s first half played out back and forth and relatively clean, an unexpected twist to the rivalry. But the game picked up how the teams expected in the second half, Clark said.

“The first half wasn’t what we thought it was going to be. We played well, they played well,” he said. “Second half, legs get tired, game opens up, Michigan-Michigan State starts playing, you know something is going to happen. Ultimately the game got chippy, but that’s expected.”

The Spartans held most of the momentum in the second half and finally were able to capitalize when senior defender Mark Barone led a charge late in the second half. Although Barone’s shot missed, the rebound was collected by MSU and a pass from senior midfielder Cyrus Saydee found redshirt freshman defender Ryan Keener’s head and, in turn, the back of the net.

The Spartans came close to grabbing a second goal when Keener started a 4-on-1 charge that ended with a Saydee shot being saved.

Spartan head coach Damon Rensing was proud of his team’s effort on Senior Day.

“We were very solid, start to finish,” Rensing said. “We came out, good sense of urgency, and 35- to 20-minute mark Michigan had the momentum. We bent a few times, but we didn’t break”

The game ended with eight cards, including a red card on U-M goalkeeper Adam Grinwis, after he threw a ball at a Spartan.

Michigan led the game in shots, 14-9. Clark ended his career at DeMartin Stadium with a shutout on nine saves.

Clark, a captain, led the group of eight senior Spartans, including Barone, midfielders Saydee, Joe Paljaj, Brent Rosendall. Garret Back, defender Stephen Lucianek and forward Rubin Bega.

Rensing was happy the soccer class of 2011 could end its home career on a high note.

“I’m happy for them,” Rensing said. “It’s a great group of individuals. They’ve had good careers here. All contributed in some ways, and maybe the win-loss record this year isn’t quite what we’d like it to be, but they deserved it this year.”

The Spartans head to Akron, Ohio for a Wednesday night game against defending National Champion Akron before heading to the Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor.

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