Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Soccer Hits the Road to Face No. 24 Tulsa Saturday
9/10/2021 1:16:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MSU begins a three-game road trip.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer hits the road for the first time this season, opening a three-game road swing at No. 24 Tulsa on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET.
After a 3-0 loss against Bowling Green on Sept. 6, the Spartans fall to 2-2 this season. Tulsa has started the season with a 4-0 record and are currently ranked No. 24.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Senior midfielder Michael Miller is fourth in the Big Ten in goals scored with two. Miller is also third in the league in points with five. Senior Farai Mutatu is third in the Big Ten in shots with 11.
LOOKING SHARP
Once again, the Big Ten is looking tough this season. Seven of the nine teams already have at least two wins. Two teams are in the top 10 in the polls this week with Maryland (4-0) ranked No. 7 and Indiana (3-1-1) standing No. 9.
OFF TO A FAST START
Prior to this season, senior midfielder Michael Miller had scored two goals in 56 games at MSU. In the first four games this year, he already scored two, including the game-winning goal against Cleveland State on Aug. 26.
PUTTING IN THE TIME
Nine Spartans have started all four games this season. Senior goalkeeper Hunter Morse and junior defender Nick Stone are the only two Spartans to have played all 360 minutes this season. Thirteen different players have started at least one game.
LOOKING AT THE GOLDEN HURRICANE
No. 24 Tulsa is off to a hot start this season with a 4-0 record. The Golden Hurricane opened the season with wins in Omaha against Creighton and Omaha, before earning home victories against Missouri State and Marquette.
The Golden Hurricane hold a slight edge in the limited history between the two teams, 1-0-1. The last time that the two teams met was in 2018 in East Lansing with the two squads battling to a 0-0 draw. Tulsa will be the first ranked team that the Spartans have faced this season, although Akron now ranked No. 16.
The Golden Hurricane have had five different players score a goal this season, including a team-leading two goals by both Alex Meinhard and Malik Henry-Scott. The trio of Ben Barkley, Luke Jeffus and Mariano Fazio have all scored one goal apiece. Goalkeeper Alex Lopez has played 270 minutes so far this season with 11 saves. He currently has a 0.92 saves percentage and has allowed just one goal for a 0.33 goals against average.
UP NEXT
After taking on Tulsa, Michigan State remains on the road for a pair of games. Michigan State will take on regional rival, Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. MSU will close out the road trip at Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
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
After a 3-0 loss against Bowling Green on Sept. 6, the Spartans fall to 2-2 this season. Tulsa has started the season with a 4-0 record and are currently ranked No. 24.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Senior midfielder Michael Miller is fourth in the Big Ten in goals scored with two. Miller is also third in the league in points with five. Senior Farai Mutatu is third in the Big Ten in shots with 11.
LOOKING SHARP
Once again, the Big Ten is looking tough this season. Seven of the nine teams already have at least two wins. Two teams are in the top 10 in the polls this week with Maryland (4-0) ranked No. 7 and Indiana (3-1-1) standing No. 9.
OFF TO A FAST START
Prior to this season, senior midfielder Michael Miller had scored two goals in 56 games at MSU. In the first four games this year, he already scored two, including the game-winning goal against Cleveland State on Aug. 26.
PUTTING IN THE TIME
Nine Spartans have started all four games this season. Senior goalkeeper Hunter Morse and junior defender Nick Stone are the only two Spartans to have played all 360 minutes this season. Thirteen different players have started at least one game.
LOOKING AT THE GOLDEN HURRICANE
No. 24 Tulsa is off to a hot start this season with a 4-0 record. The Golden Hurricane opened the season with wins in Omaha against Creighton and Omaha, before earning home victories against Missouri State and Marquette.
The Golden Hurricane hold a slight edge in the limited history between the two teams, 1-0-1. The last time that the two teams met was in 2018 in East Lansing with the two squads battling to a 0-0 draw. Tulsa will be the first ranked team that the Spartans have faced this season, although Akron now ranked No. 16.
The Golden Hurricane have had five different players score a goal this season, including a team-leading two goals by both Alex Meinhard and Malik Henry-Scott. The trio of Ben Barkley, Luke Jeffus and Mariano Fazio have all scored one goal apiece. Goalkeeper Alex Lopez has played 270 minutes so far this season with 11 saves. He currently has a 0.92 saves percentage and has allowed just one goal for a 0.33 goals against average.
UP NEXT
After taking on Tulsa, Michigan State remains on the road for a pair of games. Michigan State will take on regional rival, Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. MSU will close out the road trip at Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
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
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's SoccerMonday, September 14
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Monday, September 29