Friday, October 22
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
No. 7 Maryland
MSU Men's Soccer Hosts No. 7 Maryland Friday
10/21/2021 4:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Spartans close out the home schedule against the Terps.
EAST LANSING, Mich, - Michigan State men's soccer will conclude the regular-season portion of the home schedule against No. 7 Maryland on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
Michigan State stands 6-6-2 overall and 2-2-2 in Big Ten contests. The Spartans evened out their schedule with a 1-0 win over Ohio State on Oct. 17. Maryland has been rising up the ranks of late and is 10-2-1 overall and 3-1-1 in league play.
PLAYING THE BEST
This week, the Spartans now have the ninth-toughest strength of schedule in the nation. Michigan State's exhibition opponent, Butler, is first. Michigan is has the toughest  strength of schedule in the Big Ten, standing No. 6. MSU also has the third-best RPI in the league (No. 30), behind Indiana (No. 18) and Maryland (No. 20).
THANK YOU SPARTAN NATION
Michigan State has been thrilled to be fans back in the stands this season. With one more regular-season game remaining, the Spartans are No. 13 in the country in attendance, averaging 1,616 fans per game. Only  Maryland (2,503) and Indiana (2,438) have higher averages in the Big Ten. Overall, 12,924 people have packed DeMartin Stadium this season.
MIGHTY MCGRANE
Freshman goalkeeper Lance McGrane earned his first clean sheet with MSU's 1-0 win over Ohio State on Oct. 17. Overall, the rookie netminder is 2-0-1 this season with wins against Ohio State and Notre Dame and a tie against Wisconsin. McGrane is the first MSU true freshman to earn a shutout since Spartan great Zach Bennett in 2012.
EFFICIENCY AT ITS BEST
Sophomore midfielder Jack Zugay has been incredibly efficient in his scoring during his two seasons at MSU. His game-winning goal against Rutgers on Oct. 10 was his second career goal. It was also his second game-winning goal as he also netted the game winner against Wisconsin last season.
QUITE THE COMBO
Seniors Farai Mutatu and Jack Beck have been quite the scoring combination this season. The six goals scored by Mutatu are the most by a Spartan since Ryan Sierakowski scored eight in 2018. Beck's seven assists are the most by an MSU player since All-American Giuseppe Barone had 10 helpers in 2018.
GETTING IN THE GAME
Five Spartans have started all 14 games this season, including Farai Mutatu, Jack Beck, Michael Miller, Will Perkins and Nick Stone. Perkins and Stone lead the way in minutes played with 1,180 and 1,216, respectively. Twenty-one different Spartans have started at least one game.
THE BEST AROUND
Senior forward Farai Mutatu is tied first in the league in goals with six along with Northwesterns Justin Weiss. He added to his goal count with the Spartans first goal of the game against Michigan on Oct. 5. The six goals was the most by a Spartan since Ryan Sierakowski scored eight in 2018.
Senior midfielder Jack Beck continues to have stellar season for the Spartans. With an assist against Michigan on Oct. 5, Beck maintains his hold on first place in the league with seven assists. Four different players are tied for second with five.
As a team, Michigan State is fourth in the conference in points with 56, including 18 goals and 20 assists.Â
LOOKING AT THE TERRAPINS
Michigan State holds an ever-so-slight 6-5-5 record over Maryland. The Terps have had the edge recently with a 3-1-2 record in the last six games. The Spartans are 2-1-3 against the Terps in East Lansing. MSU and UMD meetings are traditionally tight, with five ties and five overtime games, along with six games being decided by one goal, including two in the last three meetings, sandwiched around a 1-1 tie in 2019. Only four meetings have been decided by two or more goals.
The Terps tote a 9-2-1 overall and 3-1-1 B1G ledger into Friday's clash with the Spartans. UMD has a three-match win streak, knocking off Northwestern, 3-1, on Oct. 8, then posting a 1-0 win at Delaware (Oct. 12) and a 3-0 win over Pacific (Oct. 16).Â
Sophomore Ben Bender was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after he netted two goals in the week, highlighted by scoring the game-winner in the 1-0 win at Delaware. He tops the Terps with 10 points on three goals and four assists. Junior goalkeeper Niklas Neuman has made eight starts in net, posting 21 saves (.724 save pct.) with eight goals against (0.93 GAA), posting a pair of solo clean sheets and one combined shutout, part of UMD's five clean sheets on the season.
LAST MEETING WITH MARYLAND
Despite a quick flurry at the end of the game, Michigan State lost to Maryland, 2-1, on March 19, 2021 in College Park, as the 2020 season was played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UMD broke a 0-0 halftime score with a PK in the 46th minute and a goal in the 76th minute, before the Spartans fought back, breaking through in the 89th minute, but time ran out before MSU could get the equalizer.
LAST TIME OUT
Behind the strength of its underclassmen, the Michigan State men's soccer team shut down Ohio State, 1-0, on Senior Day at DeMartin Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Freshman goalkeeper Lance McGrane made his third start of the season, but it was his DeMartin Stadium debut. He earned his first collegiate clean sheet with the win. McGrane moves to 2-0-1 in his three starts this season. He also won at Notre Dame and tied in the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin on the road.
Sophomore midfielder Vedad Kovac scored what would become the game winning with just 30 seconds remaining in the first half. The play began with a short corner kick by senior midfielder Jack Beck which was sent out wide. Senior midfielder Michael Miller got the ball to fellow senior forward Farai Mutatu, who's shot was saved by OSU goalkeeper Noah Lawrence. Kovac took it from there and deposited the ball past Lawrence, giving MSU the 1-0 lead, for his first collegiate goal.
FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
So far this season, 11 different Spartans have found the back of the net. Against Ohio State on Oct. 17, sophomore midfielder Vedad Kovac scored his first collegiate. Senior Farai Mutatu leads the team in scoring with six goals and three assists for 15 points. Fellow senior Michael Miller and redshirt-junior Will Perkins are tied for second in goals scored with two.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will close out the regular season at Northwestern on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
The Spartan have named four captains this season. Leading MSU will be seniors Jack Beck, Michael Miller, Farai Mutatu and Will Perkins.
BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 31
O: Tommy Mihalic, Fr., IU
D: Oren Asher, Jr., RU
Sept. 7
O: Ben  Bender, So., UMD
D: Oren Asher, Jr., RU
Sept. 14
O: Nico Rosamilia, Fr., RU
D: Daniel Munie, Jr., IND
Sept. 21
O: Farai Mutatu, Sr., MSU
D: Keagan McLaughlin, Sr., OSU
Sept. 28
O: Kevin Buca, Sr., MICH
O: Peter Mangione, So., PSU
D: Zach Klancnik, Sr., WIS
Oct. 5
O: Evan Rasmussen, Jr., MICH
D: Oren Asher, Jr., RU
Oct. 12
O: Daniel Bloyou, Sr., PSU
D: Daniel Munie, Jr., IND
Oct. 19
O: Daniel Bloyou, Sr., PSU
D: Roman Cel, Jr., IND
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Michigan State stands 6-6-2 overall and 2-2-2 in Big Ten contests. The Spartans evened out their schedule with a 1-0 win over Ohio State on Oct. 17. Maryland has been rising up the ranks of late and is 10-2-1 overall and 3-1-1 in league play.
PLAYING THE BEST
This week, the Spartans now have the ninth-toughest strength of schedule in the nation. Michigan State's exhibition opponent, Butler, is first. Michigan is has the toughest  strength of schedule in the Big Ten, standing No. 6. MSU also has the third-best RPI in the league (No. 30), behind Indiana (No. 18) and Maryland (No. 20).
THANK YOU SPARTAN NATION
Michigan State has been thrilled to be fans back in the stands this season. With one more regular-season game remaining, the Spartans are No. 13 in the country in attendance, averaging 1,616 fans per game. Only  Maryland (2,503) and Indiana (2,438) have higher averages in the Big Ten. Overall, 12,924 people have packed DeMartin Stadium this season.
MIGHTY MCGRANE
Freshman goalkeeper Lance McGrane earned his first clean sheet with MSU's 1-0 win over Ohio State on Oct. 17. Overall, the rookie netminder is 2-0-1 this season with wins against Ohio State and Notre Dame and a tie against Wisconsin. McGrane is the first MSU true freshman to earn a shutout since Spartan great Zach Bennett in 2012.
EFFICIENCY AT ITS BEST
Sophomore midfielder Jack Zugay has been incredibly efficient in his scoring during his two seasons at MSU. His game-winning goal against Rutgers on Oct. 10 was his second career goal. It was also his second game-winning goal as he also netted the game winner against Wisconsin last season.
QUITE THE COMBO
Seniors Farai Mutatu and Jack Beck have been quite the scoring combination this season. The six goals scored by Mutatu are the most by a Spartan since Ryan Sierakowski scored eight in 2018. Beck's seven assists are the most by an MSU player since All-American Giuseppe Barone had 10 helpers in 2018.
GETTING IN THE GAME
Five Spartans have started all 14 games this season, including Farai Mutatu, Jack Beck, Michael Miller, Will Perkins and Nick Stone. Perkins and Stone lead the way in minutes played with 1,180 and 1,216, respectively. Twenty-one different Spartans have started at least one game.
THE BEST AROUND
Senior forward Farai Mutatu is tied first in the league in goals with six along with Northwesterns Justin Weiss. He added to his goal count with the Spartans first goal of the game against Michigan on Oct. 5. The six goals was the most by a Spartan since Ryan Sierakowski scored eight in 2018.
Senior midfielder Jack Beck continues to have stellar season for the Spartans. With an assist against Michigan on Oct. 5, Beck maintains his hold on first place in the league with seven assists. Four different players are tied for second with five.
As a team, Michigan State is fourth in the conference in points with 56, including 18 goals and 20 assists.Â
LOOKING AT THE TERRAPINS
Michigan State holds an ever-so-slight 6-5-5 record over Maryland. The Terps have had the edge recently with a 3-1-2 record in the last six games. The Spartans are 2-1-3 against the Terps in East Lansing. MSU and UMD meetings are traditionally tight, with five ties and five overtime games, along with six games being decided by one goal, including two in the last three meetings, sandwiched around a 1-1 tie in 2019. Only four meetings have been decided by two or more goals.
The Terps tote a 9-2-1 overall and 3-1-1 B1G ledger into Friday's clash with the Spartans. UMD has a three-match win streak, knocking off Northwestern, 3-1, on Oct. 8, then posting a 1-0 win at Delaware (Oct. 12) and a 3-0 win over Pacific (Oct. 16).Â
Sophomore Ben Bender was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after he netted two goals in the week, highlighted by scoring the game-winner in the 1-0 win at Delaware. He tops the Terps with 10 points on three goals and four assists. Junior goalkeeper Niklas Neuman has made eight starts in net, posting 21 saves (.724 save pct.) with eight goals against (0.93 GAA), posting a pair of solo clean sheets and one combined shutout, part of UMD's five clean sheets on the season.
LAST MEETING WITH MARYLAND
Despite a quick flurry at the end of the game, Michigan State lost to Maryland, 2-1, on March 19, 2021 in College Park, as the 2020 season was played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UMD broke a 0-0 halftime score with a PK in the 46th minute and a goal in the 76th minute, before the Spartans fought back, breaking through in the 89th minute, but time ran out before MSU could get the equalizer.
LAST TIME OUT
Behind the strength of its underclassmen, the Michigan State men's soccer team shut down Ohio State, 1-0, on Senior Day at DeMartin Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Freshman goalkeeper Lance McGrane made his third start of the season, but it was his DeMartin Stadium debut. He earned his first collegiate clean sheet with the win. McGrane moves to 2-0-1 in his three starts this season. He also won at Notre Dame and tied in the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin on the road.
Sophomore midfielder Vedad Kovac scored what would become the game winning with just 30 seconds remaining in the first half. The play began with a short corner kick by senior midfielder Jack Beck which was sent out wide. Senior midfielder Michael Miller got the ball to fellow senior forward Farai Mutatu, who's shot was saved by OSU goalkeeper Noah Lawrence. Kovac took it from there and deposited the ball past Lawrence, giving MSU the 1-0 lead, for his first collegiate goal.
FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
So far this season, 11 different Spartans have found the back of the net. Against Ohio State on Oct. 17, sophomore midfielder Vedad Kovac scored his first collegiate. Senior Farai Mutatu leads the team in scoring with six goals and three assists for 15 points. Fellow senior Michael Miller and redshirt-junior Will Perkins are tied for second in goals scored with two.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will close out the regular season at Northwestern on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
The Spartan have named four captains this season. Leading MSU will be seniors Jack Beck, Michael Miller, Farai Mutatu and Will Perkins.
BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 31
O: Tommy Mihalic, Fr., IU
D: Oren Asher, Jr., RU
Sept. 7
O: Ben  Bender, So., UMD
D: Oren Asher, Jr., RU
Sept. 14
O: Nico Rosamilia, Fr., RU
D: Daniel Munie, Jr., IND
Sept. 21
O: Farai Mutatu, Sr., MSU
D: Keagan McLaughlin, Sr., OSU
Sept. 28
O: Kevin Buca, Sr., MICH
O: Peter Mangione, So., PSU
D: Zach Klancnik, Sr., WIS
Oct. 5
O: Evan Rasmussen, Jr., MICH
D: Oren Asher, Jr., RU
Oct. 12
O: Daniel Bloyou, Sr., PSU
D: Daniel Munie, Jr., IND
Oct. 19
O: Daniel Bloyou, Sr., PSU
D: Roman Cel, Jr., IND
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Players Mentioned
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