Head coach Damon Rensing said the more dangerous attacking players for Oregon State will provide a Big Ten type of challenge early in the season.

“OSU hasn’t allowed a goal yet this season, so it’ll be tough on a very experienced defense,” Rensing said. “We’re going to try to do the same things as we did against Western, we just know we’re not going to be able to have the ball as long or as much. They’re definitely going have some more dangerous players.”

The scoring thus far for Oregon State has been very even, with five different players getting their names on the score sheet.

The last time the Beavers and Spartans faced off, MSU came out on top with a 1-0 win on Aug. 31, 2007.

With such a large gap since the last meeting, many players aren’t familiar with the squad, and senior defender Kevin Cope said it could be an advantage.

“I don’t know much about them, which I actually like,” Cope said. “We’ll just go out there and we’re going to worry about ourselves and not focus on them.”

In the second game of the weekend, the Spartans take on Valparaiso at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Spartans and Crusaders are familiar opponents, having faced off in non-conference play 12 times since 2000. MSU and Valpo played to a 0-0 draw to open the season last year.

Rensing said Valpo head coach Mike Avery does a good job, and it will be difficult for both teams to make the quick adjustment after playing important games on Friday.

“I always like playing Valparaiso because they play a good style of soccer,” he said. “The team is always organized and tough to break down. Both team are going to have to deal with turning around after 48 hours. That presents a challenge for both of us.”

The best chance from the draw last year came when then-freshman midfielder Jay Chapman fed a shot to then-sophomore forward Adam Montague, but it was saved by the Valpo keeper.

In the first game of the 2013 campaign, Chapman assisted on a Montague goal in the 6th minute for the first goal of the season for MSU.

Montague said scoring goals isn’t what he’s worried about, but instead he is focused on leading the team and seeing the harmony grow.

“We want to build off our first game with Western Michigan and continue to move the ball quickly, keep moving off the ball,” he said. “Keep building our team chemistry on and off the field, that’s going to be huge for us down the line.”

Two games in three days is the quickest turnaround for the Spartans this season, and the fact that it’s the first week of the regular season amplifies the effects.

Cope said the first weekend with back-to-back games is always tough, but with the wealth of experience will help the young squad perform at a high level.

“It’s very tough, two games in three days — I’ve done it multiple times,” Cope said. “It doesn’t get any easier, and hopefully the freshman can follow our example with a good practice today and then start on Friday, worry about that game; and once we’re done with that, worry about Sunday.”