“Today was the first time I’ve actually held the bear,” defender Tim Granaderos said. “It felt good to raise it up and bring it back to the locker room. It’s where it belongs.”

As expected, the game between the two rivals was intense, with two red cards, 11 yellow cards and 31 fouls called between the two teams.

But MSU head coach Damon Rensing said the key to the Spartans’ success was their ability to keep their cool throughout the game.

“Our team played their hearts out,” Rensing said. “There’s no statistic for how these kids laid it on the field. I’m very proud of this team.”

The Wolverines outshot the Spartans 19 to 7, and had two goals taken away by junior defender Colin Givens, who came out of nowhere twice to stop what appeared to be sure goals.

But despite being dramatically outshot, the Spartans were able to capitalize on their chances.

Junior midfielder Spencer Thompson scored on the Spartans’ first shot of the game in the sixth minute.

Sophomore midfielder Cyrus Saydee received a long through pass down the left flank before crossing the ball into the box. Thompson was the first on the ball and redirected it into the goal.

With 52 seconds left in the first half, U-M tied the game on a header from Matt Schmitt.

But only 1:11 into the second half, Saydee gave the Spartans the lead when he fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box that found its way into the right side-netting.

“You get pumped up at halftime, and we talk about winning those first five minutes,” Granaderos said.

“I think it just shows who’s ready to play.”

The Spartans needed all the motivation they could muster, as the Wolverines pressed hard late in the second half.

But two late red cards took the wind out of U-M’s sails and the Spartans were able to hold on.

“I thought, with that chippiness, we really managed our emotions,” Rensing said. “We didn’t take any stupid yellow cards or reds. Ours were for hard fouls and that happens sometimes. We stayed together and we managed our emotions.”

Junior goalkeeper Avery Steinlage said the win should give the Spartans (9-4-1 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) the extra momentum they need as they prepare for Notre Dame and Northwestern.

“We are gaining a lot of confidence right now,” Steinlage said. “We are starting to make our (NCAA) Tournament case and we are starting to turn it around in the Big Ten.”