MSU Hosts Michigan in Battle for the Big Bear Trophy

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Battle for the Big Bear trophy returns to DeMartin Stadium as Michigan State men's soccer hosts Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m.

Dean Linke and Patrick Doody will be on the call for the BTN broadcast.

The Spartans are 2-4-2 overall after a come-from-behind tie against No. 16 Indiana on Sept. 23 on the road. Michigan is 3-4-2 overall and 1-1-0 in Big Ten action after a 3-1 win over Northwestern on Sept. 23.

LOOKING AT THE WOLVERINES
The Wolverines are 1-1-1 in their last three games, adding a tie and a loss at home against Maryland. Overall, Michigan holds a 3-4-2 overall record this season and stands 1-1-0 in league play after a solid 3-1 win at Northwestern.

U-M goalkeeper Hayden Evans is third in the Big Ten in saves with 33 in eight games. Evans is also sixth in the league in goals against average (1.38).

Quin Rogers leads the Wolverines in scoring with two goals and one assist for five points. Four other Michigan players have scored a goal this season.

BATTLE FOR THE BIG BEAR
The Battle for the Big Bear Trophy returned last year after a year hiatus. The trophy originated in 2000. Last season on BTN, the teams battled to a 2-2 tie. Farai Mutatu and Nick Stone both scored in the draw.

The bear trophy was purchased in 1999 by former U-M head coach Steve Burns on his way back from a trip to Canada and was installed as the rivalry's trophy during the inaugural match between the Spartans the Wolverines in 2000.

Michigan State leads the overall series with Michigan 33-12-7, including 16-3-4 in East Lansing. The Wolverines have closed the gap of late, winning five of the last six games. With the COVID-19 shortened season, MSU and U-M met three times with the Wolverines winning all three, including a 1-0 win in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan also won both meetings in 2019.

PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State historically is among the nation's best in packing DeMartin Stadium. This season, MSU is seventh in the nation in attendance, averaging 2,247 fans per game. The Spartans are third in the Big Ten behind Maryland (2,380) and Indiana (2,241). MSU's largest crowd of the season was the 2,716 fans that packed DeMartin to watch MSU beat Chicago State 4-1 on Sept. 12.

YOU LOOK FAMILIAR
Michigan State senior goalkeeper Owen Finnerty will see some familiar faces when looking across the field against Michigan. Finnerty played three seasons with the Wolverines before transferring to MSU in the spring of 2022. Last season, he played five games for U-M, allowing only six goals. Finnerty has started all eight games for the Spartans this season making 37 saves.

BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opened B1G play at No. 16 Indiana on Sept. 23. The Spartans are 6-1-3 in their last 10 Big Ten openers. After taking on Rutgers in the Big Ten opener the last four seasons, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 last season in Madison.

This was the first time that Michigan State has faced Indiana in the Big Ten opener since a 0-0 overtime tie in Bloomington on Sept. 25. In 2004, the Hoosiers came out on top in the Big Ten opener in East Lansing, 3-1.

FIND THE PERKS
Senior defender Will Perkins has had a stellar start to the 2022 season. He is tied for the team lead in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points. Perkins is among the team leaders in minutes played with 555.

AROUND THE LEAGUE
Maryland stands atop the Big Ten standings with seven points, holding a 2-0-1 record through three games. Rutgers is second with six points and a 2-0 mark. Four teams are looking for its first win in B1G action in Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin and Northwestern.

LOCAL KID DOES GOOD
Okemos native Jack Guggemos has made the most of his early opportunities, He has started five of Michigan State's eight games. Against Bowling Green on Sept. 9, he scored his collegiate goal off the pass from junior forward Greyson Mercer. He followed that performance up with a goal against Chicago State. The freshman is third in scoring, behind Greyson Mercer and Will Perkins who both have six points.

LOOKING FOR THE BAGEL
Michigan State is looking for its first shutout of the season. MSU has allowed one goal to Army, Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Chicago State, while relinquishing two goals to Akron and three to Notre Dame. The Spartans last shutout was a 1-0 win against Ohio State on Oct. 17, 2021 in East Lansing.

GETTING IN THE GAME
The Spartans have been getting a lot of players in the game. Twenty-two of the 28 athletes on the roster have played in at least one of the seven games this season.

UP NEXT
After the Spartans' Battle for the Big Bear Trophy against in-state rival Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 27, MSU will conclude the homestand against Wisconsin on Sunday, Oct. 2. The game against the Badgers is also MSU's Alumni Day. Michigan State will then play at Penn State on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

SPREADING THE WEALTH
Eight different players have scored MSU's 11 goals this season. Redshirt-senior defender Will Perkins, junior midfielder Greyson Mercer and freshman midfielder Jack Guggemos all have scored two goals apiece for MSU. Senior forward Gianni Ferri and Mercer both found the back of the net for the first time this season against Chicago State on Sept. 12, while junior midfielder Jacob Cromer scored his first career goal against No. 4 Washington on Sept. 16..

FINDING THE 11
Only three Spartans have started the first eight games of the season, including senior Jack Beck. Newcomer Owen Finnerty and sophomore Josh Adam also have started every match. Nine players have seen action in all eight matches, including freshmen Jack Guggemos and Jeremy Sharp.

PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list.

Graduate midfielder Jack Beck, redshirt-senior defender Will Perkins and junior forward Greyson Mercer were all honored by the league.

Beck, a native of DeWitt, Michigan, is a two-time All-Big Ten selection for the Spartans, earning first-team honors last season. He was second on the team in scoring in 2021 with nine points. Beck ended last season third in the Big Ten in assists with seven.

Perkins, a Detroit, Michigan native, returns for his fifth season with Michigan State. He started all 17 games last season. Also in 2021, Perkins was fourth on the team in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points.

Mercer, who hails from Heber City, Utah, enters his third season with the Spartans. He has played in 13 games over the last two seasons with four starts.

OLDTIMERS
Michigan State brings back several veterans to the 2022 squad. Both Jack Beck and Will Perkins will return for their fifth seasons with MSU. The duo of captains are the final to Spartans on the roster who were a part of the 2018 College Cup squad.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
The Spartan have named three captains this season. Leading MSU will be seniors Jack Beck, Will Perkins and Louis Sala. This is the second-straight season that Beck and Perkins are captains.

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Players Mentioned

Josh Adam

Jack Beck

Jacob Cromer

Gianni Ferri

Owen Finnerty

Jack Guggemos

Greyson Mercer

Farai Mutatu

Will Perkins

Louis Sala

Jeremy Sharp

Nick Stone