The MSU men’s soccer team has started the season off on a sour note — 1-5-2 — but it’s not the end of the world. Last year, the team ended on a 0-4-1 skid before the NCAA tournament and still managed a trip to the Sweet 16.
Freshman libero Kori Moster of the MSU volleyball team was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after a strong performance in two Big Ten games this past weekend.
Due to heavy rainfall in the Midwest on Monday, the first two rounds of the Iverness Intercollegiate at the Iverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, has been postponed until Tuesday.
The MSU football team (3-1) has had at least one notable mistake on special teams in each of its four nonconference games, and after the disastrous mistakes against Notre Dame last weekend, head coach Mark Dantonio recognized how much of a concern special teams is.
The MSU football team’s defense made it a long Saturday afternoon for Central Michigan quarterback Ryan Radcliff.
The Spartans (10-2-0 overall, 2-1-0 Big Ten) kept offensive pressure on the Golden Gophers (4-6-1, 1-1-1) the whole game while keeping shots away from senior goalie Jill Flietstra.
The Spartans (5-6 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) were looking to rebound after dropping their first Big Ten match of the season to Iowa, 2-0, Saturday. MSU did just that on an overtime penalty corner by freshman midfielder Becky Stiles.
The MSU volleyball team (12-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) opened Big Ten play on Friday with a 3-0 loss at Purdue but was able to rebound in time to top the Indiana Hoosiers, 3-1, on Saturday in Bloomington, Ind.
The MSU men’s soccer team opened up its Big Ten season with a 1-1 tie at Northwestern on Saturday.
The MSU women’s tennis team wrapped up its first tournament of the season Sunday at the Spartan Invitational, which took place at the MSU tennis courts on Wilson Road. Due to the MSU home football game, Saturday’s matches were located at both Mason High School and East Lansing High School.
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio used Saturday’s game against Central Michigan to make a statement. The Spartans can –and will – run the ball as they please. The MSU football team promised all week they were going to pound the football and as sophomore running back Le’Veon Bell said after the game, his head coach never has been one to break a promise. “If (Dantonio) says we’re going to run the ball the whole game then he means we’re going to run the ball the whole game,” Bell said. On the Spartans first two scoring drives, the team ran the ball 11 times for 84 yards and only passed once.
The MSU football team wasted no time in getting an early lead against Central Michigan before clinching its final nonconference game, 45-7, Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
MSU finished with 478 yards while holding Central Michigan to 112. The Spartans grabbed four interceptions, but they also had four penalties for 20 yards.
Coming into the game riding an eight-game winning streak, the MSU women’s soccer team (8-2-0, 1-1-0 Big Ten) couldn’t match the intensity of Wisconsin (7-3-0, 2-0-0) and gave up a late goal to fall 2-1.
After last weekend’s 31-13 loss to Notre Dame, the Spartans said they returned to the drawing board with an especially critical eye to find the costly mistakes and look to eliminate them this time around. Learning as much as possible from the first loss of the season, MSU’s goals are still in tact as it looks to get back on track.
The long history between MSU head coach Mark Dantonio and Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos makes preparing for Saturday’s game that much more difficult.
Last year, the MSU men’s soccer team entered the Big Ten season on a five-game winning streak, eventually finishing sixth out of seven with a 2-4-0 record in the conference. This year, the Spartans (1-5-1) will start the Big Ten season with a less-than-successful record Saturday at Northwestern.
The Spartans (11-1) had a hot start to the season, winning 18 consecutive sets before falling to Bowling Green, 3-1, in the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational. However, MSU’s sole loss seems to have been a blip on the radar as the team has continued to steam roll its opponents, accumulating a 35-4 set record in nonconference play. But playing in the Big Ten is a different beast altogether, as head coach Cathy George and her players were quick to point out.
The MSU field hockey team opens its Big Ten season Friday, when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on the Hawkeyes. The Spartans will return to East Lansing on Sunday for its home opener against Kent State.
The MSU women’s soccer coach is preaching a gospel of physicality and grittiness as his team (8-1-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten) heads into a weekend series against Wisconsin (6-3-0, 1-0-0) and Minnesota (3-5-1, 0-0-1). With the Spartans riding an eight-game winning streak, Saxton will look for his team to step up at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field early in its Big Ten schedule.