SPORTS
Field hockey splits weekend trip to Indiana
The MSU field hockey team (6-9 overall, 0-3 Big Ten) split its weekend games after going on the road for the first time since Sept.
SPORTS
Swimming and diving earns pair of victories to open season
On Saturday, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving team opened its season with victories over Cleveland State and Oakland at McCaffree Pool. The women combined 247 points and the men tallied 202. Clocking in with a time of 3:58:11, senior Mark Schramm, junior Jacob Jarzen and sophomores Nick Roberts and Bryan Williams picked up MSU’s first victory of the day in the men’s 400-meter medley relay. The women garnered the top three spots in the 50-meter freestyle with sophomore Brooke Telander, junior Jenny Rusch and freshman Shelby Lacy. Individually, Jarzen snagged two individual crowns in both the 200-meter IM and the 200-meter backstroke.
FOOTBALL
Head Coach Mark Dantonio awarded new contract
MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio has been rewarded with a new contract, the school announced Saturday in a joint statement from MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis.
ICE HOCKEY
Hockey ready for season-opening tournament
The last time the MSU hockey team faced Boston College, it was 2007 and a national championship was on the line. Although the stakes aren’t as high this time, the Spartans will look to make a strong opening statement to the 2011-12 season against Boston College in their first game of the Ice Breaker Tournament in Grand Folks, N.D. The No.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball set to host pair of Big Ten games
The Big Ten home season continues for the MSU volleyball team as it prepares to host Wisconsin and No.
SOCCER
Spartans hope offensive success carries into Sunday
The MSU men’s soccer team will look to ride hot-shooting feet into Sunday’s game against Penn State.
SPORTS
Field hockey hopes to get back on track in weekend games
In the midst of a two-game losing streak, the MSU field hockey team will travel south to try and pick itself up out of a rut. The Spartans (5-8 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) are still looking for their first conference win, and they’ll get another shot at it when they take on No.
SOCCER
Illinois presents tough test for Spartans
After returning from its longest road trip of the season, the MSU women’s soccer team turns its attention to Illinois. Following a weekend split against Nebraska and Iowa, the Spartans (10-3-0, 3-2-0 Big Ten) have a single-game weekend to contend with another tough Big Ten opponent.
FOOTBALL
Spartans set to relax, heal during bye week
While head coach Mark Dantonio and the MSU football coaching staff are recruiting during the bye week, tired and banged up players are using the time to recover and take advantage of a couple days off. The Spartans (4-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) took three days off after the 10-7 win over Ohio State (3-2, 0-1) and began practice again Wednesday. At his press conference Wednesday, Dantonio said he approaches each bye week differently, depending on the season, but as it is still early in the Big Ten season, he said the week will be a time to evaluate before moving on to No.
ICE HOCKEY
Anastos pleased with team's style of play
For Tom Anastos and the MSU hockey team, there were many positives to take away from the first game of the season. Aside from handing a 6-1 thrashing to Western Ontario, the Spartans showed resilience and energy to start the Anastos era off on a good note. Although tougher national opponents await, Anastos acknowledged the style of the Spartans’ play and heaped praise on the team’s opening win. “There was a lot to like, actually,” Anastos said.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball set for strong 2nd half of season
In last Friday’s Big Ten home volleyball opener, the energy felt at Jenison Field House finally matched its new digs.
SOCCER
Men's soccer outshoots Milwaukee for 2-1 nonconference win
The MSU men’s soccer team picked up its third win of the year against Milwaukee on Tuesday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.
SPORTS
Men's golf finishes 9th at Rees Jones Invite
The MSU men’s golf team finished up its competition Tuesday at the 2011 Rees Jones Invitational, finishing in a tie for ninth at the Rees Jones signature course at Haig Point Golf Club at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
ICE HOCKEY
Hockey opens Anastos era with blowout win
After a lack luster 2010-11 season, the MSU hockey team enters the new season looking to right the ship with an experienced roster and a new staff. In the first game of the Tom Anastos era, the Spartans were gritty while putting on an offensive clinic to beat a solid Western Ontario team in an exhibition, 6-1.
SOCCER
Men's soccer hopes to rebound in midweek game
Coming off yet another close loss, the MSU men’s soccer team hopes to forget its frustrations and surge to a strong finish starting against Milwaukee at 4 p.m.
FOOTBALL
Defense, special teams bring out most positives
There it was — the Spartans had just given up a touchdown and the Buckeyes kickoff team prepared to make a last-ditch effort to recover the onside kick and score. Some will say there was no way the Buckeyes could have reached the end zone, but for senior safety Trenton Robinson, the memories of the last-second 29-27 loss to Central Michigan in 2009 were just too cruel. MSU needed to get this kick.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball rebounds to beat Iowa
Less than 24 hours after the MSU volleyball team lost a five-set heartbreaker to No.
SOCCER
Men's soccer loses nail-biter to Ohio State
The MSU men’s soccer team suffered another close loss Sunday, falling to Ohio State, 2-1. The Spartans (2-6-2 overall, 0-1-1 Big Ten) saw the bounces go against them once again as the Buckeyes (6-4-1, 2-0-0) capitalized on several mistakes by MSU. Ohio State’s first goal came in the eighth minute when MSU senior goalie Jeremy Clark saved a free kick, but the rebound was headed in by defender Chris Gomez. The Spartans evened up the score three minutes later when freshman forward Adam Montague volleyed a ball into the net off of a long pass from senior defender Mark Barone. However, the Buckeyes buried the game-winner in the 14th minute when forward Chris Hegngi knocked it in past a diving Clark. Clark said despite playing well, the little mistakes here and there continue to haunt the Spartans.
SPORTS
Men's tennis finishes action at Stan Drobac Invite
On a cool, sunny day, the MSU men’s tennis team finished the Stan Drobac Invitational strong by taking three of four games against Xavier in doubles-play and winning five singles-play matches. “Overall, we have done really well this off season,” junior Denis Bogatov said.
SPORTS
Late rally falls short for field hockey
Fresh off its second straight Big Ten loss, the MSU field hockey team lost to the No.