Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State Men's Soccer Opens Season Wednesday
9/1/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 1, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State men's soccer team gets the 1999 season underway on Wednesday, Sept. 1, when it hosts the University of Buffalo at Old College Field on the MSU campus. The match starts at 4:00 p.m.
MSU returns 14 letterwinners, including eight starters, from last year's squad that finished with an overall record of 7-12. The Spartans boast a strong defense that features junior goalkeeper T.J. Lieckfelt (Sterling Heights) along with a veteran group of backs which includes junior John Benoist (St. Louis, MO) and senior Brady Demling (St. Louis, MO).
Head Coach Joe Baum enters his 23rd season at the helm of the Spartan program with hopes of using that veteran cast to improve upon last year's finish.
"One of our strengths is overall team depth," Baum said. "We have a good group of veterans back and also return some key players who were lost to injury last season. Those two factors, combined with some talented newcomers, should make us a stronger team this year."
The Buffalo contest kicks off a four-game homestand for the Spartans. Following the match on Wednesday, the Green and White will host IUPU-Indianapolis on Saturday (Sept. 4 ) starting at 1:00 p.m. in the opening game of the Hampton Inn/MSU Soccer Classic. Cleveland State and IUPU will play on Sunday (1:00 p.m.) while MSU battles Cleveland State on Monday (Sept. 6) at 1:00 p.m. All games will be played at Old College Field.
