The MSU women's soccer team was held scoreless this weekend in a pair of losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the Big Ten-Big 12 Challenge. Oklahoma State, ranked No.
With a 2-0 record after the season's first weekend, the MSU men's soccer team faced its first true test of the season Friday against No.
Most fans will look at MSU's 27-17 win over Idaho on Saturday and label it as unimpressive or disappointing.
In the realm of college football, preseason rankings achieve a rare level of uselessness rivaled only by sideline reporters, contraception* and Pac-10 defenses.
It was quite a bumpy weekend for the MSU field hockey team. Coming off a 6-1 loss to American on Saturday in Philadelphia, the Spartans were able to rebound Sunday against Temple with a 2-1 double overtime win, the first of head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof's career. With Temple up 1-0, MSU tied the score in the final minute on a goal by freshman midfielder Anne-Sophie van Rijswijk. Then, in the second overtime, freshman midfielder Floor Rijpma notched the game winner to give MSU its first win of the season. "I told the girls they needed to get a bonfire going with their play that could be seen in downtown Philly," van de Kerkhof said in a statement.
Despite starting the season with two losses, first-year MSU field hockey coach Rolf van de Kerkhof hasn't lost sight of the big picture. His team got contributions from players both young and old in close losses to Delaware and Louisville at last weekend's Champion's Invitational.
During games, Nicole Galas patrols the Spartans goalbox, shouting words of encouragement and guidance to her teammates.
If the old saying of "defense wins championships" holds true, the MSU men's soccer team could have a good season ahead. Continuing a tradition of defense-first teams under head coach Joe Baum, MSU has given up just one goal in its first two games this season, a pair of overtime wins in last weekend's Oregon State/Diadora Classic. "When we give up one goal, we're surprised," Baum said.
The Detroit Lions on Tuesday signed former MSU defensive end Clifford Dukes, the team's Web site reported.
The Spartans hockey team lost goaltender Dominic Vicari prematurely Tuesday when he announced he will forgo his senior year of eligibility to pursue a professional hockey career. "I made the decision based on the matter I thought I was treated last year and not being able to play," Vicari said Tuesday. Vicari entered the 2005-06 season as the team's starting goaltender, but lost the job midway through the season to then-freshman Jeff Lerg. With Vicari temporarily sidelined in January because of an eye infection, Lerg got hot between the pipes and jump-started the Spartans to a CCHA Championship and a No.
The MSU hockey program scored a verbal commitment this summer from Matt Duchene — a 15-year-old Ontario native who scouts are already predicting to be the province's next hockey prodigy. Although Duchene won't be able to sign a letter of intent for about 18 months, he's already being considered as a Top 5 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. "There's a lot to like," said Dennis MacInnis, the International Scouting Service's director of scouting. "The kid's got tremendous acceleration and a great set of hands.
Maureen Pawlak Junior soccer midfielder Hometown: Novi, Mich. The sport she would be playing if she weren't playing soccer: "Volleyball.
Freshman forward Lauren Hill was named Big Ten women's soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, a day after she tied a single-game school record by netting all four goals in a 4-2 win against Western Michigan. Hill is the first Spartan to earn weekly accolades since Emma Harris in October 2005. She is the first MSU women's soccer player in 19 years to have a four-goal game. Hill also assisted on a goal in her first career game, MSU's 3-2 season-opening loss to Central Michigan on Friday. Hill was the 2005 Michigan High School Gatorade Player of the Year and was recruited from Northville, Mich.
With both public and student season ticket sales exceeding 60,000 for just the fifth time in school history, MSU officials suspended season ticket sales Monday. The 61,227 tickets sold represent the second highest number in school history, just fewer than the 61,479 tickets sold in 2000. The school also sold 12,722 student season tickets, the highest total since it sold 13,360 in 1991. The MSU football team has played in front of home crowds of more than of 72,000 for 45 consecutive games, with a capacity of 75,005. Two games, Notre Dame on Sept.
Idaho head coach Dennis Erickson has an impressive college football résumé: a 145-56-1 career coaching record, a .718 winning percentage and two national championships.
After finishing 12-6-5 overall and winning its first NCAA Tournament game in school history last year, expectations have risen for the MSU women's soccer team. But after graduating four starters and losing 74 percent of its total goal scoring from a year ago, the Spartans also will be challenged with finding a new identity as a team.
Jerramy Scott Senior football wide receiver Hometown: Jupiter, Fla. His favorite restaurant: "Texas Roadhouse.
Wide receiver Jerramy Scott needs 40 catches in his senior season to pass Andre Rison and become MSU's all-time leader in receptions. "It's definitely one of my goals," Scott said. Senior wide receiver Matt Trannon could also threaten the record.
When you think of last year's MSU football team, offense might come to mind. Then, high-scoring games. Then, names like Drew Stanton, Javon Ringer, Matt Trannon and Jerramy Scott. But in 2006, the defensive players plan on making you think of them. "We'll take the chip on our shoulders," junior safety Nehemiah Warrick said.
After MSU's kicking game failed on 69 percent of field goal tries last season, head coach John L.