“We are excited because it’s the first real game and we are super excited to play in the new stadium,” MSU head coach Joe Baum said. “I just hope we don’t get too excited. We’ve got to calm down and execute. But the coaches and players realize that it is a historic day for MSU soccer.”

After this weekend’s tournament, the Spartans won’t play at home again until Oct. 5. Senior captain Doug DeMartin believes the long stretch ahead makes it important to soak in the home atmosphere and get the season started out on the right foot.

“Starting out right and getting some confidence is important,” DeMartin said. “It is really important for the younger guys to get their feet under themselves and getting ready for some traveling and some tough road games ahead.”

Five of seven
Despite returning six starters and 17 letterwinners to the 2008 roster, the Spartans have been ranked fifth in the Big Ten preseason polls.

However, Baum doesn’t have a problem with the projection.

“Usually what happens is that the preseason rankings are how we are seeded in the (Big Ten Tournament) and I like being seeded low,” Baum said. “It will be interesting but I really don’t mind being ranked low.”

DeMartin also doesn’t mind being ranked near the bottom in the preseason polls and he realizes that his team is going to have to work hard to make its way up the rankings.

“If anything, it’s a motivating factor for our team,” DeMartin said. “We need to earn the respect out here and that’s fine with us.”

Problem solved
After a tough offseason battle for the vacant starting goalkeeper slot, associate coach Damon Rensing announced redshirt freshman Jeremy Clark as the starter for this weekend’s tournament.

Sophomore Avery Steinlage will back up Clark to start the season and Rensing is excited to have two goalkeepers who are capable of impacting the game.

“They were very close and both of them are good goalkeepers,” Rensing said. “We feel confident that in any given game both can do the job. Jeremy has just been a little more consistent throughout the sessions.”