A new face in a Spartan jersey is standing in front of the net at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.
Freshman goalie Zach Bennett of the MSU men’s soccer team (5-7-1) started the past three games for MSU, winning two and losing one.
Freshman goalie making impact felt for Spartans
Bennett is a different face than the Spartans are used to — junior keeper Bryce Dobbins was the team’s usual starter.
“Obviously, I’m very excited to get the starts this past weekend,” Bennett said after the team’s 1-0 win over Detroit. “It was pretty exciting for me. (I have) a great back line to work with, so it’s pretty easy for me.”
In Bennett’s collegiate debut against Ohio State, a 2-1 win, he made four saves and allowed one goal.
The saves proved enough to lead MSU to its first Big Ten win of the season.
“He has a good presence,” head coach Damon Rensing said. “He’s been very good in the air; I think he’s just growing with confidence. He’s playing well.”
Rensing said he takes the starting lineup game-by-game, but he said he expects Bennett to continue to impact the lineup.
In his first start at DeMartin, Bennett gave MSU its second shutout of the season over Detroit, its first coming in the season opener against Valparaiso.
He had two saves that afternoon.
The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper is a Plano, Texas, native who graduated high school a semester early and enrolled at MSU in the 2012 spring semester.
“I think he’s been doing a great job,” senior midfielder Luke Norman said. “He’s a freshman, and he came in in the spring, and he’s worked really hard. He got his opportunity against Ohio State and has proved himself.”
Bennett said getting to MSU early helped him adjust and work toward a starting spot, saying when he was called on, he was “ready to go.”
During high school, Bennett guided his team to a state championship and back-to-back regional finals, earning him a spot as No. 128 of the nation’s top recruits.
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Additionally, Bennett graced the rosters of the under-16 and under-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy squads as a three-year starter.
As MSU prepares for a road game on Wednesday at Oakland, Bennett is focusing on the simple aspects of his game to help the team to a win.
“(I) don’t try to do too much — just stay consistent back there (and) let my back line do what they need to do, and once I’m called upon, I’ll do my best.” he said.
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