MSU Men's Soccer Hosts In-State Rival Oakland Wednesday
10/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's soccer looks to halt a two-game losing streak on Wednesday, Oct. 28 against in-state rival Oakland at 3 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans have two more games remaining at home this season, concluding the regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 4 against Big Ten foe Indiana.
The Spartans are currently 7-6-2 overall following a tough 1-0 loss to Northwestern on Oct. 24 on the road. Michigan State is and even 2-2-2 in the Big Ten, which is good for eight points. The Spartans in a three-way tie for fifth with Michigan and Penn State.
Oakland comes to Michigan State with a 6-7-1 overall record and has wins in two of its last three matches. The Golden Grizzlies currently sit fourth in the Horizon League with a 3-3-1 conference record and are five points out of first place. Last season, Oakland won both the Horizon League regular season and tournament titles en route to an NCAA tournament appearance.
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.
• 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 285, behind Eduardo Cortes of IUPUI (342).
• Twelve 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. The latest to join the club is sophomore Michael Marcantognini who had an assist against No. 5 Akron on Oct. 21.
OAKLAND SERIES
• While Michigan State is 10-22-2 against Oakland all-time, the Spartans have won four of the last five matches against the Golden Grizzlies. In the last meeting between the two schools, MSU knocked Oakland out of the NCAA tournament on Nov. 23, 2014, with a 1-0 win in the second round thanks to a Zach Carroll goal.
ENDURANCE ATHLETES
• Four Spartans have started all 15 games this season, including senior goalkeeper Zach Bennett. Sophomore defender Jimmy Fiscus has started all 15 games and is second in minutes played behind Bennett. Senior midfielder Jason Stacy and junior midfielder Andrew Herr both have started every game along with freshmen forward Ryan Sierakowski.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
• Sophomore Austin Ricci leads Oakland in scoring with 14 points, which tops the Horizon League. Ricci's also leads the conference in goals with six and is averaging a point per game. He is one of five Golden Grizzlies with at least five points, joining Gerald Ben (8), Matt Dudley (8), Alex Serwatka (7) and Matt Rickard (5). Oakland sits second in the Horizon League in goals (19) and goals per game (1.36).
• Oakland has used two goalkeepers this season, with Eliott Tarney getting the majority of the games (nine) and minutes. The senior has allowed nine goals for a goals against average of 0.97 and holds a .700 save percentage. Behind Tarney, sophomore Wes Mink has played in five matches, posting a 1.89 GAA and a .630 save percentage.
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 15 matches. Sierakowski has started in all 15 matches, Corrigan has started in each of the last 11 Jones has provided MSU with two goals and 12 shots. Corrigan became the third freshman Spartan to score a game-winning goal with goal that put MSU over Penn State on Oct. 18. Hunter Barone (7), Robbie Cort (3) and Lou Plascencia (1) have also made appearances in their first seasons with Michigan State.
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 two road games, returns home for one game in East Lansing next week. MSU will host Oakland in an in-state battle on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. On Oct. 31, the Spartans will continue the in-state theme taking on Michigan in Ann Arbor at 5 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.
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.
HIGH MARKS FOR BENNETT
• Senior goalkeeper Zach Bennett is now second all-time in career saves at MSU with 288. Against Northwestern he passed 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
• "Sometimes you leave a game with a win and have no momentum, and sometimes you lose a game and come away with momentum. I know the guys are down, but I think that the way we played, they should be proud. They should be excited about what we are doing. They will be ready to go for Oakland. It will be a huge game," 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 76-50-29 record (.584). 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.
