Friday, March 29, 2024

Sports

SPORTS

Womens soccer team doesnt overpower Bowling Green, but gets win over Western

Just looking at the statistics sheet, you would think MSU embarrassed Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon at Old College Field. After all, the Spartans peppered the Falcon net with 29 shots, compared with the three attempts Bowling Green (1-0-1) managed to direct at the Spartan goal. But Falcon goalkeeper Erika Flanders only let one shot past her - making 17 saves - as the teams battled to a 1-1 tie. MSU (1-0-1) jumped ahead 2:53 into the game as sophomore defender Andrea Sied took an assist from sophomore midfielder Trisha Kenny and buried a shot past Flanders. The lead held up until the 31:24 mark, when Falcon forward Jill Conover bounced a shot off a MSU defender and past Spartan goalkeeper Stacy Heller to knot the game at 1-1. MSU outshot the Falcons 19-1 for the remainder of the game, but couldn’t break the deadlock. The Spartans had better fortune in their season-opening tilt with Western Michigan (0-1) on Friday. Sophomore midfielder Erica Whatley and sophomore forward Tiffany Laskowski each banked an unassisted goal in the first half to propel MSU to a 2-0 victory. Heller stopped four Bronco shots for the shutout. The Spartans next play Dayton at 3 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

MSU shines in Classic, finishes undefeated

The MSU volleyball team can check one goal off its to-do list after winning all four of its matches at this weekend’s MSU Volleyball Classic at Jenison Field House. “To win this tournament on our home court was a big goal of ours,” senior outside hitter Erin Hartley said. The Spartans defeated Auburn 3-1 and Dayton 3-1 on Friday and capped the tournament with 3-1 victories against Denver and Western Michigan on Saturday. “These early season victories will help the team become more sure of itself,” sophomore setter Nikki Colson said. “It’s an incredible confidence booster.

SOCCER

Baum charts 300th victory

The game wasn’t even finished when MSU men’s soccer head coach Joe Baum’s celebration began. With less than a minute to play, Baum soaked in his historic win as several Spartans doused him in watercooler glory. This was more than a solid 6-1 season-opening victory against Wisconsin-Green Bay in the MSU/Radisson Soccer Classic Saturday - this was 25-year MSU head coach Baum’s 300th career win. When the final buzzer sounded, Old College Field turned into “Joe Baum Field” as the 410 fans cheered and held up signs reading “300,” and his team rushed toward him with congratulations. “It’s hard to believe,” Baum said.

SPORTS

MAC games test team for Big 10

In its only exhibition game, the MSU women’s soccer team notched a 3-1 win over Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference last week. But head coach Tom Saxton isn’t overlooking the two MAC schools visiting MSU’s campus on the Spartans’ regular season-opening weekend. MSU takes on Western Michigan at 4 p.m.

SPORTS

Offense improved season, now ready for playoffs

Three months ago, Oldsmobile Park was not a very fun place to be. The Lansing Lugnuts were horrible - especially at home - and the spirits of sparse crowds that showed up were usually dampened by inclement weather, bad baseball or both. Fast forward to Tuesday night.

ICE HOCKEY

Cold War tickets sell out, buy season plan

Despite selling all individual student tickets for “The Cold War” hockey game between the MSU and Michigan, students still aren’t being frozen out from attending the game. An additional 2,200 tickets in the student section for the Oct.

FOOTBALL

Henry burned by bad grades

Projected starting cornerback Cedric Henry has been ruled academically ineligible and will miss the entire season, head coach Bobby Williams said Tuesday evening.