Not even forty-eight hours after their emotional overtime defeat against Duke, the Spartan field hockey team took to the pitch again on Sunday morning.
With three games in the books, MSU has yet to lose a set. The Spartans (3-0) followed up yesterday’s two wins with another against Jacksonville State 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-10). It was a true team effort for head coach Cathy George’s squad as every player on the roster saw playing time.
Mission accomplished for the Spartans, who defeated Southeastern Louisiana and UAB in straight sets. MSU (2-0) defeated Southeastern Louisiana in straight sets (25-8, 25-11, 25-21) in the day game of the doubleheader.
There’s nothing like a chip on your shoulder. Despite winning the Rose Bowl last season, the pressure is still on for an MSU program that historically has had the tendency to fuel their doubters with disappointing encores to great seasons.
The men’s soccer team defeated SMU in their first game of the 2014 season on a mostly-sunny day in DeMartin Soccer Stadium, 1-0. The first half saw both teams struggle to generate much on offense with the only close opportunity coming from MSU’s senior midfielder Fatai Alashe on a nearly missed header at the 2:34 mark.
Junior quarterback Connor Cook led the way on Friday as No. 8 MSU made quick work of Jacksonville State and cruised to 45-7 victory at Spartan Stadium. MSU took the life out of the Gamecocks early and were able to impose its will through long scoring drives and stout defense.
Experience was key for the Spartans Friday afternoon, as three different upperclassmen scored in an early season home victory against in-state rival Eastern Michigan, 3-0.Junior forward Allyson Krause, senior midfielder Megan Marsack, and redshirt junior defender Rachel Van Poppelen scored for MSU (3-0 overall), as the Spartans maintained a perfect record.“Ally Krause played a great game.
MSU kicked off its regular season slate at home on Friday afternoon, falling to the No. 4 ranked Duke Blue Devils in overtime, 2-1.
The well-known mascot is getting a new suit of armor to show off to his fans.
A season full of high expectations and dreams has finally arrived for No.
The volleyball team will trave to Birmingham, Ala. this weekend to kick off the 2014 season. MSU will play Southeastern Louisiana, Alabama-Birmingham, Jacksonville State and Samford as part of the two day UAB/Samford Tournament. All five squads will participate in a two-day, four-game event at both the UAB and Samford campus.
After only being together for a week at camp and two practices, MSU’s cross county team heads to Mount Pleasant on Friday to participate in a memorial meet, in honor the Head Coach Walt Drenth’s brother Jeff.Jeff became an international level distance runner during his time at Central Michigan, where he graduated in 1983. In 1986, he passed away due to heart failure, which sparked the interest in creating this memorial meet in his honor.The Jeff Drenth Memorial meet has been hosted annually as MSU’s season kick-off during the Friday before Labor Day at Central Michigan since 1986. Walt Drenth uses this meet to assess how the younger athletes will compete the rest of the season.This memorial meet will give athletes “a sense of how we behave and get a better idea of what our expectations are,” Drenth said. “It’s learning to do things differently — they may have had different set-ups in high school.”According to Drenth, the majority of teams that MSU will compete against the rest of the season will not travel to Central Michigan, giving the underclassmen athletes a chance to ease into college competition.MSU’s Cross Country and Track and Field program was recently ranked eighth in the annual USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings. The combination of both sports in one program utilizes both sets and allows them to compete in various events.“We have a balanced team, particularly on the women’s side, where we have good sprinters, jumpers, throwers, and distance runners. To be recognized like this, you have to score at the nationals in every national contest, whether it be indoor or outdoor,” Drenth said. “For people who are inclined to being part of a full track and field program, this will be intriguing.”As far as Friday goes, the younger athletes will get a taste of what college running is like and will give the higher performing athletes a chance to rest before they travel to Oregon next week.“Our objectives will always be the same — to be the best we can be,” Drenth said.After only being together for a week at camp and two practices, MSU’s cross county team heads to Mount Pleasant on Friday to participate in a memorial meet, in honor the Head Coach Walt Drenth’s brother Jeff.Jeff became an international level distance runner during his time at Central Michigan, where he graduated in 1983. In 1986, he passed away due to heart failure, which sparked the interest in creating this memorial meet in his honor.
This weekend marks the beginning of the season for the men’s soccer team. With two games scheduled this weekend — Aug. 29 against SMU and Aug. 31 against Florida International — the team will have a busy weekend.Despite two games this weekend, the team’s current focus is SMU. Despite SMU’s 3-12-2 record in the 2013 season, MSU will not look ahead of the Mustangs.
Two scorching hot teams are set to collide in a game that will plot MSU’s steady defense against a dangerous Eastern Michigan offense.The Spartans (2-0) will take on Eastern Michigan (2-0) on Friday at 2 p.m.MSU has leaned on its solid defensive play thus far, and senior goalkeeper Courtney Clem has played a major role in the team’s undefeated start.
Statements are made every day on the football field. They can be as small as getting off a block at the right time or as big as winning the Rose Bowl.
The last image many students and fans have of the MSU football program was Kyler Elsworth making that diving stop to capture the Spartan’s first Rose Bowl victory since 1988.However, Elsworth is no longer a member of the Spartans, and it’s finally a brand new year for No. 8 MSU. And with the season starting today, it’s time to put Rose Bowl talk on the back burner and take a look ahead at this year’s bunch.
Of the many MSU sports kicking off their seasons this weekend, the field hockey team opens their regular season schedule with two home games in three days.While various tailgating festivities are taking place Friday afternoon, Head Coach Helen Knull and her team will be taking on the Duke Blue Devils at 3 p.m.
Following a historic 2013 season in which MSU went 14-6-3 , setting the record for the most regular season wins in the in program history, the men’s soccer team will look to build on the recent success and take it a step further this season.
For the last four years, MSU field hockey has never had to worry about who would be blocking goals for them.
In addition to two road wins against San Diego State and Cal State Fullerton, Courtney Clem returned to East Lansing on Monday with another resume builder ? the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award.The redshirt senior goaltender recorded 13 saves in Friday night’s season opening 3-1 win at San Diego State.