Thursday, March 11
East Lansing, Mich.
1 PM
Michigan State University
2-3-0, 2-3-0
2
vs
0
Northwestern
2-3-0, 2-3-0
1
2
F
Northwestern
0
0
0
Michigan St.
1
1
2
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartans Tame Wildcats With 2-0 Blanking In DeMartin Return
3/11/2021 6:29:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Mutatu, George net goals, while Handspike posts clean sheet as MSU successfully defends DeMartin.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- In its first game on its home field of DeMartin Stadium this season, Michigan State men's soccer team blanked Northwestern, 2-0, Thursday afternoon.Â
The Spartans used a first half firecracker from junior forward Farai Mutatu and a sweet second-half strike from sophomore midfielder Conner George to spark the offensive attack. Meanwhile, redshirt-junior Isiah Handspike made his season debut and posted a clean sheet behind a staunch defense as the Spartans successfully defended DeMartin, improving to 2-3-0 on the year, with both wins coming on shutouts. Northwestern is also 2-3-0, after being shutout for the first time this season, including a win over Big Ten Preseason favorite and defending league champion Indiana on Feb. 27.
MSU last played at DeMartin on Nov. 3, 2019, a span of 494 days, as the 2020 fall season was canceled due to the COVID-19 world pandemic, postponing the season to this spring. The Spartans' previous "home" games have been played at Schoolcraft College and Lansing Catholic High School, so Thursday's first true home game at DeMartin was sweet, made even sweeter with the Victory for MSU, and the clean sheet, MSU's second of the season.Â
"It was great just to be back at DeMartin, this was our first real game at a college soccer venue; we have played at indoor places and a local high school, it just felt good to be out there, it was 50 degrees, sunny, a little windy, but hey, soccer is meant to played outside," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said.Â
Thursday's conditions were warm and sunny, but windy, but didn't seem to matter to the Spartans.Â
"First, we were excited to be back in DeMartin, second we had a little adversity with some guys not being able to play today, but I thought the rest of the group stepped in and was really good, all the way back from Isiah Handspike to the forward line," Rensing said. "Our goal is always to be 0-0 at halftime at worst, to not giving anything up, we were fortunate to be one-up on a great goal by Farai, I thought he was electric today, I don't think Northwestern really had an answer for him, he was just really, really good and really set the tone. I am happy for Conner George who had a good game and a great ball from Nick Stone and Conner finished it and lastly, Isaiah Handspike has been a great team guy, a great leader, he's played his role and had the opportunity to start today and for him to get a clean sheet and a victory, it was great. I'm happy for him as well."
Mutatu's strike came in the 31st minute, as he took the pass from junior defender Olu Ogunwale and blasted in from the corner of the 18-yard box and into the back of the net past Northwestern goalkeeper Miha Miskovic. That was one of the six Spartan shots in the first half, as MSU had a 6-4 shots advantage in the first 45 minutes.Â
"This was our first game of our season that we got to play at DeMartin Stadium, and we got to see some parents and some fans, the whole team was just happy to finally play at our stadium and play on our field," Mutatu said. "We came out and wanted to get the win for our first game here at the stadium and we got it, so it is always a good feeling, just a really good team effort today."
In the 63rd minute, George took a nifty through pass from sophomore defender Nick Stone that played him into open space, and he drove in from the left wing and curved it around Miskovic short-side and into the lower left corner for the 2-0 lead.Â
After George's goal, he was mobbed his teammates in a big team celebration.
"That was 100 percent a special moment," Mutatu said about everyone celebrating together. "With everything going on this year, we are spending a lot of time to together as a team, and when we score a good team goal like that, it was just right for everyone to get, we cheesed at the camera man, and it felt really good because we are a close group, we are all brothers, we are all Spartans, and so when one person scores, we all score. Yeah, it was a special moment, and hopefully we keep those coming."
From there on out, the MSU defense took over to keep the clean sheet. The Spartans ended the match with a 13-7 shots advantage, including three by Mutatu, while George and Stone had two shots apiece to spearhead the offense. Meanwhile, the MSU defense controlled and dictated almost all of the action end-to-end, in a complete team win.
"One thing we have been harping on as a team is having the right mentality, having that dog mentality, and that's with the whole team, starting with the goalie to the backline to midfield to forwards," Mutatu said. "Right away from the get-go, we had the right mentality as a team, we set the tempo, we set the tone, and I think if we continue to do that we will have a lot of success, and I am excited because this is a good confidence builder for our team, and we will just try to get it going, day-by-day, but I was really happy with the performance from the guys today."
MSU's home sweet home feeling is short-lived, as the Spartans play their next two matches on the road, heading to Bloomington, Indiana to play at Indiana on Monday, March 15 at 2 p.m. ET. Michigan State then plays at Maryland on Friday, March 19, also at 2 p.m. ET. The Spartans return home to host in-state rival Michigan on Tuesday, March 23.Â
Â
The Spartans used a first half firecracker from junior forward Farai Mutatu and a sweet second-half strike from sophomore midfielder Conner George to spark the offensive attack. Meanwhile, redshirt-junior Isiah Handspike made his season debut and posted a clean sheet behind a staunch defense as the Spartans successfully defended DeMartin, improving to 2-3-0 on the year, with both wins coming on shutouts. Northwestern is also 2-3-0, after being shutout for the first time this season, including a win over Big Ten Preseason favorite and defending league champion Indiana on Feb. 27.
MSU last played at DeMartin on Nov. 3, 2019, a span of 494 days, as the 2020 fall season was canceled due to the COVID-19 world pandemic, postponing the season to this spring. The Spartans' previous "home" games have been played at Schoolcraft College and Lansing Catholic High School, so Thursday's first true home game at DeMartin was sweet, made even sweeter with the Victory for MSU, and the clean sheet, MSU's second of the season.Â
"It was great just to be back at DeMartin, this was our first real game at a college soccer venue; we have played at indoor places and a local high school, it just felt good to be out there, it was 50 degrees, sunny, a little windy, but hey, soccer is meant to played outside," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said.Â
As they say...there's no place like 🏠#DeMartinDefended pic.twitter.com/QeKCRtBMXN
— MSU Men's Soccer (@MSUmsoccer) March 11, 2021
Thursday's conditions were warm and sunny, but windy, but didn't seem to matter to the Spartans.Â
"First, we were excited to be back in DeMartin, second we had a little adversity with some guys not being able to play today, but I thought the rest of the group stepped in and was really good, all the way back from Isiah Handspike to the forward line," Rensing said. "Our goal is always to be 0-0 at halftime at worst, to not giving anything up, we were fortunate to be one-up on a great goal by Farai, I thought he was electric today, I don't think Northwestern really had an answer for him, he was just really, really good and really set the tone. I am happy for Conner George who had a good game and a great ball from Nick Stone and Conner finished it and lastly, Isaiah Handspike has been a great team guy, a great leader, he's played his role and had the opportunity to start today and for him to get a clean sheet and a victory, it was great. I'm happy for him as well."
Mutatu's strike came in the 31st minute, as he took the pass from junior defender Olu Ogunwale and blasted in from the corner of the 18-yard box and into the back of the net past Northwestern goalkeeper Miha Miskovic. That was one of the six Spartan shots in the first half, as MSU had a 6-4 shots advantage in the first 45 minutes.Â
đź‘€ The firecracker from @FaraiMutatu! pic.twitter.com/mkstrxbsSc
— MSU Men's Soccer (@MSUmsoccer) March 11, 2021
"This was our first game of our season that we got to play at DeMartin Stadium, and we got to see some parents and some fans, the whole team was just happy to finally play at our stadium and play on our field," Mutatu said. "We came out and wanted to get the win for our first game here at the stadium and we got it, so it is always a good feeling, just a really good team effort today."
In the 63rd minute, George took a nifty through pass from sophomore defender Nick Stone that played him into open space, and he drove in from the left wing and curved it around Miskovic short-side and into the lower left corner for the 2-0 lead.Â
Make that 2-0 Spartans thanks to Conner George! pic.twitter.com/Zg4S2LdVMx
— MSU Men's Soccer (@MSUmsoccer) March 11, 2021
After George's goal, he was mobbed his teammates in a big team celebration.
"That was 100 percent a special moment," Mutatu said about everyone celebrating together. "With everything going on this year, we are spending a lot of time to together as a team, and when we score a good team goal like that, it was just right for everyone to get, we cheesed at the camera man, and it felt really good because we are a close group, we are all brothers, we are all Spartans, and so when one person scores, we all score. Yeah, it was a special moment, and hopefully we keep those coming."
From there on out, the MSU defense took over to keep the clean sheet. The Spartans ended the match with a 13-7 shots advantage, including three by Mutatu, while George and Stone had two shots apiece to spearhead the offense. Meanwhile, the MSU defense controlled and dictated almost all of the action end-to-end, in a complete team win.
"One thing we have been harping on as a team is having the right mentality, having that dog mentality, and that's with the whole team, starting with the goalie to the backline to midfield to forwards," Mutatu said. "Right away from the get-go, we had the right mentality as a team, we set the tempo, we set the tone, and I think if we continue to do that we will have a lot of success, and I am excited because this is a good confidence builder for our team, and we will just try to get it going, day-by-day, but I was really happy with the performance from the guys today."
MSU's home sweet home feeling is short-lived, as the Spartans play their next two matches on the road, heading to Bloomington, Indiana to play at Indiana on Monday, March 15 at 2 p.m. ET. Michigan State then plays at Maryland on Friday, March 19, also at 2 p.m. ET. The Spartans return home to host in-state rival Michigan on Tuesday, March 23.Â
Â
Team Stats
NOR
MSU
Goals
0
2
Shots
7
13
Shots on Goal
1
5
Saves
3
1
Corners
3
8
Fouls
17
9
Scoring Plays
Farai Mutatu (1)
Assisted By: Olu Ogunwale
GOAL by MSU Mutatu, Farai Assist by Ogunwale, Olu.
30:21
Conner George (1)
Assisted By: Nick Stone
GOAL by MSU George, Conner Assist by Stone, Nick.
62:48
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
def
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerDamon Rensing | Men's Soccer Press Conference | Oct. 6, 2025
Monday, October 06
Damon Rensing | Men's Soccer Press Conference | Sep. 29 2025
Monday, September 29
Spartans All-Access | Keeper of the Turf
Thursday, November 14
Playing Out His Dream | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, October 31