Spartan Men's Soccer Heads to No. 5 Akron Wednesday
10/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's soccer team hits the road after a successful homestand that saw the Spartans defeat both Western Michigan and Penn State. MSU will now take on No. 5 Akron on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
The Spartans are currently 7-4-2 overall following a 2-1 victory over Penn State on Oct. 18. Michigan State is 2-1-2 in the Big Ten, going 2-1-1 in its last four conference games.
Akron enters its match with MSU with a 10-2-1 record following a 4-0 win over Northern Illinois on Oct. 17. The Zips are currently the No. 5-ranked team in the country according to the NSCAA Coaches poll and sit first in the MAC with a 2-0 conference record.
GETTING TO KNOW THE SPARTANS
• Forward Ryan Sierakowski is the first freshman since Adam Montague in 2011 to score five goals in a season for the Spartans. The McHenry, Ill., native extended his team lead in goals after recording two in MSU's win over Western Michigan. It was his second two-goal game of the season, and he currently sits tied for sixth in the Big Ten in goals.
• Senior goalkeeper Zach Bennett's shutout against Wisconsin on Oct. 10 was his sixth of the season and improved his career mark to 34. Bennett is now tied for first in the Big Ten in shutouts and has helped MSU reach No. 1 in the conference in goals allowed per game with 0.82.
• Zach Bennett is first in the nation among active Division I goalkeepers in career complete shutouts with 34 UC Irvine's Jack Binks was second with 32, while Eric Klenofsky Monmouth has 28. He is also fourth in saves with 284, behind Eduardo Cortes of IUPUI (342).
• Eleven different Spartans have earned a point so far this season. Senior Jason Stacy, junior Jerome Cristobal, senior Zach Carroll, sophomore Ken Krolicki, senior Blake Skamiera, freshman Ryan Sierakowski and freshmen DeJuan Jones and Connor Corrigan have all found the back of the net.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
• Michigan State's freshmen continue to make an impact and have been rewarded with playing time this season. Six members of the freshmen class have made their Spartan debuts, and three of them - Sierakowski, DeJuan Jones and Connor Corrigan - have played in all 13 matches. Sierakowski has started in all 13 matches, Corrigan has started in each of the last nine. Jones has provided MSU with a goal and eight shots. Corrigan became the third freshman Spartan to score a game-winning goal with goal that ped MSU over Penn State on Oct. 18.,Hunter Barone (6), Robbie Cort (2) and Lou Plascencia (1) have also made appearances in their first seasons with Michigan State.
MAC ATTACK
• MSU is 3-0 against the MAC this season, picking up wins against West Virginia (9/7), Bowling Green (9/29) and Western Michigan (10/13). The Spartans have out-scored their opponents from the MAC 4-1 during the three games, helping lead MSU to a 5-3 non-conference record.
• MSU has a storied history against Akron, with the first match between the two schools coming in 1962 (a 6-4 win). The Zips have controlled the all-time series, leading 25-12-2, but MSU came out victorious in the last meeting, 1-0, in 2014 after a goal by Jason Stacy.
DYNAMIC DEFENSE
• Through 13 games, Michigan State ranks first in the Big Ten in three major defensive statistical categories. The Spartans are second in goals allowed with 11 for an average of 0.82 per game. MSU is tied for first in shutouts six, averaging one every other game (t-30th in NCAA). They are also first in the Big Ten in goals against average (0.81), which ranks 32nd in the NCAA.
• In addition to being tied for first in the Big Ten in shutouts, Bennett also ranks third in GAA at 0.82 and third in save percentage with .780.
SCOUTING THE ZIPS
• The Zips boast one of the nation's best offenses, averaging 2.15 goals per game, which is tied for 10th in the NCAA. Akron is also tied for 13th in the country in goals with 28. Akron leads the MAC in goals per game and shots per game (17.92).
• The Akron offensive attack is led by sophomore Richie Laryea, who is tied for 10th in the NCAA in goals with nine. He leads the Zips in points (21), shots (39), shots on goal (19) and game-winning goals (three). Adam Najem and Sam Gainford are next on the Akron stats table, each with 16 points each. Najem has six goals and four assists while Gainford has five goals and six helpers.
• Senior Jake Fenlason has played in all 13 of Akron's matches this season, owning a 10-2-1 record. He's allowed 17 goals for a 1.26 goals against average and has a save percentage of .734 (47 saves). Fenlason has been a crucial part of Akron's five shutouts, two of which have come against then-ranked teams.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
• Eight different Spartans have scored a goal this season led by five from freshman Ryan Sierakowski. Three different MSU players have scored two goals, including Jason Stacy, Ken Krolicki and Zach Carroll. Jerome Cristobal, DeJuan Jones, Connor Corrigan and Blake Skamiera have all found the back of the net once.
UP NEXT
• After Michigan State takes on No. 5 Arkron on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Michigan State then returns to Big Ten action, traveling Illinois to take on Northwestern at Toyota Park on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 3 p.m.
AGAINST THE BEST
• MSU is now 0-4 against top-ranked teams since 2009 after losing a hard-fought battle to Creighton, 1-0, on Sept. 13. Prior to that, the last time that the Spartans faced the No. 1 team in the country was Nov. 5, 2013 when MSU fell to top-ranked Notre Dame, 2-0, at DeMartin Stadium. On Sept. 3, 2012, top-ranked UConn beat Michigan State 1-0 in East Lansing. On Nov. 4, 2009, MSU also took on No. 1 Akron on the road. The Zips stopped the Spartans, 2-1, on a late penalty kick.
HOW THE SPARTANS STACK UP
• Senior goalkeeper Zach Bennett is third in the Big Ten in goals against average, allowing 11 goals in 13 games for a 0.82 GAA. Senior Jason Stacy is eighth in shots with 30, 2.31 shots per game. Individually, freshman forward Ryan Sierakowski is tied for sixth in goals scored with five through 13 games. Sierakowski is tied for sixth in points with 13.
SPARTANS IN THE PROS
• Former teammates Fatai Alashe and Jay Chapman faced off against each other in CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying on Oct. 13, with Alashe and the U.S. earning a spot in a playoff for the chance to compete in the 2016 Olympics. Alashe started for the Americans and played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win. Chapman came on in the 62nd minute for the Canadians.
• Alashe is the first former Spartan men's soccer player to wear the U.S. National Team crest in an Olympic qualifier since MSU legend Buzz Demling in the early 1970s, playing on the 1972 Olympic team. Demling ended with five total caps with the U.S. National Team, with his last appearance coming in 1975. Several other MSU men's soccer players have played for the national team prior to Demling, but none since.
LOOKING AT THE ZACHS
• Senior defender Zach Carroll scored the game-winning goal for MSU against West Virginia on Sept. 7. He has two of the seven game-winning goals this season for MSU. It was his seventh career goal and third career game-winner in a Spartan uniform. Carroll, a preseason Big Ten Player to Watch nominee, was also part of a strong back line that has six shutouts this season.
• Senior goalkeeper Zach Bennett is third all-time in career saves at MSU with 284. He is now three saves away from T.J. Lieckfelt (1997-00) who had 287 during his Spartan career. Reid Friedrichs (1993-96), a teammate of head coach Damon Rensing, is the all-time save leader with 363.
• With a win against Niagara on Sept. 4, senior goalkeeper Zach Bennett took over the Michigan State record for career wins. In his four seasons in net for the Spartans, he has 42 wins, passing Reid Friedrichs, who had 36, for the school record.
RENSING SAYS
• "We are 4-1-1 in our last six games. So, I think that we are hitting our stride. We are playing between five and six freshmen, so we are a bit young. We are headed into a very, very tough environment. Akron is No. 5 in the country. They will have anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 fans," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said.
EARLY HONORS
• Three Spartan seniors were named Big Ten preseason Players to watch. Forward Jason Stacy, defender Zach Carroll and goalkeeper Zach Bennett were honored by the conference. Stacy is the top returning scorer for the Spartans with four goals and seven assists for 15 points. Carroll was part of the tough MSU defense that allowed only 19 goals last season, while Bennett set the MSU record for single-season shutouts with 12 in 2014.
• Seniors Zach Bennett, Zach Carroll and Jason Stacy were both named to of the top 20 players in the Big Ten by www.topdrawersoccer.com. Bennett was picked sixth, while Carroll was selected seventh. Stacy was selected No. 19. The top player in the conference was Indiana's Tanner Thompson. • Michigan State men's soccer was picked fourth in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll. The Spartans ended the 2014 campaign with a 12-5-6 overall record and 4-2-2 mark in Big Ten play. Defending Big Ten champion Maryland was picked first, concluding the 2014 campaign with a 13-6-3 record (5-2-1 conference record), and claiming the Big Ten Tournament title. Indiana checked in at No. 2 in the preseason poll, followed by Penn State at No. 3. The Spartans were No. 4, while Ohio State came in at No. 5. Northwestern was picked No. 6 followed by Michigan (No. 7), Rutgers (No. 8) and Wisconsin (No. 9).
HEAD COACH Damon Rensing
• In seven years, head coach Damon Rensing has compiled an impressive 76-48-29 record (.592). Rensing was named MSU's head coach designate on Aug. 14, 2008 after Baum decided to make 2008 his final season as head coach.
In his first six years as head coach, the Spartans have made five NCAA tournament campaigns, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2013 and 2014. The Spartans ended the 2014 season with a 12-5-6 record overall and were 4-2-2 in Big Ten action.
This season, Rensing added Cale Wassermann to his staff. Wassermann comes to East Lansing after four successful seasons as the head coach at Saginaw Valley State University. In 2014, Saginaw Valley State reached the Division II NCAA Tournament Round of 16, ending the season with a 14-5-2 record. Assistant coach and former Spartan Ben Pirmann returns the MSU bench for fifth season. Paul Gilbert is also back for his second season as a volunteer assistant coach, working with the goalkeepers.
FOLLOWING THE SPARTANS
• There are lots of great ways to follow the soccer program - as well as all 25 of MSU's varsity sports - other than gameday. Videos, previews, and game recaps can be found at www.MSUSpartans.com, while coverage of the team on twitter can be found at @MSUMSoccer and @MSU_Athletics. On facebook, "like" us at www.facebook.com/MSUmsoccer.
