Michigan State University Athletics
No. 21 MSU Soccer Hosts Western Michigan Wednesday
10/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Michigan State men's soccer continues its strong season, taking on Western Michigan on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans have won six of their last seven games with the only loss coming against No. 1 Maryland. After a 1-0 win against Ohio State, Michigan State improved to 7-2 this season.
This week, Michigan State has a pair of home games. After taking on the Broncos, MSU will host Big Ten rival Wisconsin on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. for Alumni Day.
SCOUTING REPORT: WESTERN MICHIGAN
• Western Michigan moved to 8-2-1 this season after a 1-1 tie against Bradley in Kalamazoo on Oct. 1. The Broncos only losses this season came against Detroit and Pacific. Western Michigan has wins that include Michiganm Drake and Saint Mary's.
The Broncos have recorded six shutouts in 11 games so far this year. Western Michigan set a school record with 12 clean sheets in 2015. The Broncos have totaled 29 shutouts under head coach Chad Wiseman.
Four Broncos have recorded more than one goal this year. In 2016, WMU has scored 22 goals this season and 11 different Broncos have found the back of the net. Junior Brandon Bye leads the team with 19 points off seven goals and five assists. Senior midfielder Diego Lopez and junior forward Jay McIntosh have collected three goals apiece for the Broncos. Four other players have dished out three assists for Western Michigan including Tommy Clark, Nathan Hoover, Edu Jimenez and Connor McNulty.
SPARTAN-BRONCOS SERIES
• Michigan State leads the series with Western Michigan 31-2-8. Last season, behind a two-goal performance by freshman forward Ryan Sierakowski, the Michigan State men's soccer team doubled up in-state rival Western Michigan, 2-1. MSU improved to 6-4-2 on the season with the win, while Western Michigan falls to 6-3-2 overall. Prior to meeting the Spartans, the Broncos had allowed only four goals all season. Michigan State leads the overall series 31-2-8, including going 18-1-4 at home against the Broncos.
HAGUE EARNS BIG TEN HONOR
Michigan State redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jimmy Hague was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the B1G office on Tuesday, Oct. 4. This is the Walled Lake, Michigan, native's first Big Ten honor of his college campaign, and he is the first Spartan to earn the honor since goalkeeper Zach Bennett received it in back-to-back weeks in 2013.
Hague helped Michigan State to a pair of shutout wins over Bowling Green on Sept. 28, and Ohio State on Oct. 2. He made eight saves on the week, including six against Bowling Green.
SIERAKOWSKI HONORED NATIONALLY
Michigan State's Ryan Sierakowski was named to the College Soccer New National Team of the Week after guiding the Spartans to a pair of wins last week. With a pair of game winning goals against Bowling Green and Ohio State last week.
