Sunday, November 10
4 PM ET
Michigan State University
vs
Michigan
Spartan Soccer Opens B1G Tournament at Michigan Sunday
11/9/2019 12:37:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Third-seeded MSU will travel to sixth-seeded Michigan.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 6-seeded Michigan State men's soccer opens up Big Ten Tournament action taking on No. 3-seeded Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Chris Doran and Jason Garey on the call.
MSU is now 3-11-3 and was 3-4-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Michigan is 9-4-4 overall and finiished 4-1-3 in league contests.
The Spartans look to halt a four-game losing streak. Michigan State has been out-scored 5-0 during that streak.
If available, live video and live stats links will be at www.msuspartans.com.
MSU VS. UM TOURNAMENT EDITION
The Spartans and Wolverines have met in the Big Ten Tournament four times, in a series that is tied at 2-2. Each of the four games have been decided by just one goal, including the last meeting in the Big Ten Tournament Finals on Nov. 11, 2012. Michigan State outlasted Michigan, 2-1, in overtime to capture the program's third Big Ten Tournament title.
STAYING IN THE GAME
With a rash of injuries this season, Michigan State has now had only two players start all 17 games, including junior midfielder Michael Miller and redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Morse. Seven players have seen action in all 17 games: Miller, Morse, sophomore Farai Mutatu, redshirt-sophomore Alex Shterenberg, senior Michael Pimlott, senior Cody Sweatte and sophomore Olu Ogunwale.
BARONE LEGACY
Senior Giuseppe Barone is the fourth member of the Barone family to don the Green and White. He joins Hunter, who was a senior last season as well as former MSU players Mark (2008-11) Domenic (2008-12). Giuseppe is the most decorated Barone, earning 2018 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and All-American honors in 2018, as well as Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2016. Domenic was named second-team all-Big Ten in 2010.
SPARTANS VS. WOLVERINES SERIES HISTORY
The Spartans lead the all-time series with the Wolverines, 32-9-7, posting a dominating 18-1-4 record prior to 2000, as UM was a club team up until 2000 when it adds men's soccer as a varsity sport. Since 2000, MSU leads the series, 12-6-2. In matches played in Ann Arbor, the Spartans have an overall advantage, 14-4-3, including 5-4-1 since 2000. On Oct. 29, Michigan earned a 2-0 win over MSU, behind a pair of first-half goals by Nebojsa Popovic.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
The Spartans play their rivals the Michigan Wolverines in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor. This will be the second time the two teams have met this season, as they played on Oct. 29. In that game, Michigan shutout MSU 2-0. Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Nebojsa Popovic scored both goals. His first goal was in the 7th minute off of a corner and his second was in the 37th minute with an assist from Marc Ybarra.
The Wolverines are led by Popovic (10g,3a) and sophomore forward Derick Broche (4g, 2a). Popovic is by far the leader in points on the squad, he currently has 23. That's 13 more than the next leader, which is Broche and he has 10 this season. Michigan is outscoring their opponents 24-12. They've also taken 211 shots per game, their opponents have taken 121. Senior goalkeeper Andrew Verdi has started every game for the Wolverines this year. He's recorded 32 saves this season.
Verdi also captured postseason honors after being named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State's 12 goals have been scored by nine different players, including first-time goal scorers Conner George, Gianni Ferri, Olu Ogunwale, Alex Shterenberg and Alaa Algahim. Farai Mutatu, Michael Miller and Shterenberg are the only two Spartans with two goals.
EARNING THE POINTS
In the Spartans' win against Ohio State on Oct. 19, six different players earned a point in the 3-1 win. Freshman forward Conner George and junior midfielder Michael Miller both had three points. George had the game-winning goal and an assist, while Miller had a trio of assists. George earned his first collegiate points in the win against the Buckeyes.
LAST TIME AGAINST MICHIGAN
In the annual battle for the Big Bear Trophy, Michigan State men's soccer dropped a 2-0 decision to Michigan on Oct. 29 at U-M Soccer Complex.
The Wolverines re-captured the trophy for the first time since 2015. MSU won games in East Lansing in 2016 and in Ann Arbor in 2017, while the teams tied in East Lansing last season.
Michigan took the 1-0 lead in the 10th minute when during a scrum in the box Marc Jbarra and Derick Broche found leading-scorer Nebojsa Popovic.
The Wolverines upped its lead to 2-0 with Popovic's second goal of the game in the 38th minute. Popovic took advantage of a Spartan turnover to get the ball past redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Morse.
NIELSEN EARNS ALL-BIG TEN HONOR
Redshirt-junior defender Patrick Nielsen was named to the All-Big Ten second team, as the Big Ten postseason awards were announced by the league Friday.
Nielsen, who hails from Copenhagen, Denmark, earned his second-straight All-B1G honor after capturing first-team honors last season. The defender is in his second season with Michigan State after transferring from Cincinnati. Nielsen, who battled injury all season, returned to play during Big Ten action, playing in all eight league contests. He was part of the Spartan defense that allowed only six goals in their final five league contests. He also added an assist in MSU's 3-1 win over Ohio State on Oct. 19.
During an injury-plagued season, this is the first time since 1998 that Michigan State has not had at least one first-team selection. The Spartans played virtually the whole season without defending Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Giuseppe Barone.
Michigan's Nebojsa Popovic was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Indiana's Jack Maher, captured Defensive Player of the Year. Michigan's Andrew Verdi was the Goalkeeper of the Year with Penn State's Aaron Molly earning Midfielder of the Year honors. IU's Aidan Morris was the Freshman of the Year, while Indiana's Todd Yeagley was named Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
The Big Ten also recognized nine Sportsmanship Award honorees. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Senior forward Cody Sweatte earned the Sportsmanship Award for the Spartans.
RAINY DAYS
The Oct. 11 game against Maryland was a rain-drenched affair that ended in a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes. Due to the field conditions, the referees called the game and declared the tie with both teams taking the point in Big Ten action. Senior midfielder Michael Pimlott found the back of the net for the Spartans in the first half, but the Terps found the equalizer in the 78th minute.
CLOSE CALLS
Michigan State has already played five overtime games in its first 17 outings. Last season, the Spartans played four overtime games all season, going 0-0-4 in those games. This year, MSU is 1-1-3 in extra time. Seven of the Spartans' nine of defeats have been by one goal. The Spartans have lost six games 1-0, including three to ranked teams in No. 10 Indiana, No. 13 Washington and No. 20 Notre Dame.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Morse is among the leaders in several categories in the Big Ten. He is first in the saves with 74, just ahead of Wisconsin's Dean Cowdroy, who has 57 saves. Morse is also sixth in the league in goals against average (1.20). Morse also is third in save percentage (.779).
Sophomore forward Farai Mutatu is third in the conference in shots with 46, averaging 2.71 spg.
THE FUTURE IS NOW
As Michigan State fought through injuries all season, several young Spartans have seen playing time. Through 17 games, seven true freshmen have played with Dante Morrissette, Alaa Algahim, Conner George, Colton Stanley, Nick Stone and Gianni Ferri all getting starts. Overall, 15 underclassmen have played this season for MSU.
WELCOME BACK
Redshirt-junior defender Patrick Nielsen made his first appearance of the 2019 season against Rutgers. Nielsen who has been battling injury played nine minutes at the end of the game against the Scarlet Knights. He made his first start of the season against Wisconsin on Oct. 6 and played 71 minutes against No. 25 Maryland on Oct. 11. He started his eighth-straight game against Indiana on Nov. 3, playing all 90 minutes.
NO RELATION
Despite the exact same spelling freshman midfielder Conner George is no relation on senior guard from the MSU men's basketball team (George's mother, Cathy, is also the MSU volleyball coach). George the freshman forward hails from Louisville, Kentucky.
TURNING PRO
Three former Michigan State men's soccer players were drafted on the first day of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in Chicago on Jan. 11, 2019. Senior forward DeJuan Jones led the way as the 11th overall pick, drafted by the New England Revolution.
For the first time ever, the Spartans had two players drafted in the first round as fellow senior forward Ryan Sierakowski was drafted 23rd overall by the Portland Timbers. Senior goalkeeper Jimmy Hague was the sixth pick of the second round (30th overall), taken by FC Cincinnati. Hague will see a familiar face when he arrives in Cincinnati with former Spartan great Fatai Alashe on the roster.
In 2018, Ken Krolicki was the first Spartan drafted since defender Zach Carroll in 2016 when he was chosen as the 53rd overall pick, chosen as the seventh player in the third round. In 2014, three Spartans signed to play for MLS with Fatai Alashe being chosen fourth overall, the highest ever for MSU. Jay Chapman a signed a homegrown contract with Toronto FC, while Adam Montague was taken in the third round by the Vancouver Whitecaps.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
This season, Michigan State will have three captains in seniors Giuseppe Barone, Michael Pimlott and redshirt-junior Patrick Nielsen.
MSU is now 3-11-3 and was 3-4-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Michigan is 9-4-4 overall and finiished 4-1-3 in league contests.
The Spartans look to halt a four-game losing streak. Michigan State has been out-scored 5-0 during that streak.
If available, live video and live stats links will be at www.msuspartans.com.
MSU VS. UM TOURNAMENT EDITION
The Spartans and Wolverines have met in the Big Ten Tournament four times, in a series that is tied at 2-2. Each of the four games have been decided by just one goal, including the last meeting in the Big Ten Tournament Finals on Nov. 11, 2012. Michigan State outlasted Michigan, 2-1, in overtime to capture the program's third Big Ten Tournament title.
STAYING IN THE GAME
With a rash of injuries this season, Michigan State has now had only two players start all 17 games, including junior midfielder Michael Miller and redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Morse. Seven players have seen action in all 17 games: Miller, Morse, sophomore Farai Mutatu, redshirt-sophomore Alex Shterenberg, senior Michael Pimlott, senior Cody Sweatte and sophomore Olu Ogunwale.
BARONE LEGACY
Senior Giuseppe Barone is the fourth member of the Barone family to don the Green and White. He joins Hunter, who was a senior last season as well as former MSU players Mark (2008-11) Domenic (2008-12). Giuseppe is the most decorated Barone, earning 2018 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and All-American honors in 2018, as well as Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2016. Domenic was named second-team all-Big Ten in 2010.
SPARTANS VS. WOLVERINES SERIES HISTORY
The Spartans lead the all-time series with the Wolverines, 32-9-7, posting a dominating 18-1-4 record prior to 2000, as UM was a club team up until 2000 when it adds men's soccer as a varsity sport. Since 2000, MSU leads the series, 12-6-2. In matches played in Ann Arbor, the Spartans have an overall advantage, 14-4-3, including 5-4-1 since 2000. On Oct. 29, Michigan earned a 2-0 win over MSU, behind a pair of first-half goals by Nebojsa Popovic.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
The Spartans play their rivals the Michigan Wolverines in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor. This will be the second time the two teams have met this season, as they played on Oct. 29. In that game, Michigan shutout MSU 2-0. Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Nebojsa Popovic scored both goals. His first goal was in the 7th minute off of a corner and his second was in the 37th minute with an assist from Marc Ybarra.
The Wolverines are led by Popovic (10g,3a) and sophomore forward Derick Broche (4g, 2a). Popovic is by far the leader in points on the squad, he currently has 23. That's 13 more than the next leader, which is Broche and he has 10 this season. Michigan is outscoring their opponents 24-12. They've also taken 211 shots per game, their opponents have taken 121. Senior goalkeeper Andrew Verdi has started every game for the Wolverines this year. He's recorded 32 saves this season.
Verdi also captured postseason honors after being named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State's 12 goals have been scored by nine different players, including first-time goal scorers Conner George, Gianni Ferri, Olu Ogunwale, Alex Shterenberg and Alaa Algahim. Farai Mutatu, Michael Miller and Shterenberg are the only two Spartans with two goals.
EARNING THE POINTS
In the Spartans' win against Ohio State on Oct. 19, six different players earned a point in the 3-1 win. Freshman forward Conner George and junior midfielder Michael Miller both had three points. George had the game-winning goal and an assist, while Miller had a trio of assists. George earned his first collegiate points in the win against the Buckeyes.
LAST TIME AGAINST MICHIGAN
In the annual battle for the Big Bear Trophy, Michigan State men's soccer dropped a 2-0 decision to Michigan on Oct. 29 at U-M Soccer Complex.
The Wolverines re-captured the trophy for the first time since 2015. MSU won games in East Lansing in 2016 and in Ann Arbor in 2017, while the teams tied in East Lansing last season.
Michigan took the 1-0 lead in the 10th minute when during a scrum in the box Marc Jbarra and Derick Broche found leading-scorer Nebojsa Popovic.
The Wolverines upped its lead to 2-0 with Popovic's second goal of the game in the 38th minute. Popovic took advantage of a Spartan turnover to get the ball past redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Morse.
NIELSEN EARNS ALL-BIG TEN HONOR
Redshirt-junior defender Patrick Nielsen was named to the All-Big Ten second team, as the Big Ten postseason awards were announced by the league Friday.
Nielsen, who hails from Copenhagen, Denmark, earned his second-straight All-B1G honor after capturing first-team honors last season. The defender is in his second season with Michigan State after transferring from Cincinnati. Nielsen, who battled injury all season, returned to play during Big Ten action, playing in all eight league contests. He was part of the Spartan defense that allowed only six goals in their final five league contests. He also added an assist in MSU's 3-1 win over Ohio State on Oct. 19.
During an injury-plagued season, this is the first time since 1998 that Michigan State has not had at least one first-team selection. The Spartans played virtually the whole season without defending Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Giuseppe Barone.
Michigan's Nebojsa Popovic was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Indiana's Jack Maher, captured Defensive Player of the Year. Michigan's Andrew Verdi was the Goalkeeper of the Year with Penn State's Aaron Molly earning Midfielder of the Year honors. IU's Aidan Morris was the Freshman of the Year, while Indiana's Todd Yeagley was named Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
The Big Ten also recognized nine Sportsmanship Award honorees. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Senior forward Cody Sweatte earned the Sportsmanship Award for the Spartans.
RAINY DAYS
The Oct. 11 game against Maryland was a rain-drenched affair that ended in a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes. Due to the field conditions, the referees called the game and declared the tie with both teams taking the point in Big Ten action. Senior midfielder Michael Pimlott found the back of the net for the Spartans in the first half, but the Terps found the equalizer in the 78th minute.
CLOSE CALLS
Michigan State has already played five overtime games in its first 17 outings. Last season, the Spartans played four overtime games all season, going 0-0-4 in those games. This year, MSU is 1-1-3 in extra time. Seven of the Spartans' nine of defeats have been by one goal. The Spartans have lost six games 1-0, including three to ranked teams in No. 10 Indiana, No. 13 Washington and No. 20 Notre Dame.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Morse is among the leaders in several categories in the Big Ten. He is first in the saves with 74, just ahead of Wisconsin's Dean Cowdroy, who has 57 saves. Morse is also sixth in the league in goals against average (1.20). Morse also is third in save percentage (.779).
Sophomore forward Farai Mutatu is third in the conference in shots with 46, averaging 2.71 spg.
THE FUTURE IS NOW
As Michigan State fought through injuries all season, several young Spartans have seen playing time. Through 17 games, seven true freshmen have played with Dante Morrissette, Alaa Algahim, Conner George, Colton Stanley, Nick Stone and Gianni Ferri all getting starts. Overall, 15 underclassmen have played this season for MSU.
WELCOME BACK
Redshirt-junior defender Patrick Nielsen made his first appearance of the 2019 season against Rutgers. Nielsen who has been battling injury played nine minutes at the end of the game against the Scarlet Knights. He made his first start of the season against Wisconsin on Oct. 6 and played 71 minutes against No. 25 Maryland on Oct. 11. He started his eighth-straight game against Indiana on Nov. 3, playing all 90 minutes.
NO RELATION
Despite the exact same spelling freshman midfielder Conner George is no relation on senior guard from the MSU men's basketball team (George's mother, Cathy, is also the MSU volleyball coach). George the freshman forward hails from Louisville, Kentucky.
TURNING PRO
Three former Michigan State men's soccer players were drafted on the first day of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in Chicago on Jan. 11, 2019. Senior forward DeJuan Jones led the way as the 11th overall pick, drafted by the New England Revolution.
For the first time ever, the Spartans had two players drafted in the first round as fellow senior forward Ryan Sierakowski was drafted 23rd overall by the Portland Timbers. Senior goalkeeper Jimmy Hague was the sixth pick of the second round (30th overall), taken by FC Cincinnati. Hague will see a familiar face when he arrives in Cincinnati with former Spartan great Fatai Alashe on the roster.
In 2018, Ken Krolicki was the first Spartan drafted since defender Zach Carroll in 2016 when he was chosen as the 53rd overall pick, chosen as the seventh player in the third round. In 2014, three Spartans signed to play for MLS with Fatai Alashe being chosen fourth overall, the highest ever for MSU. Jay Chapman a signed a homegrown contract with Toronto FC, while Adam Montague was taken in the third round by the Vancouver Whitecaps.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
This season, Michigan State will have three captains in seniors Giuseppe Barone, Michael Pimlott and redshirt-junior Patrick Nielsen.
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