Michigan State defeated Long Island University 3-1 in the first of a two-game series against the Sharks.

MSU played a fast game and took every opportunity to take a shot outshooting LIU 30 to 15.

Less than one minute into the first period, junior center Nicolas Müller put the Spartans on the board off an assist from junior right-winger Jeremy Davidson.

Long Island struck back just six minutes later when Isaiah Fox scored during a 4-on-4 play making the game tied at one all the way through to the end of the first.

Much like the first, the Spartans came back onto the ice with a vengeance for the second. Sophomore defenseman David Gucciardi was able to net his first goal of the season from the blue line off assists by junior defenseman Nash Nienhuis and junior center Zach Dubinsky just over one minute into the period.

At the end of a solid second period for the Spartans, freshman forward Karsen Dorwart closed out the period with his first goal as a Spartan with assists from senior forward Jagger Joshua and freshman forward Daniel Russell.

“We were buzzing the whole night,” Dorwart said. “We had a lot of shots, but I think it was just a little bit of a confidence booster for us to get that one in.”

The final period of the game remained aggressive, but in the end, the Spartans remained on top 3-1.

Saturday:

Following MSU’s 3-1 victory over the Sharks on Friday night, MSU managed to complete the sweep on Saturday, dropping jaws with an 8-4 victory and leaving Munn 4-2 heading into Big Ten play.

It was MSU’s first time scoring 8 goals since Dec. 1, 2013 when MSU defeated Princeton 8-2.

“Sweeping in college hockey isn't easy no matter the opponent,” Head Coach Adam Nightingale said. “I thought they were better than they were last night but I thought we were too. It was good to see the powerplay score and some guys get rewarded and now we start preparing for Big Ten play.”

Sophomore goaltender Pierce Charleson started for the Spartans for the first start this season. 

The Spartans weren’t messing around right at puck drop. Just under four minutes into the first period, senior forward Jagger Joshua netted a power play goal, assisted by freshman forward Daniel Russell and defender Matt Basgall. It was Joshua’s first goal of the season.

Two minutes later, sophomore forward Jesse Tucker sent the puck to the back of the net, putting a second one on the board for the Green and White. Just like Joshua, it was Tucker's opening goal of the 2022-23 season. 

Two first period goals weren’t enough for the Spartans. Fifth-year defender Cole Krygier delivered his first goal of the season, assisted by freshman forward Karsen Dorwart and Tucker.

That was three initial 2022-23 season goals in just over ten minutes.

But the Spartans weren’t satisfied yet. 

Sophomore defender David Gucciardi earned his second goal this season, unassisted. 

With just over four minutes remaining in the period, LIU sophomore forward Isaiah Fox knocked away Charleson’s chance at a shutout, putting up the first goal of the night for the Sharks.

MSU ended the first period with four total goals, the most since Oct. 28, 2017 at Lake Superior State. 

MSU returned in the second period hungry for more. 

Just under two minutes into the period, junior defender Nash Nienhuis shot the puck in off a backhand to the right of the net, to put a fifth goal on the board.

Another first season goal of the night. 

LIU came back with their second goal of the night from freshman forward Riley Wallack. 

Just over four minutes later, Spartan alumnus and graduate student forward Adam Goodsir scored, making it a two goal game in his return to East Lansing.

“I played my last three years with him so it was interesting to see him in another team’s color,” Joshua said. “That was fun and it’s always good to compete against friends.”

It was a quiet 11 minutes until the final 50 seconds when Joshua raked in his second goal of the night. He was assisted by Dorwart and Russell.

Over four minutes into the third period, LIU Spencer Cox propelled the puck into the net, assisted by Anthony Vincent, bringing the score to read 6-4. 

With less than four minutes left in the game, Dorwart fired the puck to the net and it was tipped in by Joshua earning him his first hat trick as a Spartan and the most recent since Jan. 4 2019 from forward Patrick Khodorenko. 

Dorwart pointed at Joshua as he skated over to congratulate him, letting fans know it was Joshua who finished off the shot.

“It was my first one so I never really felt that before,” Joshua said. “It’s always nice when the pucks are bouncing your way and you’re rewarded for your hard work. It’s a pretty good feeling.”

Just two minutes after Joshua’s hat trick, Nienhuis added the 8th and final goal of the night. It was Nienhuis’ second of the game and the fourth from a defender.

“Using the five man unit offensively and defensively,” Nienhuis said. “Obviously it’s great when the back end can contribute like that so it’s something we look to keep doing.”

MSU ended the night with 50 shots on goal and four assists from Dorwart, the most assists in a game also since Khodorenko on Oct. 26, 2019. 

MSU plans to utilize the momentum from their sweep heading into Big Ten play at Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday. 

“We’ve got a competitive group, ... and these guys have done a really good job to make it a team,” Nightingale said. “We’ve got guys who haven't played a game yet that are working really hard in practice, and the guys that are playing respect them. I think we’ve gotta keep that because that’s something in our sport that’s really special as a team sport, and it’s something we can be great at.”