Ryan Keener is a warrior. Three jerseys and three stitches later, the junior defender led the MSU men’s soccer team (5-1-1 overall) to a 2-0 win against Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium.
The MSU women’s soccer team couldn’t pick up the weekend sweep as the Spartans lost to No. 18 Wisconsin, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans (7-2-2 overall, 1-2-0 Big Ten) won their first Big Ten game in nearly a year Friday against Minnesota, 3-0, but head coach Tom Saxton said tired legs hit the young squad Sunday against the Badgers (7-1-2, 2-0-1).
It’s been nearly a year, but the MSU women’s soccer team was able to finally pick up a Big Ten win.
For a team to be elite, every player needs to be as great as the one in front of them. For the last three games, junior midfielder Fatai Alashe moved into the spot senior defender Kevin Cope left because of an injury.
This will be a crucial weekend for the women’s soccer team as they prepare to face Big Ten opponents Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Spartans (6-1-1 overall, 0-1-0 Big Ten) dropped their first match of the season last week against Nebraska, 1-0. With only one game last weekend, MSU got a couple of extra days to rebound and freshen up for this weekend’s slate.
After holding onto a one goal lead twice in the game, the men’s soccer team settled for a 2-2 draw against No. 3 Creighton in Omaha, Neb. Tuesday night. The Spartans (4-1-1 overall) were tested early on by the dangerous Bluejay offense. Bruno Castro and Timo Pitter were both off target before the ten minute mark.
When it comes to two of the most successful women’s soccer players in school history, the numbers speak for themselves. Three All-American selections. Five All-Big Ten selections. Forty-nine wins in college. One hundred and seven wins and just one loss in high school. Four consecutive high school state championships. Numerous MSU women’s soccer records.
Yesterday was the last time many girls will see their boyfriends for a while. One of the most popular video game franchises in the world, FIFA Soccer, released their 2014 version on Tuesday at locations across the country.
This is the game that could put the MSU men’s soccer team on the map. The Spartans (4-1-0 overall) travel to Omaha, Neb. to take on No. 5 Creighton (5-1-0) at 8 p.m. tonight. Creighton is ranked second in the nation by topdrawersoccer.com.
In the wake of a week that saw the MSU men’s soccer team come away with a pair of wins, the team now is doing something it’s not used to — nothing at all. The five-day break between the Spartans’ (4-1-0) 1-0 win against Bowling Green, Sept. 18, at DeMartin Stadium and their trip to Omaha, Neb. to take on No. 5 Creighton Tuesday is the second-longest of the season.
Zach Bennett is a wall. In five games for the men’s soccer team (4-1-0 overall), the sophomore goalkeeper has four shutouts, bringing his career total to seven. The .80 shutout percentage is in the top 10 in the country.
After a rain delay just a few minutes into the MSU women’s soccer match against Nebraska, the Cornhuskers came out to secure a 1-0 win and hand MSU its first loss of the season. Nebraska freshman Jaycie Johnson gave the Cornhuskers (5-2-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) their first goal from 13 yards out in the 12th minute, which turned out to be the difference maker.
With a 1-0 win against Bowling Green on Wednesday evening, the MSU men’s soccer team is starting to get the ball rolling towards the meat of the season. The Spartans (4-1-0) have four shutouts on the season, and boast one of the staunchest defenses in the country.
After finishing its first undefeated non-conference schedule since 2009, the MSU women’s soccer team will get its first taste of Big Ten play Thursday at Nebraska.
Then there was one. Kelsey Mullen entered MSU four years ago along with three others as members of the women’s soccer class of 2014. The class was loaded with top players in the state and country, including Annie Steinlage and Courtney Clem, as well as Chelsey Miller, who decided to focus on academics and quit the team after two years.
The next game is the biggest game of the year. That’s the new motto for the MSU men’s soccer team (3-1-0) heading into a showdown with Bowling Green (1-2-2) at 5 p.m. Wednesday evening at DeMartin Stadium.
Blake Skamiera has seen the field in all three of the MSU men’s soccer team wins this season — he just hasn’t started there. The junior forward is part of a group of players that have an important role coming off the bench and giving the players in the starting 11 a much needed break.
Last year, the MSU women’s soccer team was 7-1-1 headed into Big Ten play. The Spartans, however, stumbled during Big Ten play, going 2-8-1 — tied for last place in the conference.
Where’s the love? On the heels of an impressive 2-0 win against a tough Marquette team Sunday evening in Wisconsin, it’s time for the MSU men’s soccer team to once again break into the rankings.
For the first time since 2009, the women’s soccer team will enter its Big Ten schedule without a loss. The Spartans (6-0-2 overall) finished their non-conference slate Sunday afternoon at Eastern Michigan and escaped with a nail-biting victory, thanks to two clutch penalty kicks from sophomore defender Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz in the second half.