Spartan Soccer Hosts Indiana for Alumni Day Sunday

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer continues its three-game homestand against Big Ten rival Indiana on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. Sunday is also Spartan Alumni and the second half of a doubleheader with the MSU women's team. The Spartan women will take on Minnesota at 12 p.m.

Michigan State started the week with a 1-0 victory over Duquesne to move to 4-3-1 this season. Indiana is now 4-2-1 this season after a win against Northwestern on Tuesday.

PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
Through the first eight games of the season, Michigan State has the 19th-toughest schedule in the nation. It is the second-toughest in the Big Ten behind Michigan at No. 11.

The three teams that Michigan State has lost to this season are all ranked now, including No. 8 Tulsa, No. 17 Bowling Green and No. 20 Akron.

BIG TIME BIG TEN
Once again, the Big Ten is one of the toughest conferences in the nation. Perennial national power Maryland is currently ranked No. 7 in this week's poll. Rutgers entered the polls at No. 21 after its hot 7-1-1 start. Indiana and Penn State are also receiving votes this week.

THE BEST AROUND
Senior forward Farai Mutatu is second in the nation in game-winning goals and first in the Big Ten with three, including the last two Spartan victories. Fellow midfielder senior Jack Beck is first in the nation and first in the Big Ten with six assists. Beck has had an assist in the Spartans last four games.

PACKING THE STANDS
Michigan State has been thrilled to have fans back at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans are No. 14 in the country in attendance, averaging 1,698 fans. Only Maryland is averaging more fans with 3,349 per game.

LOOKING AT THE HOOSIERS
Indiana holds a 42-16-6 overall mark against Michigan State. In the last 10 meetings, IU is 6-2-2. The Spartans last win against Indiana came in Bloomington on Nov. 5, 2014 with MSU coming out on top, 3-2. The last three losses came by one-goal margins, including 2-1 loss on the road last season.

Indiana stands 4-2-1 this season and 1-1 in Big Ten action. The Hoosiers are fresh off a come-from-behind victory at Northwestern, 2-1, on Tuesday. IU has wins over, Notre Dame, Butler, Xavier and NU.

Tommy Mihalic is fifth in the Big Ten in goals scored with four. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano is sixth in goals against average (1.33).The Hoosiers continue to be one of the most consistent teams in the Big Ten, holding a 31-3-8 record against Big Ten opponents in the regular season over the last six seasons.

BIG TEN DEBUT
With the tie at Wisconsin on Sept. 17, the Spartans are 6-1-2 in their last nine Big Ten openers. After taking on Rutgers in the Big Ten opener the last four seasons, MSU faced Badgers. In last season's Big Ten opener, MSU fell to the Scarlet Knights, 2-0.

LOCAL KIDS DO GOOD
MSU's win against Notre Dame showcased two players from near East Lansing. Seniors Farai Mutatu (Haslett) and Jack Beck (DeWitt) scored all four goals for MSU with Mutatu scoring three and Beck adding one. Beck also added assists on Mutatu's final two goals.

Mutatu's hat trick was the first by a Spartan since Jay Chapman against No. 16 Indiana on Oct. 28, 2012. Senior midfielder Jack Beck also added a goal and two assists in the win.

LAST TIME OUT
Senior forward Farai Mutatu continued his hot streak netting the game-winning goal to lead Michigan State men's soccer past Duquesne, 1-0, Tuesday at a rain-drenched DeMartin Stadium.

The Dukes came out fast with the first two shots of the game, before redshirt-sophomore forward Kellan Landefeld had MSU's first shot in the ninth minute.

The Spartans broke through in the 16th minute. After a Harper Cook foul, senior midfielder Jack Beck delivered a perfect service to the head of Mutatu. Beck now has had at least one assist in the last four games and leads the team with six assists, while Mutatu leads the team win five goals.

FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
So far this season, eighth different Spartans have found the back of the net. Against Wisconsin, freshman defender Josh Adam scored his first collegiate goal. Senior Farai Mutatu leads the team in scoring with five goals and one assist for nine points. Fellow senior Michael Miller is second in goals scored with two.

UP NEXT
MSU will conclude its three-game homestand, hosting Penn State on Friday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, the Spartans will travel to Ann Arbor for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy, taking on Michigan on BTN at 8 p.m.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
The Spartan have named four captains this season. Leading MSU will be seniors Jack Beck, Michael Miller, Farai Mutatu and Will Perkins.

PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list. Michael Miller is a three-year starter for Michigan State. In his Spartan career, the midfielder has played in 56 games, starting 41. Hunter Morse enters his third year in goal for the Spartans. He has started 27 games in goal for MSU with three career shutouts. Farai Mutatu earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after the spring 2021 season. After battling injuries much of the year, he ended the season with one goal.

BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 31
O: Tommy Mihalic, Fr., IU
D: Oren Asher, Jr., RU

Sept. 7
O: Ben Bender, So., UMD
D: Oren Asher, Jr., RU

Sept. 14
O: Nico Rosamilia, Fr., RU
D: Daniel Munie, Jr., IND

Sept. 21
O: Farai Mutatu, Sr., MSU
D: Keagan McLaughlin, Sr., OSU

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Players Mentioned

Josh Adam

Jack Beck

Kellan Landefeld

Michael Miller

Hunter Morse

Farai Mutatu

Will Perkins