Thursday, May 2, 2024

Soccer

MEN'S SOCCER

MSU men's soccer continues historic season

The MSU men’s soccer team is entering relatively uncharted territory. For the first time since 1968, the 11th-seeded Spartans are headed to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight after a 1-0 upset victory against Georgetown on Sunday afternoon. They take on Notre Dame at 7 p.m. Saturday with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

MEN'S SOCCER

Indiana stops men's soccer Big Ten repeat in final

A second half goal denied the No. 20 men’s soccer team its second straight Big Ten Championship in a row after a 1-0 loss to Indiana on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. Jamie Vollmer netted a 66th-minute goal to earn the Hoosiers (8-11-2) an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

MEN'S SOCCER

Bennett continues to star in net for MSU

It’s safe to say Zach Bennett is one of the best goalkeepers in the country. The sophomore goalkeeper at the back of the No. 18 MSU men’s soccer team is ninth in the country in save percentage (.865), 15th in total saves (90), 17th in saves per game (5.29) and 32nd in goals against average (.769).

SOCCER

The long road back

The fall of 2012 wasn’t kind to the MSU women’s soccer team. Three players suffered anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tears across a stretch of games, an injury becoming increasingly common in women’s athletics. Then-sophomore Lisa Vogel and then-senior Kelsey Kassabf each tore an ACL. Kassab tore hers just one game prior to teammate Jessica White’s, while Vogel tore hers in a game against Iowa. In only her third soccer match in a Spartan uniform, White suffered her torn ACL, something female athletes face more than men.

MEN'S SOCCER

MSU men's soccer takes on Michigan on senior day

It all comes down to this. The last game of the regular season for the No. 18 MSU men’s soccer team (9-4-3 overall, 2-2-1 Big Ten) against Michigan (8-5-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten), and senior day presents the Spartans with one emotional afternoon at DeMartin Stadium, in the Battle for The Big Bear Trophy.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Women's soccer sees season end on senior day

In the final game of the season, the MSU women’s soccer team was unable to upset No. 22 Penn State, as the Nittany Lions came away with the 3-0 victory on the back of Maya Hayes’ two goals. Penn State (13-5-1 overall, 7-4 Big Ten) derailed the Spartans (9-8-2 overall, 3-8 Big Ten) on senior day at DeMartin Stadium when they honored lone senior and MSU defender Kelsey Mullen. Mullen injured her knee in early October and missed four games prior to Friday, but head coach Tom Saxton was determined Mullen would play her final game in a Spartan game.

MEN'S SOCCER

Own goal bites men's soccer in Wisconsin loss

An own goal in the first half sunk the No. 17 MSU men’s soccer team as they fell to Wisconsin 1-0 in Madison, Wisc., Sunday afternoon. The Spartans (8-3-3 overall, 1-2-1 Big Ten) officially were eliminated from contention for the Big Ten regular season title after Penn State beat Northwestern in double overtime earlier that day.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

No Big Ten Tourney again for women's soccer

For the second-consecutive season, the MSU women’s soccer team will not make a trip to the Big Ten Tournament. After a 2-1 victory at Northwestern on Friday to stay in the hunt for a tournament berth, the Spartans (9-7-2 overall, 3-7-0 Big Ten) couldn’t find a way to win against Illinois (9-7-2, 4-5-1), losing 2-0 Sunday afternoon.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Women's soccer takes down Northwestern in tough conditions

Despite difficult playing conditions and winds up to 20 miles per hour, the MSU women’s soccer team beat Northwestern, 2-1, in Evanston, Ill., on Friday night. MSU (9-6-2 overall, 3-6-0 Big Ten) quickly fell behind the Wildcats (3-12-2, 1-8-0) when, in the 15th minute, Northwestern midfielder Margo McGinty shot from 18 yards out and got it past Gauruder in the top left corner of the net. Head coach Tom Saxton said the Wildcats got the best of them physically in the early going and got better position than the Spartans.

MEN'S SOCCER

Men's soccer draws with Akron

For the fourth time in the last five games, the men’s soccer team had to go to double overtime to see the end of a contest. The No. 17 Spartans (8-2-3 overall, 1-1-1 Big Ten) played to a 0-0 draw against No. 18 Akron (10-3-1) in Akron, Ohio Wednesday night.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Evans has no regrets after leaving Vanderbilt

In her third year of college, Kirsten Evans is in her first as a Spartan. Out of high school, the redshirt sophomore midfielder committed to the Vanderbilt women’s soccer team. Because of an injury after just six games into her freshman year, she was sidelined the remainder of the season. After being redshirted in 2012, the Farmington Hills, Mich., native left Nashville and transferred to MSU at the winter break, joining the Spartan women’s soccer team this spring.