Michigan State senior defender Will Eby (2) and Pitt junior defender Cannon Scretchen (22) collide while contesting the ball at DeMartin Stadium in East Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 3, 2026.
Off to its best start in nine years, Michigan State men’s soccer faced its toughest opponent yet in the Pitt Panthers, but was forced into a scoreless draw Thursday night at DeMartin Stadium.
In a tightly contested game with both teams pressing hard, the well-knit defense of the Spartans became the deciding factor in repeatedly denying Pitt scoring opportunities.
“Yeah, I just thought it was a really good college soccer match with 2 really good opponents, putting each other around,” said MSU head coach Damon Rensing. “Both teams had some really good chances, and we outshot them 13 to 8. We had some really great spells in the end; we just weren’t able to finish it off.”
For much of the night, Michigan State’s ability to stay organized without the ball kept Pitt from turning its possession into clear scoring chances.
Rensing deployed his side in a flexible 4-3-3 that shifted into a 4-3-2-1 when Michigan State had possession. The formation allowed the midfield pair of No. 8 Miles Merritt and No. 11 Luke Spadafora to move between the attack and defense, helping the Spartans absorb pressure while still creating opportunities of their own.
That defensive structure was especially important for junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz, who was tested several times throughout the match.
Late in the first half, Pitt created its most dangerous sequence of the night. Grekowicz denied one attempt before another Pitt shot struck the crossbar, allowing Michigan State to enter halftime with the score still level.
“Really, just doing whatever I can,” Grekowicz said. “Whatever I can do to not let the ball go into the goal, I’m gonna put my body on the line for our school. Whatever I had, whatever I felt, I gotta do.”
The performance was another step for Grekowicz, who has waited for his opportunity after spending the previous two seasons behind former Michigan State goalkeeper Zach Kelly.
“He’s put in his time,” Rensing said. “It’s been a couple of years with him behind Zach Kelly, and he’s just been quiet, and it worked a lot. It’s good to see him play at the level he’s capable of.”
While Grekowicz protected the Spartans from one end, Michigan State continued to search for a breakthrough of its own. The Spartans held a 6-4 advantage in shots at halftime and eventually finished with 13 attempts, but Pitt’s defense repeatedly closed down Michigan State’s attacking chances.
Michigan State had its best opportunity to break the deadlock in the 55th minute after earning a free kick roughly 25 yards from goal following a foul on Spadafora.
The ensuing play went to video review, and questions arose over whether the ball had crossed the goal line. The goal was ultimately not awarded, drawing disagreement from the home crowd and leaving the Spartans without the score they had been searching for.
From there, the match became a battle of two defenses.
Neither team was able to establish consistent control, with possession moving back and forth as both sides struggled to find space around the penalty area. Michigan State continued to pressure Pitt despite the Panthers holding an advantage in possession.
The physicality of the match also increased as the game wore on. Pitt’s Mamadou Tall and Michigan State’s Conner O’Keefe were involved in a heated exchange as both teams continued to fight for control.
But even as the intensity rose, Michigan State’s defensive unit remained composed.
Grekowicz made another save late in the match as Pitt threatened to find a winner. The clean sheet ultimately belonged to more than just Grekowicz. The goalkeeper said the chemistry within the defensive group has helped the Spartans trust one another when under pressure.
“We hang out every day together. We have classes together, so I feel like chemistry is what bonds us all together,” Grekowicz said. “Trusting each other to do what it takes, just for the team, is what holds us all together.”
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For Rensing, the frustration of leaving with only one point was also a sign of how much the Spartans expect from themselves this season.
“I think what I’m proud of is that the guys are disappointed we didn’t win because it means we’ve set a higher bar for us,” Rensing said. “I think we were good enough to win, and Pitt can say the same thing, and the fact that we didn’t – well, we’re not happy with that. All we can do is take a tie, go back, and know that it’s not a loss, and we can continue to work to get better.”
Michigan State will look to carry its unbeaten start into its next match against Kansas City on Sept. 11.
