Friday, October 7
University Park, Pa.
7 PM
Michigan State University
at
Penn State
Spartan Men's Soccer Travels to Penn State Friday
10/6/2022 12:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MSU looks to continue winning ways.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer hits the road for a Big Ten battle against Penn State, facing the Nittany Lions on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.
After a pair of home wins last week, the Spartans improved to 4-4-2 overall and 2-0-1 in Big Ten action. The Spartans are off to their best start in B1G plays since the 2017 season when they also started the season 2-0-1.
The Nittany Lions tied Northwestern last week and stand 4-3-3 overall and are 1-0-2 in league contests.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions lead the overall series with the Spartans 25-17-2, including a 9-7 record in University Park. Penn State has won three of the last four meetings, including a 3-0 win against Michigan State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 7. The Nittany Lions also captured a 1-0 win against MSU on Oct. 1. In that battle, the Spartans played a man down for much of the second half after a red card. Penn State finally broke through in the 87th minute. Hunter Morse made the first save on a shot by Tyger Evans, but was unable to maintain possession. Daniel Bloyou was able to take the deflection to give Penn State the only score of the game.
LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State currently holds a 4-3-3 overall record, holding a 1-0-2 Big Ten mark. The Nittany Lions have a league win against Wisconsin to go along with ties against Maryland and Northwestern. Peter Mangione is tied for second in the Big Ten in goals scored with five, while standing tird for fourthin points with 12. Penn State goalkeeper Kris Shakes in fourth in the league in goals against average (1.30).
NEW LOOK SPARTANS
Michigan State's rookies have had solid campaigns. Transfers Elijah Howe and Owen Finnerty have been solid fixtures in the Spartan offense starting nine and 10 games, respectively.
Freshmen Jack Guggemos, Jake Spadafora and Jeremy Sharp have all started at least one game this season. Freshman Jonathan Stout has come on strong of late with one goal and an assist total over the last two games. Stout has the scored a goal against Michigan on Sept. 27 and added an assist on the game-winning goal against Wisconsin on Oct. 2. Guggemos is third on the team in scoring with two goals and one assist for five points.
DID YOU KNOW?
With wins over Michigan and Wisconsin, Michigan State recorded back-to-back shutout wins for the first time since 2017. That season, the Spartans earned back-to-back wins 1-0 wins over Penn State and Northwestern. MSU also started that season with four-straight shutout wins.
LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW
Michigan State men's soccer celebrated Alumni Day with a 1-0 shutout victory over Wisconsin on a sunny Sunday at DeMartin Stadium.
Michigan State took advantage of its only first-half shot on goal late in the first half. In the 44th minute, senior midfielder Louis Sala netted his first goal of the season. The play started to the ride side with a ball from freshman defender Jeremy Sharp, who then found fellow freshman Jonathan Stout. The forward connected with Sala who slipped the ball past UW goalkeeper Carter Abbott.
FINNERTY EARNS B1G HONOR
Senior goalkeeper Owen Finnerty earned the Spartans' first Player of the Week honor of the season after MSU went 2-0-0 last week. The goalkeeper registered a pair of clean sheets to lead Michigan State to wins over Michigan and Wisconsin.
In the Battle of the Big Bear Trophy on Sept. 27, Finnerty, a Michigan transfer, earned MSU's first shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over the Wolverines. He collected seven saves in the victory. Against Wisconsin on Oct. 2, the Spartans earned a 1-0 win with the senior capturing five saves. He helped MSU to back-to-back shutout wins for the first time since the 2017 season. For the week, he made 12 saves allowing no goals in 90 minutes.
NO GRAY SKIES FOR GREYSON
Junior forward Greyson Mercer has come on strong of late. He scored the game-tying goal against No. 16 Indiana on Sept. 23 and the game-winning goal against Michigan on Sept. 27. Mercer is first on the team in scoring with three goals and two assists for eight points.
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State historically is among the nation's best in packing DeMartin Stadium. This week, MSU is fifth in the nation in attendance, averaging 2,433 fans per game. The Spartans are first in the Big Ten ahead Indiana (2,205) and Maryland (2,184), who stand sixth and seventh in the nation respectively. MSU's largest crowd of the season was the 3,047 fans that packed DeMartin to watch MSU beat Michigan on Sept. 27.
BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opened B1G play at No. 16 Indiana on Sept. 23. The Spartans are 6-1-3 in their last 10 Big Ten openers. After taking on Rutgers in the Big Ten opener the last four seasons, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 last season in Madison.
This was the first time that Michigan State has faced Indiana in the Big Ten opener since a 0-0 overtime tie in Bloomington on Sept. 25. In 2004, the Hoosiers came out on top in the Big Ten opener in East Lansing, 3-1.
FIND THE PERKS
Senior defender Will Perkins has had a stellar start to the 2022 season. He is tied for the team lead in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Maryland stands atop the Big Ten standings with 10 points, holding a 3-0-1 records through four games. Michigan State is tied for second with Rutgers with seven points apiece. Penn State and Indiana are tied for fourth with five points each.
PITCHING THE SHUTOUT
With a 2-0 win over Michigan on Sept. 27, Michigan State earned its first shutout of the season. MSU has allowed one goal to Army, Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Chicago State and Indiana. Before the win against the Wolverines, the Spartans last shutout was a 1-0 win against Ohio State on Oct. 17, 2021 in East Lansing. MSU goalkeeper Owen Finnerty recorded his first shutout as a Spartan and his 10th for his career. MSU followed that up with a 1-0 shutout victory over Wisconsin on Oct. 2. The Spartans recorded their first back-to-back shutout wins since 2017.
GETTING IN THE GAME
The Spartans have been getting a lot of players in the game. Twenty-two of the 28 athletes on the roster have played in at least one of the 10 games this season.
UP NEXT
After facing Penn State on Oct. 7, the Spartans will then return home to take on Saint Mary's on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. to end non-conference play. MSU will then return to league contests to take on Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Ten different players have scored MSU's 14 goals this season. Junior forward Greyson Mercer leads the team in scoring with three goals and two assists for eight points. Redshirt-senior defender Will Perkins is second in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points, while freshman midfielder Jack Guggemos has scored two goals and an assist for five points. Six players have scored one goal so far this season, including freshmen Jake Spadafora and Jonathan Stout.
FINDING THE 11
Only three Spartans have started the first 10 games of the season, including senior Jack Beck. Newcomer Owen Finnerty and sophomore Josh Adam also have started every match. Six players have seen action in all 10 matches, including freshman Jeremy Sharp and junior Jack Zugay.
OLDTIMERS
Michigan State brings back several veterans to the 2022 squad. Both Jack Beck and Will Perkins will return for their fifth seasons with MSU. The duo of captains are the final to Spartans on the roster who were a part of the 2018 College Cup squad.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
The Spartan have named three captains this season. Leading MSU will be seniors Jack Beck, Will Perkins and Louis Sala. This is the second-straight season that Beck and Perkins are captains.
After a pair of home wins last week, the Spartans improved to 4-4-2 overall and 2-0-1 in Big Ten action. The Spartans are off to their best start in B1G plays since the 2017 season when they also started the season 2-0-1.
The Nittany Lions tied Northwestern last week and stand 4-3-3 overall and are 1-0-2 in league contests.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions lead the overall series with the Spartans 25-17-2, including a 9-7 record in University Park. Penn State has won three of the last four meetings, including a 3-0 win against Michigan State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 7. The Nittany Lions also captured a 1-0 win against MSU on Oct. 1. In that battle, the Spartans played a man down for much of the second half after a red card. Penn State finally broke through in the 87th minute. Hunter Morse made the first save on a shot by Tyger Evans, but was unable to maintain possession. Daniel Bloyou was able to take the deflection to give Penn State the only score of the game.
LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State currently holds a 4-3-3 overall record, holding a 1-0-2 Big Ten mark. The Nittany Lions have a league win against Wisconsin to go along with ties against Maryland and Northwestern. Peter Mangione is tied for second in the Big Ten in goals scored with five, while standing tird for fourthin points with 12. Penn State goalkeeper Kris Shakes in fourth in the league in goals against average (1.30).
NEW LOOK SPARTANS
Michigan State's rookies have had solid campaigns. Transfers Elijah Howe and Owen Finnerty have been solid fixtures in the Spartan offense starting nine and 10 games, respectively.
Freshmen Jack Guggemos, Jake Spadafora and Jeremy Sharp have all started at least one game this season. Freshman Jonathan Stout has come on strong of late with one goal and an assist total over the last two games. Stout has the scored a goal against Michigan on Sept. 27 and added an assist on the game-winning goal against Wisconsin on Oct. 2. Guggemos is third on the team in scoring with two goals and one assist for five points.
DID YOU KNOW?
With wins over Michigan and Wisconsin, Michigan State recorded back-to-back shutout wins for the first time since 2017. That season, the Spartans earned back-to-back wins 1-0 wins over Penn State and Northwestern. MSU also started that season with four-straight shutout wins.
LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW
Michigan State men's soccer celebrated Alumni Day with a 1-0 shutout victory over Wisconsin on a sunny Sunday at DeMartin Stadium.
Michigan State took advantage of its only first-half shot on goal late in the first half. In the 44th minute, senior midfielder Louis Sala netted his first goal of the season. The play started to the ride side with a ball from freshman defender Jeremy Sharp, who then found fellow freshman Jonathan Stout. The forward connected with Sala who slipped the ball past UW goalkeeper Carter Abbott.
FINNERTY EARNS B1G HONOR
Senior goalkeeper Owen Finnerty earned the Spartans' first Player of the Week honor of the season after MSU went 2-0-0 last week. The goalkeeper registered a pair of clean sheets to lead Michigan State to wins over Michigan and Wisconsin.
In the Battle of the Big Bear Trophy on Sept. 27, Finnerty, a Michigan transfer, earned MSU's first shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over the Wolverines. He collected seven saves in the victory. Against Wisconsin on Oct. 2, the Spartans earned a 1-0 win with the senior capturing five saves. He helped MSU to back-to-back shutout wins for the first time since the 2017 season. For the week, he made 12 saves allowing no goals in 90 minutes.
NO GRAY SKIES FOR GREYSON
Junior forward Greyson Mercer has come on strong of late. He scored the game-tying goal against No. 16 Indiana on Sept. 23 and the game-winning goal against Michigan on Sept. 27. Mercer is first on the team in scoring with three goals and two assists for eight points.
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State historically is among the nation's best in packing DeMartin Stadium. This week, MSU is fifth in the nation in attendance, averaging 2,433 fans per game. The Spartans are first in the Big Ten ahead Indiana (2,205) and Maryland (2,184), who stand sixth and seventh in the nation respectively. MSU's largest crowd of the season was the 3,047 fans that packed DeMartin to watch MSU beat Michigan on Sept. 27.
BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opened B1G play at No. 16 Indiana on Sept. 23. The Spartans are 6-1-3 in their last 10 Big Ten openers. After taking on Rutgers in the Big Ten opener the last four seasons, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 last season in Madison.
This was the first time that Michigan State has faced Indiana in the Big Ten opener since a 0-0 overtime tie in Bloomington on Sept. 25. In 2004, the Hoosiers came out on top in the Big Ten opener in East Lansing, 3-1.
FIND THE PERKS
Senior defender Will Perkins has had a stellar start to the 2022 season. He is tied for the team lead in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Maryland stands atop the Big Ten standings with 10 points, holding a 3-0-1 records through four games. Michigan State is tied for second with Rutgers with seven points apiece. Penn State and Indiana are tied for fourth with five points each.
PITCHING THE SHUTOUT
With a 2-0 win over Michigan on Sept. 27, Michigan State earned its first shutout of the season. MSU has allowed one goal to Army, Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Chicago State and Indiana. Before the win against the Wolverines, the Spartans last shutout was a 1-0 win against Ohio State on Oct. 17, 2021 in East Lansing. MSU goalkeeper Owen Finnerty recorded his first shutout as a Spartan and his 10th for his career. MSU followed that up with a 1-0 shutout victory over Wisconsin on Oct. 2. The Spartans recorded their first back-to-back shutout wins since 2017.
GETTING IN THE GAME
The Spartans have been getting a lot of players in the game. Twenty-two of the 28 athletes on the roster have played in at least one of the 10 games this season.
UP NEXT
After facing Penn State on Oct. 7, the Spartans will then return home to take on Saint Mary's on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. to end non-conference play. MSU will then return to league contests to take on Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Ten different players have scored MSU's 14 goals this season. Junior forward Greyson Mercer leads the team in scoring with three goals and two assists for eight points. Redshirt-senior defender Will Perkins is second in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points, while freshman midfielder Jack Guggemos has scored two goals and an assist for five points. Six players have scored one goal so far this season, including freshmen Jake Spadafora and Jonathan Stout.
FINDING THE 11
Only three Spartans have started the first 10 games of the season, including senior Jack Beck. Newcomer Owen Finnerty and sophomore Josh Adam also have started every match. Six players have seen action in all 10 matches, including freshman Jeremy Sharp and junior Jack Zugay.
OLDTIMERS
Michigan State brings back several veterans to the 2022 squad. Both Jack Beck and Will Perkins will return for their fifth seasons with MSU. The duo of captains are the final to Spartans on the roster who were a part of the 2018 College Cup squad.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
The Spartan have named three captains this season. Leading MSU will be seniors Jack Beck, Will Perkins and Louis Sala. This is the second-straight season that Beck and Perkins are captains.
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