The No. 10 MSU field hockey team got back on track this weekend with two big wins in New England. The Spartans got off to a hot start, defeating No. 18 Boston University 2-0 on the strength of goals by sophomore forward Angela Pagura and freshman forward Chantae Miller.
A weekend full of downpours couldn’t stop the Spartans’ season-long dominance. The MSU women’s soccer team’s patience and willingness to stick it out in the pouring rain and standing water on the field allowed them to enter the Green and White record books — posting their seventh straight victory in a 3-0 win to Kent State on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field, the best start in school history.
Saturday was the kind of day when nature is trying to tell you to stay inside, take a nap and not play football. The kind of day when the only person smiling because of nonstop rain is an umbrella salesman. The kind of day when even Sparty, the most macho of mascots, had to don a poncho to stay dry.
The men’s soccer team had its game against Illinois-Chicago canceled Sunday due to standing water at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field. “We were disappointed we couldn’t play,” MSU head coach Joe Baum said. “But once you get standing water on the field, it’s very dangerous for the players.”
On many occasions, inclement weather levels the playing field and gives an underdog a better chance to win. That was hardly the case Saturday, as pass-happy Florida Atlantic had trouble moving the ball through heavy rain at Spartan Stadium.
The wind and rain that engulfed Spartan Stadium on Saturday during MSU’s 17-0 win over Florida Atlantic had many people ringing out their shirts and cursing the weather. Although that sentiment was shared by more than a few fans and players, MSU redshirt freshman guard Joel Foreman was more than happy with the weather conditions.
The MSU volleyball team continued to roll this weekend, winning the MSU Showcase at Jenison Field House for the fifth straight year. The Spartans didn’t drop a set on the weekend, defeating Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Florida A&M and Connecticut to claim the title and stretch their winning streak to six.
MSU running back Javon Ringer picked up where he left off last week with 282 yards on 43 carries — both career highs — to go with two touchdowns as the Spartans beat Florida Atlantic 17-0 on Saturday.
The MSU men’s soccer team found the back of the net 11 minutes into Friday’s game and were able to hold onto the one goal lead throughout the game’s duration, defeating Buffalo 1-0 in the Spartans’ first game of the Wolverine Classic.
1. Florida Atlantic’s win total has improved in each of the last three seasons. In 2005, the Owls were 2-9.
Jesse Johnson remembers the day vividly. He was 5 years old and sitting with his grandfather in section eight, row 142, seats one and two of Spartan Stadium, when he let everybody in the row know they were sitting with a future MSU football player.
Smith is no pushover — he’s a legitimate Division I quarterback who has garnered the attention of NFL scouts.
If MSU linebackers/special teams coach Mike Tressel was given a blank sheet of paper and asked to draw up the prototypical special teams player, chances are he could do it pretty quickly.
In a secondary filled with veteran cornerbacks and safeties, freshman Johnny Adams knows he’s low on the pecking order — and his teammates aren’t afraid to remind him either.
Every now and then, a TV analyst or newspaper columnist makes a wise-crack about kickers. By noting that kickers don’t hit, don’t get hit and simply stand on the sidelines kicking footballs into a net, they try to make a point by saying kickers aren’t football players.
Until Sunday’s 4-2 loss against UC Davis, the MSU men’s soccer team hadn’t given up four goals in a game since Oct. 12, 2003. Strong defensive play is something head coach Joe Baum has always stressed to his teams while serving at MSU, and he isn’t satisfied with his squad giving up seven goals in two games this weekend.
After starting the season 0-3, the MSU volleyball team began to work more on teamwork and defense, something head coach Cathy George said helped the team slow down the action on the court. The change worked, as the Spartans moved to 3-3 on the season last weekend, winning the Delaware Invitational.