The game in Ann Arbor is sold out.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer concludes its two-game road swing with the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy against Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium on the Big Ten Network. The Spartans are currently in possession of the trophy after a 2-0 win in East Lansing last season.MSU remains unbeaten with a 6-0-4 overall record. After a pair of ties, MSU got back in the win column with a 3-1 win at Wisconsin on Oct. 6. The Spartans improved to 2-0-2 in league action. Michigan holds a overall 2-3-6 record and stands 1-0-4 in league play.
Dean Linke and Chris Munroe will be on the call for the Big Ten Network.
BATTLE FOR THE BIG BEAR
Two year's ago, the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy returned after a year hiatus. The trophy originated in 2000. MSU leads the series 13-4-4 since 2000. Last season on BTN, 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 34-12-8, including 17-3-4 in East Lansing. In Ann Arbor, MSU is on top 15-7-4. The Wolverines have closed the gap of late, winning five of the last seven 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.
LOOKING AT THE WOLVERINES
Michigan currently stands 2-3-6 overall this season with wins against Cal Baptist and Rutgers. The Wolverines have tied their last three games against Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio State. Michigan's only losses have come against Bowling Green, Creighton and Oakland.
Michigan is tied for third in the league in assists with 10. The Wolverines are eighth in the Big Ten in goals allowed with 14 in 11 games. Bryce Blevins is tied for fifth in the conference in points with eight.
The Wolverines have used two goalkeepers this season in Hayden Evans who played five games, while Isiah Goldson has seen time in seven games. Goldson has allowed seven goals for a 1.08 GAA.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
Michigan State did not suffer a setback in the month of September. MSU was 4-0-3 in September after going 1-0 in August. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan led the way with six points in September off of three goals. He had the game-winning goal in three of MSU's four games.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
After the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 6, five different Spartans have started all 10 games this season for Michigan State, including Zac Kelly, Will Eby, Jonathan Stout, Jack Zugay and Jacob Cromer. Eleven Spartans have played in every game this season. Kelly (900 min), Cromer (863) and Eby (885) led the team in minutes played.
GETTING IN THE W COLUMN
After finishing last season 6-9-2, the Spartans have already matched last season's win total, standing 6-0-4 this year.
Last season, Michigan State was 0-6-2 on the road. The Spartans are already 3-0-2 away from East Lansing in 2023.
PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE FOLKS
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan has his parents in the stands for a big win against Indiana. The Sligo, Ireland native scored the game-winning goal with a penalty kick against Indiana in front of his parents on Sept. 22.
BACK IN THE POLLS (As of 10/8)
Michigan State returns to the polls for the first time since Sept. 3, 2019 when the Spartans were ranked No. 16 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Last week MSU was up to No. 12 in the TopDrawer Soccer Poll and No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. After a pair of ties last week, MSU is No. 22 in the TDS poll and No. 23 in the USC poll.
BEST OF THE BEST (As of 10/5)
Michigan State is 10th in the country in save percentage (.842). Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is 10th in the nation in goals against average (0.67). Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is also among the nation's best, standing second in the nation and first in the Big Ten in game-winning goals with four.
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State historically is among the nation's best in packing DeMartin Stadium. This season, MSU is sixth in the nation in attendance, averaging 2,417 fans per game. The Spartans are third in the Big Ten behind Maryland (2,716) and Indiana (2,531). MSU's largest crowd of the season was the 3,274 fans that packed DeMartin to watch MSU tie Penn State on Oct. 1.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Reigning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jonathan Stout and Jake Spadafora, who was a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team are showing no signs of a sophomore slump. Stout scored the game-tying goal against Oakland in the 88th minute on Sept. 26. Overall, he has three goals for six points. Spadafora also has two goals this season, including on against Oakland on Sept. 26.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State has scored 16 goals this season, and they have been scored by nine different people. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan leads the team with four goals scored. Jonathan Stout now has three goals for six points to stand second. Sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp is third in scoring with one goal and three assists for five points. His goal against Wisconsin on Oct. 6 was his first collegiate goal.
DURING THE DAY
Michigan State is still looking for its first win during the day. The Spartans are 0-0-3 during the day so far this season.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Spartans have not shied from the bright lights this season. MSU is 6-0-1 so far in night games, including its 2-2 tie against Oakland on Sept. 26.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has four shutouts this season, which is the most since Jimmy Hague and the Spartans recorded nine clean sheets in 2018.
Kelly started his first collegiate game against Bowling Green on Aug. 28. He captured his first complete game and clean sheet in MSU's 3-0 win over the Falcons.
He collected his second shutout of the season against Dayton on Sept. 7 and added his third the next game against No. 10 Notre Dame. He earned his first Big Ten shutout against No. 25 Penn State on Oct. 1.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
After being atop the United Soccer Coaches North Region rankings last week, Michigan State has fallen to No. 4 this week after a pair of ties last week. Northwestern has now taken the top spot with an 8-0-2 record.
AROUND THE B1G
Michigan State is third the Big Ten in fewest goals allowed with eight (0.67 gpg) behind Indiana and Penn State. The Spartans are also fourth in points scored with 35, behind 13 goals and nine assists.
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is second in the Big Ten with a 0.70 goals against average and first with 3.80 saves per game.
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is still first in the league in game-winning goals with four. The four goals also makes him tied for fourth in the league. Sophomores Jack Guggemos and Jeremy Sharp are tied for fourth in assists with three each.
LAST TIME OUT
Behind a flurry of first half goals, No. 23 Michigan State men's soccer took care of Wisconsin, 3-1 in Madison on a chilly and windy Friday night.
The Spartans wasted no time getting on the board scoring on a direct kick by sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp in the eighth minute. After a Badger foul, Sharp's long blast floated over the head of Wisconsin goalkeeper Nate Crockford. The goal was Sharp's first of the season to go along with three assists. It was also the first of his Spartan career.
Less than four minutes later, Michigan State increased its lead to 2-0. At exactly the nine-minute mark, there was a Badger foul in the Spartan box. Penalty kick specialist Sean Kerrigan came up to the spot to deliver his third PK of the season. He now leads MSU with four goals this season. All of his goals have been game-winning goals.
The final goal of the half came in the 14th minute. Sophomore forward Johnathan Stout scored his third goal of the season off the pass from Richie Ludwig. The play developed on the right side with Ludwig's pass that found Stout just outside the 6-yard box.
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly was sensational, making six saves in the first half. The six saves was a season high for Kelly.
UP NEXT
After concluding the two-game road trip, the Spartans will then return home to take on Maryland on Oct. 15. On Oct. 20, MSU will take on Northwestern in Evanston. The Wildcats are currently top of the table in the conference.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
