Just six games into the women’s soccer season, the Spartans have already seen their injury list fill up. In Sunday’s game at New Mexico, they had to face a little more.
In preparation for South Florida last week, head coach Mark Dantonio informed sophomore quarterback Connor Cook on Monday that he would be starting against the Bulls. Cook then practiced all week as the starter, and redshirt freshman Tyler O’Connor worked as the backup because the coaches wanted to give him his first game experience. The public first learned Cook got the nod hours before kick off Saturday.
The legend of Dos a Cero is more than just a score, it’s a trio of results that will live in U.S. Soccer’s history forever. The last three times the U.S. and Mexico have tangled in World Cup qualifiers in the U.S. were in Columbus, Ohio at Columbus Crew Stadium. Each time the score ended in 2-0 in favor of the Americans.
At the eve of the 2013 volleyball season, junior libero and co-captain Kori Moster made it abundantly clear — the Spartans are striving for more. Following a successful 2012 season, it only fits that the bar has been raised. After a Sweet 16 exit last year, MSU’s appetite for success has grown. The Spartans yearn for a Final Four appearance. A national championship berth would be even better.
Losing a starting goalkeeper is never easy, but the women’s soccer team was able to overcome the crucial injury to pick up the 1-0 win at New Mexico.
The men’s soccer team lost 2-1 to Valparaiso in a hard fought game Sunday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.
Fifty-six yards. That’s the amount of yards it took sophomore defensive end Shilique Calhoun upon picking off a third-quarter pass thrown by South Florida quarterback Bobby Eveld to find his way into the end zone for the second time that day. That’s the play that’s propelled Calhoun into the national discussion, earning him the distinction by defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi as MSU’s “running back on defense.”
Max Bullough was refreshingly honest Saturday evening when asked if his defense could maintain its elite performance and surprising point production throughout the season. “No, I don’t think so,” he said with a laugh.
After falling behind 2-1 at the half, junior forward Allie Ahern knew the Spartans couldn’t afford to lose. Not again.
The momentum from Friday’s win over national championship-runner up Oregon carried over for MSU as they rolled to a 3-0 sweep over Oregon State Saturday night (25-12, 25-16, 25-17).
A week ago, it didn’t seem possible for the MSU defense to play any better after holding Western Michigan to 11 rushing yards and scoring two touchdowns.
When asked about the facemask on his helmet earlier in the week, Shilique Calhoun said it’s part of his on-field persona. To the sophomore defensive end, the persona transforms him into Bane — the physically superior and mentally supreme supervillain of the Batman universe. But speak of the devil and he shall appear.
A week after a standout defensive effort trumped a listless offensive showing in a 26-13 victory over Western Michigan, the storyline remains much the same this week for MSU football team, as they head into halftime leading South Florida, 7-6.
After storms interrupted the opening night of football Spartan Stadium, fans again were asked to evacuate Spartan Stadium on Saturday due to a severe weather warning prior to the noon kickoff against South Florida.
A popular phrase in soccer is “Bend it like Beckham,” but in the MSU men’s soccer team’s 1-0 win against Oregon State Friday afternoon, it should have been “Bend it like Thelen.”
It was a huge victory for the Spartans, and the two-headed monster of senior middle blocker Alexis Mathews and senior outside hitter Lauren Wicinski enabled it to happen.
As disappointing as last Friday’s season-opener against Western Michigan was for the Spartans, at least they won.
Despite blocking for one of the nation’s most prolific running backs in Le’Veon Bell a season ago, injuries still badly decimated MSU’s offensive line.
With national championship runner-up Oregon coming to town, the MSU volleyball team will be in for a challenging matchup Friday.
The men’s soccer team is set for its first home weekend with games against Oregon State and Valparaiso on Friday and Sunday.