Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Michigan Photography
Spartan Soccer Returns to DeMartin Stadium Thursday
3/10/2021 2:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MSU will play its first true home game against Northwestern.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - For the first time this season, Michigan State men's soccer will play a true home game, taking on Northwestern on Thursday, March 11 at DeMartin Stadium at 1 p.m.
The Spartans stand at 1-3-1 this season, capturing their first win of the season against Penn State on March 6. Last time out, Michigan State fell to Ohio State, 2-0, on March 3 at Lansing Catholic High School. The Buckeyes scored one goal in each half to seal the win.Â
"I think our players are really excited since this is really our first true home game. It was great to host games at Schoolcraft and Lansing Catholic, but we didn't get a chance to practice or play there any more than the visiting teams, so this is a familiarity for us, and some guys get to play their first games at DeMartin, so I'm excited for them," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "We've had some adversity this week but I'm really looking forward to this group and I think they're in a good spot and we'll be ready for a good Northwestern team."
Michigan State has been looking to get its offense going early on this season. Junior midfielder Jack Beck has scored MSU's only goal of the season in the 87th minute against Penn State off the pass from senior midfielder Michael Miller. The Spartan defense has also been resolute so far this season as well.
"I think our overall group mentality for defending is something that we thought we did well against Penn State and dropped off a little bit against Ohio State," Rensing said. "So I think our defensive mentality which I think, in just like in a lot of sports, can we just get offensive opportunities, and I think if we can do that, we'll have some good chances. I know we haven't scored a ton of goals this year, but I think we're in a decent spot from practice and I could see us scoring a goal or two tomorrow."
LOOKING AT THE WILDCATS
Northwestern has wins Wisconsin and Indiana this season and has losses to Michigan and Ohio State. Ugo Achara Jr. leads the Wildcats in scoring with four goals and one assist for nine points.Â
Michigan State holds an overall record of 32-8-2 against Northwestern, including 16-2-2 at DeMartin Stadium.  The series has been tight of late with the series split 2-2-1. Last season, the Wildcats captured a tight 1-0 win in Evanston. Northwestern scored in the 90th minute to  edge Michigan State on the road.
In 2018 on Senior Day in East Lansing, the Wildcats and Spartans battled to a 0-0 tie.
LENAHAN LAST SEASON
Northwestern legendary head coach Tim Lenahan is retiring after the end of this spring 2021 season after a well-decorated 20-year career as head coach. Lenahan led the Wildcats to nine NCAA Tournament appearances in an 11-season span from 2004 to 2014, and those teams made four trips to the Round-of-16 and two appearances in the national quarterfinals. Rensing has mixed emotions about coaching against the Wildcats' legendary leader.
"It's a little bittersweet playing Northwestern, Tim Lenahan is retiring after 20 years at Northwestern and he's been a great coach, not just for Northwestern, but in the Big Ten and throughout Division I soccer," Rensing said. "He's somebody that I looked up to as a young assistant, so certainly those are the guys that you want to compete the hardest against, because you have such a high respect for him but I'm looking forward to congratulating him on a great career, and having a good game with him."
GETTING IN THE GAME
So far this year, five different players have started every game including senior midfielder Michael Miller, junior midfielder Jack Beck, junior forward Farai Mutatu, redshirt-junior goalkeeper Hunter Morse and sophomore defender Nick Stone. Morse has recorded one shutout this season in goal with a 1.25 goals against average.Â
Freshman Jack Zugay, sophomore Gianni Ferri and redshirt-sophomore Will Perkins have all started three games. Overall, 16 different players have started at least one game.
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The Spartans stand at 1-3-1 this season, capturing their first win of the season against Penn State on March 6. Last time out, Michigan State fell to Ohio State, 2-0, on March 3 at Lansing Catholic High School. The Buckeyes scored one goal in each half to seal the win.Â
"I think our players are really excited since this is really our first true home game. It was great to host games at Schoolcraft and Lansing Catholic, but we didn't get a chance to practice or play there any more than the visiting teams, so this is a familiarity for us, and some guys get to play their first games at DeMartin, so I'm excited for them," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "We've had some adversity this week but I'm really looking forward to this group and I think they're in a good spot and we'll be ready for a good Northwestern team."
Michigan State has been looking to get its offense going early on this season. Junior midfielder Jack Beck has scored MSU's only goal of the season in the 87th minute against Penn State off the pass from senior midfielder Michael Miller. The Spartan defense has also been resolute so far this season as well.
"I think our overall group mentality for defending is something that we thought we did well against Penn State and dropped off a little bit against Ohio State," Rensing said. "So I think our defensive mentality which I think, in just like in a lot of sports, can we just get offensive opportunities, and I think if we can do that, we'll have some good chances. I know we haven't scored a ton of goals this year, but I think we're in a decent spot from practice and I could see us scoring a goal or two tomorrow."
LOOKING AT THE WILDCATS
Northwestern has wins Wisconsin and Indiana this season and has losses to Michigan and Ohio State. Ugo Achara Jr. leads the Wildcats in scoring with four goals and one assist for nine points.Â
Michigan State holds an overall record of 32-8-2 against Northwestern, including 16-2-2 at DeMartin Stadium.  The series has been tight of late with the series split 2-2-1. Last season, the Wildcats captured a tight 1-0 win in Evanston. Northwestern scored in the 90th minute to  edge Michigan State on the road.
In 2018 on Senior Day in East Lansing, the Wildcats and Spartans battled to a 0-0 tie.
LENAHAN LAST SEASON
Northwestern legendary head coach Tim Lenahan is retiring after the end of this spring 2021 season after a well-decorated 20-year career as head coach. Lenahan led the Wildcats to nine NCAA Tournament appearances in an 11-season span from 2004 to 2014, and those teams made four trips to the Round-of-16 and two appearances in the national quarterfinals. Rensing has mixed emotions about coaching against the Wildcats' legendary leader.
"It's a little bittersweet playing Northwestern, Tim Lenahan is retiring after 20 years at Northwestern and he's been a great coach, not just for Northwestern, but in the Big Ten and throughout Division I soccer," Rensing said. "He's somebody that I looked up to as a young assistant, so certainly those are the guys that you want to compete the hardest against, because you have such a high respect for him but I'm looking forward to congratulating him on a great career, and having a good game with him."
GETTING IN THE GAME
So far this year, five different players have started every game including senior midfielder Michael Miller, junior midfielder Jack Beck, junior forward Farai Mutatu, redshirt-junior goalkeeper Hunter Morse and sophomore defender Nick Stone. Morse has recorded one shutout this season in goal with a 1.25 goals against average.Â
Freshman Jack Zugay, sophomore Gianni Ferri and redshirt-sophomore Will Perkins have all started three games. Overall, 16 different players have started at least one game.
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Players Mentioned
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