Men's Soccer Hosts Michigan on Sunday
10/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 24, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's soccer team will take on Michigan at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 25) at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans, 8-4-1 overall and 1-3 in Big Ten play, enter Sunday's match after consecutive wins over Indiana and Bowling Green.
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The Last Time Out: Michigan State got two-second half goals just over two minutes apart and defeated Bowling Green, 2-1, on Wednesday (Oct. 21) afternoon at DeMartin Stadium. Cyrus Saydee scored at the 49:28 mark and Jeff Ricondo followed with his fifth goal of the season just over two minutes later to spot MSU a 2-0 lead. Avery Steinlage made seven saves, including six in the second half, for the Spartans.
Series History: The Spartans are 26-3-5 all time against Michigan, including 12-1-3 in games played in East Lansing. Michigan State enters Sunday's match having won five of the last six and eight of the last 11 meetings between the schools. The last U-M win in the series came in 2003 in East Lansing.
Common Opponents: The Spartans and Wolverines share 10 common opponents this season and each have a 6-2 record against the eight teams the two schools have already played. MSU and U-M have defeated Lipscomb, Wright State, Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Valparaiso while each fell to Penn State. MSU defeated Indiana and fell to Wisconsin while Michigan did the opposite.
Conference Honors: Juniors Jeff Ricondo and Avery Steinlage were named Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Monday by the conference office. Ricondo picked up the first weekly conference accolade of his career after scoring the game-winner against IU while Steinlage's eight-save performance against the Hoosiers earned him his fourth career weekly award. MSU's sweep of the weekly awards was the first for the program since Nov. 3, 2008 when Louis Stephens III and Steinlage each garnered the honors.
Defense Still Leads Conference: The Spartan defense has allowed a league-low eight goals this season - three less than second-place Ohio State. MSU's team goals-against average of 0.59 also leads the conference. Just three times in the last 25 games has MSU allowed more than one goal while it has posted 17 shutouts in that span.
Steinlage Third on MSU Shutout List: Avery Steinlage's sixth shutout of the season last week against IU gave him 19 for his career, moving him into a tie with Jason Tillman (2003-06) and Gary Wilkinson (1974-76) for third place on the all-time MSU shutout list.
Up Next: MSU will host Notre Dame on Wednesday at 2:30 at DeMartin Stadium.
