The Battle For the Big Bear Trophy Returns Tuesday

EAST LANSING., Mich. - After a year hiatus, the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy returns with Michigan State facing Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. at the U-M Soccer Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network with Dean Linke and Chris Munroe on the call.

Michigan State stands 4-5-1 overall and 0-2-1 in league contests. Michigan is 5-4-1 this season and 2-1 in conference action.

SCORING SLUMP
After scoring six goals in three games, the Spartan offense has slumped the last two games. After a 1-0 win against Duquesne on Sept. 21, MSU has suffered back-to-back 1-0 losses to Indiana and Penn State.

PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
Through the first 10 games of the season, Michigan State has the sixth-toughest schedule in the nation. It is the toughest in the Big Ten.

Three teams that Michigan State has lost to this season are all ranked now, including No. 7 Tulsa, No. 17 Bowling Green while Akron, Indiana and Penn State are receiving votes.

GETTING IN THE GAME
Five Spartans have started all 10 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 894 and 909, respectively. Twenty-one different Spartans have started at least one game.

THE BEST AROUND
Senior forward Farai Mutatu is tied for first in the Big Ten in goals scored with five, including the last two Spartan victories. He is also tied for second in game-winning goals with Penn State's Peter Mangione with three. Senior midfielder Jack Beck is first in the Big Ten with six assists. Beck has had an assist in four of the last six games.

BATTLE FOR THE BIG BEAR
After a year break, the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy returns. The trophy originated in 2000.

Michigan State leads the overall series with Michigan 33-12-7, including 15-7-3 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines have closed the gap of late, winning the last five games. With the COVID-19 shortened season, MSU and U-M met three times with the Wolverines winning all three, including a 1-0 win in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan also won both meetings in 2019.

LOOKING AT THE WOLVERINES
Michigan holds a 5-4-1 overall record this season and stands 2-1-0 in league play after a come-from-behind win over Indiana, 2-1, in overtime on Oct. 1. U-M has won two-straight games with wins over Northwestern and Indiana. The Wolverines only B1G loss came against Maryland, 2-1, on the road on Sept. 17.

Kevin Buca leads U-M in scoring with four goals and one assist for nine points. Derick Broche and Evan Rasmussen are tied for second with six points each.

Buca's four goals are third in the Big Ten, while his 1.13 points per game stand second in the league. The Wolverine's goalkeeper, Hayden Evans, is sixth in goals against average (1.12).

LOCAL KIDS DO GOOD
MSU's win against Notre Dame showcased two players from near East Lansing. Seniors Farai Mutatu (Haslett) and Jack Beck (DeWitt) scored all four goals for MSU with Mutatu scoring three and Beck adding one. Beck also added assists on Mutatu's final two goals.

Mutatu's hat trick was the first by a Spartan since Jay Chapman against No. 16 Indiana on Oct. 28, 2012. Senior midfielder Jack Beck also added a goal and two assists in the win.

PACKING THE STANDS
Michigan State has been thrilled to have fans back at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans are No. 16 in the country in attendance, averaging 1,562 fans. Only Indiana (2,787)and Maryland (2,673) are averaging more fans in the Big Ten.

LAST TIME OUT
Playing a man down for much of the second half, the Michigan State men's soccer team succumbed to the relentless Penn State offense, 1-0, Friday night at DeMartin Stadium.

Penn State finally broke through in the 87th minute. Morse made the first save on a shot by Tyger Evans, but was unable to maintain possession. Daniel Bloyou was able to take the deflection to give Penn State the only score of the game.

The game was essentially another Alumni Day as MSU welcomed back several former Spartan players, including DeJuan Jones who currently plays for the New England Revolution.

FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
So far this season, eight different Spartans have found the back of the net. Against Wisconsin on Sept. 17, freshman defender Josh Adam scored his first collegiate goal. Senior Farai Mutatu leads the team in scoring with five goals and one assist for nine points. Fellow senior Michael Miller is second in goals scored with two.

UP NEXT
The Spartan continue their road swing at No. 24 Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 2:30 p.m. MSU will conclude the road trip at Western Michigan on Oct. 13 at 4;30 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.

PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list. Michael Miller is a three-year starter for Michigan State. In his Spartan career, the midfielder has played in 56 games, starting 41. Hunter Morse enters his third year in goal for the Spartans. He has started 27 games in goal for MSU with three career shutouts. Farai Mutatu earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after the spring 2021 season. After battling injuries much of the year, he ended the season with one goal.

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

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Players Mentioned

Josh Adam

Jack Beck

Michael Miller

Hunter Morse

Farai Mutatu

Will Perkins

Nick Stone

Michigan State University Athletics