Thursday, August 26
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Cleveland State
Spartan Soccer Hosts Cleveland State in Season Opener
8/25/2021 5:25:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MSU will face the Vikings for the first time since 2017.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer will open the fall 2021 regular season against Cleveland State on Thursday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.
After a COVID-19 shortened season, the Spartans will be welcoming fans back to DeMartin Stadium. Michigan State ended the Big Ten-only season with a 4-7 record with wins against Penn State, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wisconsin. MSU won its final two regular-season games before losing in the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan.
LOOKING AT THE PRESEASON
The Spartans ended exhibition action with a 3-0 record. In its final preseason game on Aug. 21, Will Perkins converted a penalty kick to give MSU the 1-0 win. The Spartans also earned a 1-0 road victory against Butler (Aug. 15) and a 9-0 win at home against Schoolcraft (Aug. 11).
LOOKING AT THE VIKINGS
Michigan State holds a slight 6-5-3 lead over Cleveland State. The last time the teams met was in 2017 when the Spartan stopped the Vikings 1-0. In that game, Jimmy Fiscus scored in the first half to earn the win, as Jimmy Hague recorded his fourth-straight shutout.
This is the season opener for Cleveland State as well. The Vikings were picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League with MSU's in-state rival Oakland picked to finish first.
Cleveland State returns four All-Horizon League honorees from last season in Bojan Kolevski, Jannis Schmidt, Thomas M'Barek, and Saahb Kular.
Kolevski started all eight games that he played in, tallying four goals and an assist.
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list on Monday.
Michael Miller is a three-year starter for Michigan State. In his Spartan career, the midfielder has played in 56 games, starting 41. Last season, he added two assists for two points.
Hunter Morse enters his third year in goal for the Spartans. He has started 27 games in goal for Michigan State with three career shutouts. He has a career goals against average of 0.95.
Farai Mutatu earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after the spring 2021 season. After battling injuries much of the year, the forward ended the season with one goal.
UP NEXT
The Spartans open the season with four-straight home games. After facing the Vikings, MSU will take on familiar foe Akron on Monday, Aug. 30. Assistant coach T.J. Kolba is an alumni of the Zips coaching staff. Akron ended the spring 2021 season with a 4-4-2 record.
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.
After a COVID-19 shortened season, the Spartans will be welcoming fans back to DeMartin Stadium. Michigan State ended the Big Ten-only season with a 4-7 record with wins against Penn State, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wisconsin. MSU won its final two regular-season games before losing in the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan.
LOOKING AT THE PRESEASON
The Spartans ended exhibition action with a 3-0 record. In its final preseason game on Aug. 21, Will Perkins converted a penalty kick to give MSU the 1-0 win. The Spartans also earned a 1-0 road victory against Butler (Aug. 15) and a 9-0 win at home against Schoolcraft (Aug. 11).
LOOKING AT THE VIKINGS
Michigan State holds a slight 6-5-3 lead over Cleveland State. The last time the teams met was in 2017 when the Spartan stopped the Vikings 1-0. In that game, Jimmy Fiscus scored in the first half to earn the win, as Jimmy Hague recorded his fourth-straight shutout.
This is the season opener for Cleveland State as well. The Vikings were picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League with MSU's in-state rival Oakland picked to finish first.
Cleveland State returns four All-Horizon League honorees from last season in Bojan Kolevski, Jannis Schmidt, Thomas M'Barek, and Saahb Kular.
Kolevski started all eight games that he played in, tallying four goals and an assist.
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list on Monday.
Michael Miller is a three-year starter for Michigan State. In his Spartan career, the midfielder has played in 56 games, starting 41. Last season, he added two assists for two points.
Hunter Morse enters his third year in goal for the Spartans. He has started 27 games in goal for Michigan State with three career shutouts. He has a career goals against average of 0.95.
Farai Mutatu earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after the spring 2021 season. After battling injuries much of the year, the forward ended the season with one goal.
UP NEXT
The Spartans open the season with four-straight home games. After facing the Vikings, MSU will take on familiar foe Akron on Monday, Aug. 30. Assistant coach T.J. Kolba is an alumni of the Zips coaching staff. Akron ended the spring 2021 season with a 4-4-2 record.
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.
Players Mentioned
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