Call it a home-field disadvantage. MSU dodged another fourth-quarter scare to defeat Iowa 31-28 Saturday in Homecoming, its second home game of the season. And in similar fashion to the Sept.
The fans at Old College Field expecting to see a classic battle between MSU and Michigan were not disappointed.After several shifts of momentum, the Spartans (8-2-1, 3-1 Big Ten) left the field with a 4-2 victory over rival U-M (7-4-1, 1-3 Big Ten).The Spartans grabbed control of the game early with two goals off penalty kicks - one by junior midfielder Nick DeGraw and one by senior midfielder Anders Kelto.With an early lead, the Spartans said they felt a great deal of pressure lifted off them.“(Scoring first) is huge against a team like Michigan,” DeGraw said.
Champaign, Ill. - Serving and passing errors resurfaced Saturday night, and Illinois capitalized en route to a 3-0 win against the Spartan volleyball team.A consistent serving and passing attack from the Illini starkly contrasted the Spartans’ woes in those areas.The Spartans had 12 service errors and 13 serve receive errors compared to the Fighting Illini’s four serving errors and four receiving errors.Game one belonged to the Illini - the Spartans only led twice.
Bloomington, Ind. - Behind dominating performances in the first and fourth games Friday, the Spartan volleyball team downed the Indiana Hoosiers 3-1.The Spartans (11-3, 4-3 Big Ten) got a season-high 22 kills from senior outside hitter Erin Hartley, who also finished with a .405 hinting percentage.Outside hitter Christina Archibald led the Hoosiers (4-11, 1-6) with 16 kills, and middle blocker Melissa Brewer added 14 kills in the losing cause.
As dominant as MSU was in its 5-0 shutout of Lake Superior State on Thursday night, the top-ranked Spartans looked even better in Friday‘s series finale.The Spartans (2-0-1 overall, 2-0-1 CCHA) peppered the Lake Superior net with 46 shots and rarely allowed the Lakers to mount an offensive attack in a 6-1 win at Munn Ice Arena.Senior left wing Joe Goodenow led the Spartans with two goals and an assist as the Spartans outshot Lake Superior (0-2-0, 0-2-0) 46-19 for the game.Freshman center Lee Falardeau added a goal and two assists and junior defenseman Brad Fast and junior right wing Steve Jackson tacked on a goal and an assist each.Falardeau put MSU up 1-0 at 3:46 of the first period with his first goal of the season.
The Spartans may have slipped by Iowa 31-28 in today’s Homecoming game at Spartan Stadium. But MSU played like MSU - it topped off its big plays with even bigger turnovers. Senior defensive tackle Josh Shaw had the first crowd pleaser in the opening series, intercepting a pass from Hawkeye quarterback Kyle McCann, who had four interceptions in the loss. Three plays later, sophomore Jeff Smoker connected with senior receiver Herb Haygood on a 47-yard slant that placed the Spartans on the Iowa 1-yard line.
MSU alumni won’t be the only ones returning to Spartan Stadium on Saturday for the Homecoming football game against Iowa.
The first step toward another winning basketball season begins tonight and the Spartans aren’t too proud to ask for some support.The MSU men’s and women’s basketball teams officially begin their seasons with the Motown Lo’Down at 10:30 p.m today in Breslin Center.Players will be available to sign autographs, and prizes will be given away before the teams are officially introduced with Motown tunes blasting in the background.At midnight, the first official practice for both teams will begin, giving fans a sneak look at the Spartan teams.For the men, that team will be drastically different than last year’s.The team lost five seniors after they graduated (including starters Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson and David Thomas) and said adios to guard Jason Richardson and forward Zach Randolph, who left early for the NBA.That mass exodus has put a tad bit of pressure on the remaining players and new freshmen to follow four years of Big Ten Championships, three straight Final Four appearances and the 2000 National Championship.“The (freshmen) have to step up, they don’t really have a choice,” junior forward Adam Ballinger said.
Hockey and football aren’t the only on-campus athletic draws this weekend.The MSU women’s soccer team starts the weekend off with a 4 p.m.
The winningest coach in college hockey history is now the best paid.The MSU Board of Trustees approved a 13 percent increase and extended head hockey coach Ron Mason’s contract through 2005.
Just like Willie Nelson, the Spartan volleyball team will be “on the road again” this weekend as it tangles with the Indiana Hoosiers at 7 p.m.
When No. 15 Ohio State came to East Lansing on Sunday to take on the MSU men’s soccer team.
MSU hockey head coach Ron Mason is scheduled to receive a roughly $20,000 raise to his annual base salary at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting Friday.The Board will vote to increase his salary from $153,215 to $173,215.
For more than two months, Ivory McCoy kept peddling.While his teammates pounded each other on the field, McCoy - who had surgery Aug.
The unknowns of christening a new hockey venue are now in MSU’s rearview mirror, but the Spartans still don’t know exactly what to expect in their next series.After tying Michigan 3-3 in “The Cold War” at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, top-ranked MSU (0-0-1 overall, 0-0-1 CCHA) returns to Munn Ice Arena for a two-game set with Lake Superior State today and Friday.
Despite the menacing weather, a crowd of 245 gathered to watch the MSU men’s soccer team down the Oakland Grizzlies 4-1 Wednesday at Old College Field. The game started slow with neither team creating many chances for themselves. The Spartans (7-2-1, 2-1 Big Ten) went into halftime 1-0, but both teams only had two shots on goal for the half. But Oakland (4-3-2) came out a little flat as well, allowing the Spartans to remain in the game with their subpar performance. “Both teams played sloppy soccer for half an hour,” head coach Joe Baum said.
The ice rink is gone and football is back at Spartan Stadium for the first time since MSU’s Sept.
MSU junior left wing Steve Clark said Saturday was “maybe the biggest disappointment” of his career.It seems like an odd statement considering Saturday was the day the top-ranked Spartans hosted “The Cold War,” broke the world hockey attendance record and tied archrival Michigan 3-3 in Spartan Stadium.Many of Clark’s teammates actually called Saturday one of the best, most memorable days of their lives.
MSU head coach Bobby Williams played musical chairs with his lineup after both of his starting cornerbacks suffered injuries in the bye week.Both senior DeMario Suggs and freshman Jason Harmon broke an ankle and are out eight to10 weeks.As a result, Williams shuffled his players and even dipped into his offensive resources.