Post-Game Quotes: Western Michigan
11/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Michigan State Head Coach Damon Rensing
Opening statement...
First off, I need to calm down here a little bit, but first off I just want to congratulate Chad and Western on a great season. It's always tough when these games end like this, but he's definitely up for one of the coach of the year awards, and they've had a great run. We've had great battles with these guys over the last four years, and their a class act. I wish them, and their seniors all the best. As far as our guys tonight, I don't think I could be much more proud. The way we played the game tonight in very tough conditions. It was an emotional game, and I thought that we had the combination of playing good soccer along with dealing with a competitive, emotional environment. We've got to be able to play on that edge and still execute and yet we went down a goal, so it certainly didn't look like the day was going our way.
With these leaders and these players stuck together and found a way to win a game in these tough, when I say conditions the field was awesome. Our grounds people are the best, but I mean it's just an emotional rivalry game. I thought we were able to do both so certainly want to commend our players, and we are ecstatic about getting to our third quarter final in nine years. I think that's a testament to our program, our support that we get from our administration and our university.
On being back in Elite Eight for first time since 2014...
You make it sound like it was such a long time ago. For coaches, we always get next year, but these guys don't always get those opportunities, so I'm always happy for the players. I think this is something that they've wanted and maybe that's not where they want to end, but I'm more happy for the players and the staff. I should always mention them because I've got two of the best assistant coaches in the country (Cale Wassermann and Ben Pirmann) and the job they did to help them prepare was phenomenal. I'm happy for the players. It feels great. I think again it shows some consistency in our program. It shows the strength of the Big Ten conference. When you play and battle in the Big Ten, every game and every year that's going to prepare you for an NCAA tournament game. So we are just happy and grateful that we are here.
On the difference of playing WMU in the tournament vs. regular season...
We knew they were going to be tough in October, it was 1-0. It was tough today. I think the difference is when there is a regular season, there is less at stake. We can take it or lose that game, and so at times we weren't as calm and relaxed on the ball, which is what made us really successful in that game and that's part of it. That's going to be a learning process for us because every game we get is going to be more intense, and we've got to figure out that balance between the two, but I think we did a pretty good job of that.
On how hard it was to beat Western Michigan after defeating them in the regular season...
It's hard. It's hard. I think in some of these games, the rivalries, everyone knows each other; you see that in some of the other games in the NCAA tournament. Probably we're expected to win these games so the pressure is on us. I think you can sense that and you can feel that so again, I give our kids a ton of credit for withstanding that pressure, accepting that responsibility and finding a way to win.
On if this particular win means more to him...
For these guys. For these guys, for our program, for our alums; yes, it does.
On if WMU fans were more vicious or energetic than other fans...
No, they're great. They're spirited, they're good. They were good, they were vocal. They were awesome. I think it was a great, great showcase for soccer in the state of Michigan between these two programs that have a lot of kids that are from the state of Michigan on both teams.
Closing statement...
I would lastly like to thank the state of Michigan crowd that came out. There was an awesome amount of people here. We had a great Thanksgiving weekend crowd, probably from all parts of the state, rooting for either Western and Michigan State. Our fans are great. We really appreciate their support and what an awesome atmosphere. Thanks to Craig Bush. We got to play this game at night under the lights which I thought added more to that atmosphere.
Michigan State senior defender Jimmy Fiscus
On banding together with his team...
It means a lot especially coming off of such a tough break for us in the Big Ten championship. I think it shows how close our team is. It means a lot that I get to be the captain of this team, and I tell them every game `I can't believe I get to see you guys another week' because my time is coming to an end and I'm cherishing every moment that I can get with these guys.
On trying to defend the lead with five minutes left...
It's nerve racking, but I just have to commend our guys. I think everybody put their body on the line and you can see how hard our guys were working to get everything out of the box and protect our goalie. I think that just shows the willingness and competitiveness of our team. Even in the last seconds when we had to make some big stops, they threw everything they had at us and we stood strong, I think that just compares to earlier in our season too.
Michigan State junior forward Hunter Barone
On going into the half tied with Western Michigan...
I remember when I was on the field, I was thinking 'We got to get one before halftime to change the whole momentum of the game.' I think even leading up to their goal, they had a lot of momentum. Obviously after they scored, it kind of shifted and them having such a big crowd here, too. I think that obviously getting the goal kind of got our fans into the game more and gave us a lot more confidence going into the second half.
Western Michigan Head Coach Chad Wiseman
Opening statement...
First, I'd like to congratulate Michigan State and wish them the best of luck as they advance to the Elite Eight. They'll do well, and they've had a good season. On our performance for today, I thought we did really good. I thought we did well. Pepe Martinez to score that first goal and go up 1-0; that was a great individual effort - one of the cheekiest goals you'll see all year. It kind of hurt to concede one late in the first half, kind of took the wind out of us. I give credit to Michigan State there. Again, we made an error and they countered that error and put it in the back of the net. We felt good going in at halftime 1-1 with them. We weren't able to find a goal early in the season against them, we broke that. I thought we kind of had the game being played at our terms.
In the second half, another error on the set piece and Michigan State, well they're known for reaching goals in some set pieces throughout the course of the year, and they did just that too. I'm very, very proud of the fight that we had in the last fifteen minutes. I thought we generated four to five chances to try and find an equalizer for these guys. A little bit of that was Michigan State bending and not breaking, little bit of that was unlucky from us. All in all, I don't think we could ask for a better season. The guys are 17-4-1 and three of their four losses were against teams that are still playing in the Elite Eight next week. I'm very, very proud of them and these two seniors (Zach Bock and Drew Shepherd) next to me. They came in here for four years, Drew (Shepherd) five years ago. They basically changed the culture of WMU Bronco Men's Soccer. They are very impressive young men and had unbelievable careers. I'm very happy to have them on my side.
On if he saw anything different from the Spartans this game from the last game in October...
Well, the fields aren't in great shape. It's not 70 degrees. The game is always going to be played a little bit different. The ball's a little bit heavier, and the ball doesn't come off your foot as strong. One thing about Michigan State, usually, you know what's coming at you. It's just a matter of whether you can stop it or not. A couple of their players, I thought DeJuan Jones was pretty dangerous today, coming at us. I thought we did our best with him and (Ryan) Sierakowski up top. It's his first game he doesn't score a game-winner against us, that was a goal for us. I think we felt pretty good knowing what was coming at us. It was a pretty even game at the end. I give them credit for finding one more goal than us.
On the opportunities near end of the game...
Well I'm sure Damon (Rensing) would tell you too, it's no secret, we play the ball up in the air to J-Mac (Jay McIntosh) and Brandon (Bye), they know where it's going to go; it's a matter if they can handle it or not. I thought we did a really good job winning some of the first balls in the box and the ball just didn't fall right for the second chance to really take it. I think Jimmy (Hague) made a couple good saves for the Spartans as well. We threw everything at them and Drew (Shephard) was in the box a couple times in the last 10 minutes. We won a couple set pieces here and there and probably dodged a couple bullets on the counter. Let's be honest, when you're pushing that many numbers forward, State missed one just wide but we kind of knew that was going to come. It really felt like it was going to come; we thought going into it that two goals was going to win the game and that was kind of our goal. I'll comment on that too, Bronco Nation, it's Big Ten country over here. There was a heck of a lot of Broncos out there today and I'm very, very proud of the fan base. I think these two guys (Bock and Shepherd) are big parts of creating that culture, that atmosphere. The community, the athletic department, and the university really rallied around these guys here. They followed them on their away games and they certainly came out to all of our home games. We've had two games against Michigan State, and I think combined we may have had about 6,000 people. That's pretty cool with it only being 80 miles apart from each other.
Western Michigan forward Zach Bock
On the incredible run that they've had this year...
Just the way that we've had 25 guys buy into this season, it's really something incredible. We went from a spring season where we didn't have one goal for, and we were coming into this fall like, 'Are we even going to compete for a MAC tournament?' Just how far we've come, in one year with 25 guys that all bought in, we turned the season around. We didn't know if we were going to be a tournament team, to a season where we broke almost every single Bronco record that there is. There's nothing to hang our heads on here. Even as our careers draw to an end, we're smiling up here. We know that we've accomplished a lot this year and we've got to play with 25 guys that we all really enjoyed this year.
Western Michigan redshirt senior goalkeeper Drew Shepherd
On the incredible run that they've had this year...
It has been incredible. Like Chad (Wiseman) said, I've been here for five years. I've been with these guys for five years and I've seen where this program has come from. Heck, we've traveled and maybe 1,000+ fans came to this game. That would never have happened five years ago. Looking back at it all, it's never fun to lose and this one stings a bit. If I would've known that this was how I was going to go out five years ago, I'd be happy with it. It's been an incredible run and I couldn't be happier with the guys. Seeing how far they've come and the progressions we've made in this program. We've made this program into a Sweet Sixteen team and not many people can say that. It was a heck of a run.
On the fan base...
I've never been so fired up in a game from hearing that (fan base). They gave us the energy and five years ago that would've never happened. Again, it's just so incredible to see how far this program has come. I'm just so happy that I was able to be a part of that.
