Crews have been working through the night transforming Spartan Stadium from a gridiron showroom to a hockey shrine for “The Cold War,” and Associate Athletics Director Mark Hollis said the conversion is ahead of schedule. “Everything is going very smooth, just as planned,” Hollis said.
It’s easy to blame MSU’s kicking game for Saturday’s 27-26 loss at Northwestern since it failed to convert on three field goals and two extra points.It’s also convenient to point a finger at the team’s discipline - the Spartans lead the Big Ten in snafus with 25.
The men and women’s cross country teams had strong showings at Saturday’s 16th annual Roy Griak Invitational.
The No. 6 MSU women’s field hockey team rallied late to defeat Cornell 4-3, tallying its fourth consecutive victory at Penn State on Sunday. Freshman back Judith van Haeringen scored two goals in the match, including the game winner.
Let the countdown to “The Cold War” officially begin.The Spartans breezed through two exhibition games this weekend - a 1-0 Green and White intrasquad scrimmage Friday and a 14-1 rout of Queen’s University (Ontario) on Saturday - in their only tune-ups leading up to the season-opening contest against Michigan at 7:05 p.m.
After a disappointing start to its Big Ten season, the MSU women’s soccer team found its first conference win of the season against Northwestern on Sunday at Old College Field. A crowd of 375 watched as the Spartans (4-3-2, 1-2-1 Big Ten) battled to a 1-0 victory over the Wildcats. The win raised the spirits of the Spartans, who had had dismal showings in the Big Ten so far this season. “Had we not come out of here with three points today, we’d really have a big hole to dig out of,” head coach Tom Saxton said. Northwestern (2-5-1, 1-2-1 Big Ten) put the pressure on early, but the Spartans refused to let the team score while they waited for their chance. “If you’re defending for a while, you just can’t freak out,” Saxton said.
If there was one star on the Spartan women’s tennis team that shined above the rest this weekend, it was freshman Mandy Caldemeyer. Caldemeyer won two tennis titles at the Spartan Cup this weekend at the MSU tennis courts. She defeated freshman Jehan Patel for the singles B Flight Championship, 6-2, 6-1.
Two weekend losses against Iowa and Minnesota would have left the MSU volleyball team with zero wins in four tries against Big Ten opponents.But MSU didn’t fall in that hole.
Evanston, Ill. - Senior wide receiver Herb Haygood had a goal when he came to MSU. Someday he would return a kickoff for a touchdown. That moment came Saturday.
The MSU baseball team defeated the Toronto Blue Jays Amateur Select Baseball Club 14-5 in an exhibition game Sunday at Kobs Field. A six-run sixth inning and a five-run seventh inning propelled the Spartans to their victory. Senior outfielder Chris McCuiston led MSU, going 3-for-5 with six RBIs including a seventh-inning grand slam. Nine pitchers contributed to the Spartans’ win combining for 11 strikeouts, scattering eight hits throughout the game.
Evanston, Ill. - The row of MSU players knelt on the sidelines in single file, clasping hands, hoping for just one more miracle. Apparently, it was the Wildcats turn for miracles- again. That 47-yard Northwestern field goal was the improbable ending to a game that defied all logic. “I just hoped we had a few more seconds left,” head coach Bobby Williams said. But the Spartans didn’t.
The MSU men’s tennis team spent the weekend at the Tom Fallen Invitational in South Bend, Ind., taking on Wisconsin, Ball State, Purdue and host team Notre Dame. The Spartans defeated Big Ten opponent Wisconsin 4-2 in singles competition.
Things weren’t going smoothly for the offensive line midway through Saturday’s game at Notre Dame.Redshirt freshman guard William Whitticker left the game with an ankle injury, and junior guard Paul Harker collapsed with a seizure on the sidelines.
The MSU men’s and women’s cross country teams will be traveling Saturday to Minnesota for the Roy Griak Invitational. Both teams are coming off impressive showings at last week’s Spartan Invitational at Forest Akers East Golf Course.
The MSU men’s golf team opens its season today as it heads to Ann Arbor for the Wolverine Invitational. The 21-team field, which includes seven Big Ten teams, begins play today and will compete through Sunday. “It’s always a tough one - the first one - because you haven’t gotten through the expectations yet,” head coach Mark Hankins said. Despite that factor, he said the team anticipates a strong finish this weekend. “We have a good team,” Hankins said.
Senior defensive specialist Lisa Ashton had big plans for this season. Her relentless hustle on defense, her work ethic and her leadership were going to be inspirational for her teammates.What the Spartan volleyball co-captain didn’t plan on giving her teammates was a lesson in vulnerability and optimism.“Maybe taking a look at me on the sidelines will remind them they aren’t guaranteed four years of play,” Ashton said.
The MSU volleyball team is out to prove it’s not knocked out after losing two straight in last weekend’s Big Ten opening matches.The bell rings to start the second round at 7 p.m.
Mateen Cleaves may not be a Spartan or a Detroit Piston any more, but his local fan support doesn’t seem to care.About 30 fans watched as Cleaves played horse Thursday in front of the Okemos Sprint Store at 3544 Meridian Crossing Drive with four radio station winners.
The MSU coaching staff’s agenda for this weekend is fairly simple - provide the freshmen with their first competitive collegiate atmosphere, get the returning players back up to game speed and at all costs, avoid injuries. But it’s easier said than done. Just five days after their first practice, the Spartans are being thrust into back-to-back exhibition games, starting with the annual Green and White intrasquad game at 7:05 p.m.
With only three returning players, the women’s tennis team will open its fall season today by hosting The Spartan Cup at the MSU tennis courts. Matches are set to begin at 9 a.m.