“That was a huge win,” head coach Damon Rensing said. “There were so many implications. You start with the in state rivalry and we talk about one of our goals being the best team in the state. More importantly where this puts us for the NCAA tournament. It solidifies things and puts os on the bubble for a seed moving forward.”

Junior midfielder Kyle Rutz tallied the game winner in the 61st minute, and junior midfielder Fatai Alashe hammered home a penalty kick two minutes later.

The first half didn’t have much action for MSU. They spent most of the period sitting back and defending the Michigan attack.

The Wolverines led 10-0 in shots at the half. Sophomore goalkeeper Zach Bennett kept MSU in the game by making five saves.

Once the whistle blew for the second half, the Spartans looked like a different team. They put the pressure on and forced Michigan to focus on defence.

“We had a motto today that no doubt we were going to win the game,” junior forward Tim Kreutz said. “We got outshot in the first half, but we knew that if we came out with high intensity that they weren’t going to be able to handle us. They had to foul us to keep them out of their box.”

Early in the half, Kreutz got past the Wolverine defense and was one on one with the keeper. The keeper came out and challenged him just outside the 18-yard box. The Spartans argued that the play was in the box, but the ref didn’t agree.

Rutz finally broke the deadlock when he got his head on a cross from sophomore midfielder Sean Conerty. He did a backflip to celebrate.

“In a game like this, it’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Rutz said. “I’m so happy to have that (Big Bear Trophy) back. It’s pretty heavy. Especially after a game like that, I can barely stand up.”

Two minutes after Rutz’s goal, Alashe was money from the penalty spot after another Michigan foul, this time in the box.

MSU had 18 fouls on the day compared to Michigan’s 13, but the Wolverines were shown four yellow cards and a red card.

The unsung hero on the day was junior defender Ryan Keener. He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but was one of the most physical players at both ends of the field.

“This game’s just got that extra something,” Keener said. “It makes you feel like a kid at times. We came out right (in the second half) and when things start to go your way, you just keep it going.”

There were 2,445 fans at the game, including the biggest showing for the Red Cedar Rowdies all year. The crowd was the second largest in DeMartin Stadium history, and third largest in program history.

Next up for both teams is the Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, which will begin Wednesday. MSU is the No. 3 seed and will play Ohio State in the first round.

Six seniors played their last regular season game in the Green and White.

For senior defender Kevin Cope, the win against Michigan in his final game meant more than just bragging rights, it’s something he’ll hold on to for the rest of his life.

“Going off on a high note,” Cope said. “To win on senior night is special. To win on senior night against Michigan means even more.”