Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Soccer Hosts Penn State Friday
9/30/2021 4:36:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MSU concludes its three-game homestand.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer enters the final month of the regular season against Penn State on Friday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans are concluding a three-game homestand, before heading out on the road for a three-game road trip.
Michigan State stands 4-4-1 overall and 0-1-1 in league contests. Penn State is 5-3-1 this season and 1-0 in conference action.
PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
Through the first nine games of the season, Michigan State has the ninth-toughest schedule in the nation. It is the toughest in the Big Ten.
The three teams that Michigan State has lost to this season are all ranked now, including No. 7 Tulsa, No. 17 Bowling Green while Akron and Indiana are receiving votes.
GETTING IN THE GAME
Five Spartans have started all nine 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 794 and 819, 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 five games.
PACKING THE STANDS
Michigan State has been thrilled to have fans back at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans are No. 14 in the country in attendance, averaging 1,562 fans. Only Indiana (2,851)and Maryland (2,673) are averaging more fans in the Big Ten.
LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State holds the overall series lead against Michigan State 23-17-2. The Spartans have had control of the series recently, winning five of the last six. The only blemish in the last six games is a 3-0 PSU victory at home in 2019.
This season, the Nittany Lions are 5-3-1 this season and are currently receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll. On Saturday, PSU was stopped by Princeton, 1-0. The Nittany Lions are 1-0 in league contests with a 2-1 win over Northwestern on Sept. 17.
Last season, MSU pulled off the upset against No. 20 Penn State on the road, 1-0. Jack Beck found the back of the net in the 87th minute for MSU with an assist from Michael Miller. After Beck took the corner kick, the ball was deflected back and forth, before Miller controlled it and lofted a nice pass over the PSU defense to Beck, who chipped in a shot that originally bounced off the post, but quickly off a PSU defender and into the goal. Beck's goal would go on to be the game-winning goal.
Peter Mangione the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week is first tied for first in the league in goals scored with Farai Mutau with five each.
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.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State men's soccer dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to Big Ten-foe Indiana on Sunday on Alumni Day in front of over 2,000 fans at a rowdy DeMartin Stadium.
As part of an Alumni Day doubleheader with the MSU women, Michigan State celebrated alums from six different decades at half time.
Michigan State was the aggressor for the start of the match. Senior Farai Mutatu continues to be dangerous, registering a shot on goal in the 15th minute that was hauled in by IU goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
In the 48th minute, Indiana was able to capitalize on its only shot on goal of the day. Patrick McDonald scored his first goal of the season on a play that began with a Hoosier corner kick. A scrum inside the box led to McDonald seizing the moment to put the ball away to the lower right corner.
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
MSU will next travel to Ann Arbor for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy, taking on Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 5. The game will be televised on BTN at 8 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
Michigan State stands 4-4-1 overall and 0-1-1 in league contests. Penn State is 5-3-1 this season and 1-0 in conference action.
PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
Through the first nine games of the season, Michigan State has the ninth-toughest schedule in the nation. It is the toughest in the Big Ten.
The three teams that Michigan State has lost to this season are all ranked now, including No. 7 Tulsa, No. 17 Bowling Green while Akron and Indiana are receiving votes.
GETTING IN THE GAME
Five Spartans have started all nine 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 794 and 819, 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 five games.
PACKING THE STANDS
Michigan State has been thrilled to have fans back at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans are No. 14 in the country in attendance, averaging 1,562 fans. Only Indiana (2,851)and Maryland (2,673) are averaging more fans in the Big Ten.
LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State holds the overall series lead against Michigan State 23-17-2. The Spartans have had control of the series recently, winning five of the last six. The only blemish in the last six games is a 3-0 PSU victory at home in 2019.
This season, the Nittany Lions are 5-3-1 this season and are currently receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll. On Saturday, PSU was stopped by Princeton, 1-0. The Nittany Lions are 1-0 in league contests with a 2-1 win over Northwestern on Sept. 17.
Last season, MSU pulled off the upset against No. 20 Penn State on the road, 1-0. Jack Beck found the back of the net in the 87th minute for MSU with an assist from Michael Miller. After Beck took the corner kick, the ball was deflected back and forth, before Miller controlled it and lofted a nice pass over the PSU defense to Beck, who chipped in a shot that originally bounced off the post, but quickly off a PSU defender and into the goal. Beck's goal would go on to be the game-winning goal.
Peter Mangione the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week is first tied for first in the league in goals scored with Farai Mutau with five each.
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.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State men's soccer dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to Big Ten-foe Indiana on Sunday on Alumni Day in front of over 2,000 fans at a rowdy DeMartin Stadium.
As part of an Alumni Day doubleheader with the MSU women, Michigan State celebrated alums from six different decades at half time.
Michigan State was the aggressor for the start of the match. Senior Farai Mutatu continues to be dangerous, registering a shot on goal in the 15th minute that was hauled in by IU goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
In the 48th minute, Indiana was able to capitalize on its only shot on goal of the day. Patrick McDonald scored his first goal of the season on a play that began with a Hoosier corner kick. A scrum inside the box led to McDonald seizing the moment to put the ball away to the lower right corner.
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
MSU will next travel to Ann Arbor for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy, taking on Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 5. The game will be televised on BTN at 8 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
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's SoccerMonday, September 14
Monday, August 31
Monday, October 06
Monday, September 29