The Battle for the Big Bear first began in 2000.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer returns home to take on Michigan in the 25th annual Battle for the Big Bear on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at DeMartin. With only three regular-season games remaining, Big Ten standings are on the line.
Last time out, Michigan State fell to Indiana 3-1 in Bloomington on Oct. 18, falling to 5-6-2 overall and 4-3-0 on 4-3-0 in Big Ten play. Michigan stands 6-3-4 overall and 1-3-3 in league action.
Dean Linke and Patrick Doody are on the call for the Big Ten Network.
BATTLE FOR THE BIG BEAR
This is the 25th anniversary for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy. The trophy originated in 2000. MSU leads the series 14-5-4 since 2000. The Spartans currently have possession of the trophy after the teams tied 0-0 in Ann Arbor last season on BTN. In 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan State came out on top with a 2-0 win behind goals from Greyson Mercer and Jonathan Stout.
The bear trophy was purchased in 1999 by former U-M head coach Steve Burns on his way back from a trip to Canada and was installed as the rivalry's trophy during the inaugural match between the Spartans the Wolverines in 2000.
Michigan State leads the overall series with Michigan 34-12-9, including 17-3-4 in East Lansing. The Wolverines have closed the gap of late, winning five of the last eight games. With the COVID-19 shortened season, MSU and U-M met three times with the Wolverines winning all three, including a 1-0 win in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan also won both meetings in 2019. In 2021, the teams battled to a 2-2 double overtime tie in Ann Arbor.
BRACING FOR OFFENSE
With his brace against No. 25 Wisconsin, senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan led the Spartans to a 2-0 win over the Badgers on Oct. 11. It was the first time this season that the Spartans had scored multiple goals in a game. Kerrigan is now second on the team in scoring with three goals. He is first on the team in shots on goal with 11.
FINDING HIS GROOVE
Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout leads the team in scoring with four goals and two assist for 10 points. He now has points in four of the Spartans' last six games. Stout has now reached double figures in scoring all three seasons that he has been at Michigan State with 12 as a freshman and 10 as a sophomore.
Sophomore forward Richie Ludwig, senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, junior midfielder Jack Guggemos, sophomore defender Will Eby and freshman forward Mohamed Saad have also found the back of the net this season. Junior midfielder Cristiano Bruletti scored his first goal as a Spartan against Indiana on Oct. 18 on a penalty kick.
LOOKING AT THE WOLVERINES
Michigan stands a 6-3-4 overall this season and holds a 1-3-3 mark in the Big Ten. With six points, the Wolverines are ninth in the Big Ten standings looking to earn a top-seven spot in the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan has lost two-straight games, suffering its first two shutouts of the season against Indiana and Northwestern.
Beto Soto is fourth in the Big Ten in points this season with 15 off of three goals and nine assists, leading the Big Ten. Bryce Blevins is tied for eighth in scoring with four goals and five assists for 13 points. Isaiah Goldson played in goal in the loss to the Wildcats. He has played in nine games this season, allowing 14 goals for a 1.56 GAA. He has made 30 saves this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Michigan Steate leads the overall series lead against Michigan 34-12-9. In East Lansing, the Spartans leads 17-3-4. In Ann Arbor, MSU still is on top in the series 15-7-4. On neutral territory, the series is tied 2-2-0. In the last five games, U-M has a slight lead 2-1-2.
Last season in Ann Arbor, No. 19 Michigan State battle to a 0-0 tie with Michigan on Oct. 10, 2023. 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.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State fell to first-place Indiana, 3-1, Friday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
The Spartans cut into the Indiana lead in the 42nd minute. This time an Indiana was called for a hand ball in the box. Junior defender Cristiano Bruletti converted the PK for his first goal of the season. It was also his first career penalty kick.
WRACKING UP THE CLEAN SHEETS
Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Zac Kelly has earned five shutouts this season, including four in Big Ten play. He now has 10 career shutouts in two complete seasons for the Spartans. He has a 1.18 GAA this season and a 1.04 career GAA.
PUTTING IN THE TIME
Of all the field players, redshirt-junior defender Josh Adam leads the team in minutes player with 1,170. He is one of six Spartans to top the 1,000-minute mark along with goalkeeper Zac Kelly (1,151), defender Jeremy Sharp (1,097), defender Brandon Munson (1,081), sophomore Will Eby (1,046) and junior Cristiano Bruletti (1,008).
IN CONFERENCE ACTION
The Spartans may not be lighting up the scoreboard in Big Ten play, but they have allowed only seven goals in seven games. Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Zac Kelly has played all 630 minutes in league play for a 1.00 GAA. He has made 22 saves in B1G games. Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout is tied for eighth in the league in goals scored in B1G games with three.
FRESHMAN FRENZY
Freshman defender Brandon Munson has made the most of his brief time as a Spartan. He has played in all 13 games, starting 12. Against Washington on Sept. 13, his bicycle kick back save prevented the Huskies from scoring and was the No. 1 play on ESPN SportsCenter. Fellow freshman forward Mohamed Saad has also played in all 13 games, starting five. He has scored one goal this season against Oregon State.
PACKING THE STANDS
Michigan State is 14th in the nation in attendance this season, averaging 1,736 fans per game this season. That stands fourth in the Big Ten behind Indiana (3,028), which is third, Maryland (2,243), which is eighth and Washington, which is 12th (1,839).
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Through 13 games this season, MSU has used eight different starting lineups. In the first 13 games, four Spartans have started every in Zac Kelly, Cristiano Bruletti, Jeremy Sharp, and Josh Adam.
PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
Michigan State's game against No. 25 Wisconsin was the Spartans fifth game against a ranked team. MSU is 2-2-1 against ranked teams this season with a win against No. 15 UCLA. MSU has losses against No. 12/7 Maryland and No. 5 Oregon State. To open the season, the Spartans tied No. 25 SIUE, 1-1.
HERMANN TROPHY
Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout was named to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. Stout is the first Spartan to make the list since Giuseppe Barone and Patrick Nielsen were named to the Hermann Watch List in 2019.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
