2023-10-11 02:42:44
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Defense was the name of the game, as No. 19 Michigan State men’s soccer battled to a 0-0 draw with Michigan Tuesday night at U-M Soccer Stadium. With the tie, the Spartans retain the Big Bear Trophy for another year.
“We started out brilliantly. The first 15-20 minutes we were very good,” MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. “I don’t know if it was tired legs, but we just missed on some execution. It wasn’t for lack of effort or focus; it just wasn’t quite there. Sometimes that happens over a stretch of 11 games. But at the end of the day we defended and kept the shutout. I think that our goals of trying to win a Big Ten Championship are still in front of us. Getting a tie on the road isn’t the worst thing, and we get to bring the Big Bear home.”
With the win, the Spartans improve to 6-0-5 this season and 2-0-3 in league action, which is second in the Big Ten standings. Michigan State, Northwestern and Michigan are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the league.
MSU leads the series 13-4-5 since 2000 when the Big Bear Trophy began.
Michigan State held possession early on, earning a corner kick and drawing three Wolverine fouls. Sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp had the first shot for the Spartans in the 19th minute.
At the half, Michigan had out-shot Michigan State 4-2
In the second half, neither team took control with possession. With less than 20 minutes remaining, the Wolverines tested MSU redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly several times. In the 76th minute Alex Waggoner forced Kelly to make a diving save to keep the game scoreless.
Waggoner pushed Kelly once again in the 84th minute. This time Kelly made a finger tip save to keep the clean sheet. The shutout was his fifth of the season.
“Jeremy Sharp was excellent tonight, not just defensively but moving forward. Will Eby doesn’t play like a freshman. Elijah (Howe) organizes and (Jacob) Cromer has been solid. You can’t talk about those four without Kelly in goal and (Cristiano) Bruletti and (Jack) Zugay in front of them,” Rensing added.
For the game, MSU was out-shot 10-6, while the Wolverines had five corner kicks to four by the Spartans. Kelly made four saves on the night.
The Spartans return home to host Maryland on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. On Sunday, Michigan State will also celebrate Alumni Day.
Fans can contact the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at [email protected] for questions or more information.
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