Michigan State University
Penn State
Rensing Captures 100th Career Win
10/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Despite non-stop rain, No. 6 Michigan State men's soccer shut down Penn State, 1-0, at a soggy DeMartin Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The win was the 100th career victory for Spartan head coach Damon Rensing.
MSU Box Score vs. PSU
"I think being 4-0-2 in the Big Ten is the most important thing, but secondly it means I have a lot of people to thank," Rensing said. "Mark Hollis and Shelley Appelbaum have been with me from the start. I have had a great staff - Cale Wassermann, Ben Pirmann and Bret Mollon and other assistants, especially Kylie Stannard who was with me from the start. This is a great university and a great athletic department. The other people I want recognize are Joe Baum and my wife Daune. It isn't easy being a coach's wife."
With the win, the Spartans improve to 10-2-2 overall and 4-0-2 in Big Ten action. The Nittany Lions fall to 2-9-2 overall and 0-6-0 in league play.
The rain had been coming down steadily all day in East Lansing, but the game began on time. The second-half of the doubleheader with the MSU women's game was postponed until Sunday at 2 p.m.
It took both teams a while to figure out how to play in the rainy weather.
Michigan State controlled the run of play for much of the first half. The Spartans finally broke through in the 30th minute. The play began with junior midfielder John Freitag controlling the ball working around the PSU defense and the growing puddles. Freitag got the ball to senior midfielder Brad Centala. Junior forward Ryan Sierakowski eventually took control and slid the ball past PSU goalkeeper Josh Levine for the 1-0 lead.
"I have never played in a game like that, and I never thought that I would. It was awesome. We played as one, and really stuck together and fought to get the win," Sierakowski said. "I want to give credit to Coach Rensing. He is the best coach I have ever had."
In the second half, the Nittany Lion offense would not go away, out-shooting MSU 4-3 in the second half.
Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Jimmy Hague earned his ninth shutout of the season. The Spartans have won seven games 1-0 this year.
Michigan State will conclude the two-game homestand against in-state rival Oakland on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
Spartan Notes
- The 4-0-2 Big Ten start is the best in school history. The most B1G wins that MSU has ever had is five in both 2008 and 2014.
- With the win against Penn State, head coach Damon Rensing captured his 100th career wins. Overall. He is 100-60-24 at MSU.
- Michigan State is now 14-0-3 in its last 17 games in DeMartin Stadium, including 4-0-1 this season and 9-0-2 last year.
