FOOTBALL

Narduzzi preaches more aggression against U-M

Josh Mansour

October 17, 2012

Pat Narduzzi is determined not to make the same mistake again. The MSU football team’s defensive coordinator widely is credited for coming up with one of the best formulas to contain University of Michigan senior quarterback Denard Robinson, but as the Spartans (4-3 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) prepare for their annual rivalry game against No. 23 U-M (4-2, 2-0), he said an early season loss has altered the team’s preparation this week.

FOOTBALL

Warner presents challenges of playing in Ann Arbor

Jesse O'Brien

October 17, 2012

With three days remaining until what could be a make-or-break game for the Spartans (4-3 overall, 1-2 Big Ten), quarterbacks coach Dave Warner met with the media to discuss Saturday’s matchup at No. 23 Michigan (4-2 overall, 2-0 Big Ten).

SPORTS

Molly Cassidy gives valuable leadership to team

Matt Sheehan

October 17, 2012

It might not be the biggest buzz on campus, but the season that MSU field hockey’s junior goaltender Molly Cassidy is having is certainly worth talking about.

SOCCER

Clem growing in first season as starting goalie

Zach Smith

October 17, 2012

Many times, a good soccer team can be defined by its goalkeeper, and the same is true for the MSU women’s soccer team and sophomore keeper Courtney Clem.

ICE HOCKEY

Freshmen hockey players rise to challenge

Mike Ferrantino raised his Spartan Shield high this weekend. MSU men’s hockey (0-2-0) head coach Tom Anastos said he created a player-specific award from teammates, presented to someone who represents the program’s values well that whole week.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU seeking positives after tough weekend

The MSU hockey team (0-2-0) is looking for little positives after last weekend. And after a pair of tough losses to top-ranked Minnesota on Gopher ice, little positives are all it really has.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball travels to Michigan for midweek rivalry matchup

Matt Sheehan

October 16, 2012

After a rough weekend marred by two losses, the MSU volleyball team is looking to get its feet back under itself with a win on Wednesday. The team, however, that the Spartans are going up against isn’t just a regular team — it’s their in-state rival, Michigan.

SOCCER

Team managers play crucial role for Spartans

Zach Smith

October 16, 2012

As fans pack DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field for the MSU women’s soccer team, it’s the key players, big goals and critical coaching decisions that merit admiration. But in order to get the Spartans in optimal game condition, it’s the team’s resident managers who do the dirty work that often is unnoticed.

SOCCER

Men's soccer aims for critical in-state win against Oakland

For Kevin Cope, there’s something special about in-state rivalry soccer. The junior defender said he’s looking forward to the MSU men’s soccer (5-7-1, 1-2-0 Big Ten) battle against Oakland Wednesday night, hopefully giving the Golden Grizzlies their first home loss of the season.

FOOTBALL

Sims left off depth chart for second straight week

Jesse O'Brien

October 16, 2012

For the second time in as many weeks, junior tight end Dion Sims has been left off MSU’s weekly depth chart.

FOOTBALL

Master & Apprentice

Jesse O'Brien

October 15, 2012

In the middle of fall camp, quarterbacks coach Dave Warner gave his junior quarterback a strong vote of confidence, predicting Andrew Maxwell would perform at the same level as graduated quarterback Kirk Cousins did in 2011.

SOCCER

Column: MSU in need of improvement in Big Ten play

Zach Smith

October 15, 2012

If the MSU women’s soccer team (8-6-2, 2-5-1 Big Ten) wants to go on another road trip this season, it must perform under the pressure that will ensue this weekend.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball team connects with fans through community outreach

Matt Sheehan

October 15, 2012

To young fans, the athletes of their favorite teams can be larger-than-life icons. To most people, the athletes who were watched and learned from were just regular people playing a game; they were the idols that fans hoped to meet one day.

SOCCER

Freshman goalie making impact felt for Spartans

A new face in a Spartan jersey is standing in front of the net at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field. Freshman goalie Zach Bennett of the MSU men’s soccer team (5-7-1) started the past three games for MSU, winning two and losing one.

BASKETBALL

Midnight Madness builds buzz for basketball season

Zach Smith

October 14, 2012

As sparks flew, all the eyes in Breslin Center turned skyward Friday night at Midnight Madness as an Iron Man suit flew across the floor to help kick off the basketball season for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

ICE HOCKEY

Hockey swept by Golden Gophers

The No. 1/2-ranked Minnesota lived up to its ranking this weekend, sweeping MSU hockey (1-2-0) in a season-opening weekend.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans stumble to winless weekend at home

Matt Sheehan

October 14, 2012

The MSU volleyball team had a pair of games in Jenison Field House over the weekend, but not even the home crowd could push the Spartans to victory.

SOCCER

Women's soccer drops Indiana contest in double overtime

Zach Smith

October 14, 2012

It was a tale of two halves as the MSU women’s soccer team (8-6-2 overall, 2-5-1 Big Ten) lost to Indiana (8-7-1, 3-5-0) in a thrilling double-overtime game.

SPORTS

After loss to Michigan, field hockey defeats Kent State 4-2

Matt Sheehan

October 14, 2012

After a rough week of athletics, the No. 19 MSU field hockey team finally gave the Spartan faithful something to cheer about as the Spartans took home a 4-2 victory against Kent State on Sunday.

VOLLEYBALL

No. 25 MSU tripped up by No. 23 Illinois in five sets

Matt Sheehan

October 14, 2012

The No. 25 MSU volleyball team came out storming, winning the first two sets against No. 23 Illinois, but mental and physical errors bogged down the Spartans, as they lost in five sets (25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 16-25, 8-15).