Men's Soccer Receives No. 3 Seed in NCAA Tournament
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's soccer team has received the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament as it was announced on Monday, Nov. 17. The Spartans will host either Oakland or Kentucky on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.
"We're excited to come away with the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament," said head coach Damon Rensing. "I think it's a credit to the players, a credit to the Big Ten Conference, a credit to our schedule and the results against those...teams on the schedule.
"The other thing I'd like to point out is that the Big Ten is one of the top conferences in the country. I think that showed with three teams seeded in the Top 5 and six of the nine Big Ten men's soccer teams are in the field."
Kentucky will host a first round match with Oakland on Thursday, Nov. 20. The winner of the match will travel to DeMartin Stadium to face the top-seeded Spartans.
"I think to earn a seed and to earn home games up through the Elite Eight is huge for us," said senior captain Ryan Keener. "It's obviously an honor just to get in the tournament. Thinking back to years past, going into the selection show just hoping to see your name called and then to see the three this year, it's really special to see how far we've come.
"As far as the team goes and where we're at with that...obviously everyone that makes the tournament is very good."
This is the 17th all-time and third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance for MSU. The Spartans are 18-10-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including two co-championships (1967, 1968) and four title game appearances.
This is the team's fifth NCAA appearance under head coach Damon Rensing. The Spartans have posted a 5-4 record in NCAA Tournament games under his guidance.
"I think there is a mindset we have to have," said senior captain Fatai Alashe, "You have to take it one game at a time. When you get the three seed, people are pretty excited about it and that's a good thing for us. It's another thing to not get too excited and keep your head straight to be able to go one game at a time."
Last season, the team advanced to the Elite Eight and was knocked out by eventual National Champion Notre Dame in a 2-1 defeat on Dec. 7. The Spartans tied the Fighting Irish, who were announced as the No. 1 overall seed for the 2014 NCAA Tournament, earlier this season 1-1 in South Bend.
As the No. 3 overall seed, Michigan State has the potential to host games through the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals on Dec. 5 or 6. The 2014 Men's College Cup (NCAA Tournament Semifinals and Finals) will be hosted in Cary, North Carolina at WakeMed Soccer Park on Dec. 12 and 14.
"Anytime you can sleep in your own bed, guys get to be comfortable in their surroundings," said Rensing. "You know your routine at this time of year. When you do go on the road, that's the only focus that you have. My staff and I will have to be smart on how we get our guys prepared and make sure our only focus at home is who we play on Sunday."
