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Sports | Football 1087

FOOTBALL

Dantonio talks Illinois, injury

Stephen Brooks
October 22, 2013

With MSU past the halfway point of its season, head coach Mark Dantonio’s message Tuesday wasn’t unlike the one he delivered the previous week. After his team practiced poorly leading up to it and struggled to put away Purdue in a sloppy 14-0 win, Dantonio again emphasized testing his players’ ability to handle success as well as the increasingly difficult nature of the schedule as the season wears on. Despite their solid record, the Legends Division-leading Spartans (6-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) sit just outside the top-25 polls as they travel to Illinois (3-3, 0-2) for a 3:30 p.m.

MEN'S SOCCER

Midseason check-in: Men's soccer

Zach Smith
October 22, 2013

If the men’s soccer team wanted to prove last year’s Big Ten Tournament win over Michigan wasn’t a fluke, they have unarguably done so. Winning overtime thrillers and having players be named to Big Ten weekly honors is just a typical week for this team that is looking to make another deep run in the conference tournament. Here is what the team has done so far this season on the pitch:

SPORTS

Midseason check-in: Field Hockey

Omari Sankofa II
October 22, 2013

The season may have started a little shakier than they hoped, but the field hockey team has stormed to the top of the Big Ten. They will need to finish strong and get lucky to win the conference title, but a solid finish may be enough to land them in the NCAA Tournament. Before they start their late-season push, here is what they have done on the field so far:

VOLLEYBALL

Midseason check-in: Volleyball

Omari Sankofa II
October 22, 2013

Head coach Cathy George is dangerously close to having the program where she wants it to be. With a hot start that included wins over reigning national runner-up Oregon and perennial powerhouse Penn State, the volleyball team has been nothing short of stellar this fall. Here is what the team has accomplished on the hardwood:

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Midseason check-in: Women's soccer

Derek Blalock
October 21, 2013

It’s been a rocky road, but their work isn’t done just yet. With three more games to go and a final spot in the Big Ten Tournament up for grabs, the women’s soccer team is looking to cap the season on a high note. Here is what they have been through so far this season:

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Women's soccer with blowout win, tough loss on weekend

Derek Blalock
October 20, 2013

Despite blowing out Purdue 4-0 on Friday, the MSU women’s soccer team couldn’t make back-to-back wins, losing to Indiana, 3-2, in double overtime Sunday afternoon. Trailing 2-1 with just eight minutes remaining in the Indiana match, sophomore forward Allyson Krause tied the game with her fifth goal of the season. Krause took a pass from freshman midfielder Kaylee Phillips on the right side and broke away to find the left side of the net.

FOOTBALL

Column: Spartans need to beware of relapse

Stephen Brooks
October 20, 2013

The Spartans played with fire Saturday and emerged unscathed. If the worst team in the Big Ten wasn’t on the opposing sideline, though, there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t have been burned. MSU (6-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) dodged an embarrassing and likely dream-killing loss in its uninspiring 14-0 victory against lowly Purdue (1-6, 0-3).

FOOTBALL

Defensive Domination

Stephen Brooks
October 19, 2013

Just when the Spartans began looking like a complete team and potential Legends Division frontrunner, they struggled to put away a flawed Purdue team and a wave of uncertainty comes crashing back. The MSU defense did the heavy lifting – producing a shutout and a touchdown – while its offense struggled to move the ball once again in a 14-0 win over the Boilermakers (1-6 overall, 0-3 Big Ten). Leading up to Saturday, head coach Mark Dantonio talked about whether his team would be able to handle its recent success after back-to-back impressive wins against Iowa and Indiana.

SPORTS

Field hockey loses heartbreaker to Penn State

Omari Sankofa II
October 19, 2013

It was almost an upset, but ultimately the higher-ranked team prevailed. A week after showing improved defense and ability to close out games, the field hockey team (7-8 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) couldn’t make good of a late 3-1 lead as they fell to No.

FOOTBALL

Defensive touchdown gives MSU 7-0 lead against Purdue at halftime

Stephen Brooks
October 19, 2013

After marked improvement the past two weeks offensively, MSU took a 7-0 lead into the locker room against Purdue in a half oddly reminiscent of the lackluster performances that opened the season. MSU was billed as a heavy favorite heading into the contest against the 1-5 Boilermakers. The Spartan offense came out revving its engine on the first drive, feeding junior running back Jeremy Langford three straight plays while employing unbalanced formations with multiple offensive linemen.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Midnight Madness a blast for many

Omari Sankofa II
October 19, 2013

For a moment, it seemed as though head coach Tom Izzo had pulled off an impressive Evel Knievel impersonation. Clad in stuntman gear, Izzo rode a cannon, hashtagged #IzzoCannon, into Breslin Center. He joined his wife and kids at the center of the court with a helmet under his arm.

SPORTS

Field hockey to test unbeaten start against No. 3 Penn State

Omari Sankofa II
October 18, 2013

The field hockey team has been on a hot streak. But in order to remain undefeated in Big Ten play, they will have to overcome the other undefeated Big Ten team — No. 3 Penn State. “We’re going to try and do what we’ve been doing,” junior forward Abby Barker said. “It is a big game, there’s a lot of pressure on the line. But like we were saying the other day, pressure is a privilege, and we’re excited to be able to compete.”