Michigan State University Athletics
No. 12/15 Spartan Men’s Soccer Retains Big Bear Trophy After 1-1 Draw With Michigan Tuesday
10/13/2026 10:55:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Michigan State keeps rivalry trophy for fifth-straight season; MSU moves to a tie atop the B1G table with Washington and Indiana.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- No. 12/15 Michigan State retained the Big Bear Trophy after a 1-1 draw with Michigan Tuesday night at DeMartin Stadium in front of over 3,300 fans in person and a national television audience.
"What a crowd tonight. What a crowd. So pleased," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "What a great community, and the Red Cedar Rowdies were incredible. And yeah, keeping the Big Bear means something. You want to keep it when you win it, but with a tie, you don't have to give it back. You like seeing it in that locker room every year, and we've had it now for at least four years in a row, so that's still important."
The Spartans keep the rivalry trophy for the fifth year in a row, as they have held it since 2022, winning in 2022 and 2024, while tying in 2023, 2025 and 2026.
MSU moves to 8-2-2 overall and 4-1-1 in Big Ten play, moving to a tie atop the table for the B1G standings with Washington and Indiana. U-M is now 3-4-4 overall and 0-2-3 in B1G action.
Michigan State now maintains a 35-12-11 overall record against Michigan, including 17-3-6 in East Lansing. Tuesday was the 26th anniversary for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy, originating in 2000, and MSU leads the series in Big Bear Trophy matches, 15-5-6.
"It was just a typical Big Bear battle between these two schools," Rensing said. "I always tell the guys: it's going to go 90 minutes no matter what. It just always seems to be that way. I thought probably for the first 75 minutes we were clearly the better team and created stuff. Obviously, a great goal, great pass by Peter (Soudan) and a good finish. And then, look, we had a couple chances to go up two, and didn't quite get it—heck of a save by the keeper (Isaiah Goldson) there on Leo (Conneh), I think."
After a scoreless first half, Michigan State got on the board in the 69th minute on a beauty of a change from solid defense turning into offense, as senior midfielder Miles Merritt won the ball back on MSU's defensive side of midfield, and fed the ball to sophomore midfielder Peter Soudan, who unleashed a textbook long pass to senior midfielder Leo Conneh. The first-year Spartan etched his name in Big Bear Trophy lore after taking one touch to beat the UM defender, and slotted the ball past UM goalkeeper Isaiah Goldson and into the net for a 1-0 Spartan lead.
Conneh tallied his third goal of the season, while Merritt and Soudan both registered their fourth assists of the year.
The home team held the lead in the physical back-and-forth match living up to its billing as a Battle for the Big Bear, as there were 28 fouls whistled, with five yellow cards issued, with four on U-M and one on MSU.
Michigan State's lone card came in the 85th minute, and after a VAR review, a penalty kick was awarded to U-M, and Michael Ramirez scored the PK to tie the score.
The Spartans pushed ahead but were unable to net the go-ahead goal, finishing in a draw.
Michigan State junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz made two saves and got solid play from his backline all night. Goldson finished with three saves.
The Spartans ended with a slight, 12-11, edge in shots, including 4-3 in shots on goal. Michigan State had an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks.
MSU had several offensive chances in the first half, out-shooting UM, 8-2, in shots in the first half, and 7-1 corner kicks advantage. The Spartans avoided a Wolverine penalty in the 33rd minute, when UM's Grayson Elmquist got a quick shot off that went just wide of Spartan junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz and the frame of the goal, and the Wolverines challenged the call for a review. The call stood with no PK and the Spartans got the goal kick.
The score remained 0-0 into halftime.
Michigan nearly broke the scoreless deadlock in the 49th minute, when the Wolverines got into the box, but Austin Su's shot trickled past Grekowicz, but bounced off the post, with the rebound caroming to Alex Gimple, but his shot went wide of the wide open net, keeping the match nil-nil.
Conneh made his mark in the 69th minute when he took a nifty long pass slotted through from Soudan after Merritt won the ball on the Spartan defensive side of midfield. Merritt fed Soudan, and he threaded the ball from midfield through the needle of the Wolverine defense, and Conneh ran on to the ball, taking one touch into the box, then lacing the ball past a sprawling Goldson and into the net, just inside the post, sparking the celebration, complete with flying flags and green smoke from the raucous Red Cedar Rowdies.
"My job was pretty easy," Conneh said. "Yhey had a really high line in the second half. A couple of times I got it in my feet, but once I noticed that, the high line, tried to thread it in behind, and beautiful ball from Pete (Soudan), and just got to pick up on point and put the ball in the net."
Michigan earned its PK in the 85th minute after a foul in the box was reviewed, and confirmed. Ramirez scored the goal for the equalizer for his first tally of the season in the goal column.
The Spartans and Wolverines went end-to-end in the final minutes, but neither team could put the ball in the net, resulting in the fourth tie in the last six Battles for the Big Bear.
MSU hits the road for its next match, heading to Columbus, Ohio for a border battle with Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 16 in a 7 p.m. start time.
The Spartans then return home to the friendly confines of DeMartin Stadium for their final homestand of the regular-season, hosting Washington on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m., then Green Bay on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. in a non-conference contest.
Michigan State Soccer Ticket Membership are available for $100 for adults & $50 for youth/senior. Season tickets are on sale now online through the Spartan Ticket Office here or by calling 517-355-1610.
To purchase tickets for any Michigan State athletics event, visit the Spartan Ticket Office online at MSUSpartans.com; fans can also call the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610, or email tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.
"What a crowd tonight. What a crowd. So pleased," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "What a great community, and the Red Cedar Rowdies were incredible. And yeah, keeping the Big Bear means something. You want to keep it when you win it, but with a tie, you don't have to give it back. You like seeing it in that locker room every year, and we've had it now for at least four years in a row, so that's still important."
The Spartans keep the rivalry trophy for the fifth year in a row, as they have held it since 2022, winning in 2022 and 2024, while tying in 2023, 2025 and 2026.
MSU moves to 8-2-2 overall and 4-1-1 in Big Ten play, moving to a tie atop the table for the B1G standings with Washington and Indiana. U-M is now 3-4-4 overall and 0-2-3 in B1G action.
Michigan State now maintains a 35-12-11 overall record against Michigan, including 17-3-6 in East Lansing. Tuesday was the 26th anniversary for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy, originating in 2000, and MSU leads the series in Big Bear Trophy matches, 15-5-6.
"It was just a typical Big Bear battle between these two schools," Rensing said. "I always tell the guys: it's going to go 90 minutes no matter what. It just always seems to be that way. I thought probably for the first 75 minutes we were clearly the better team and created stuff. Obviously, a great goal, great pass by Peter (Soudan) and a good finish. And then, look, we had a couple chances to go up two, and didn't quite get it—heck of a save by the keeper (Isaiah Goldson) there on Leo (Conneh), I think."
After a scoreless first half, Michigan State got on the board in the 69th minute on a beauty of a change from solid defense turning into offense, as senior midfielder Miles Merritt won the ball back on MSU's defensive side of midfield, and fed the ball to sophomore midfielder Peter Soudan, who unleashed a textbook long pass to senior midfielder Leo Conneh. The first-year Spartan etched his name in Big Bear Trophy lore after taking one touch to beat the UM defender, and slotted the ball past UM goalkeeper Isaiah Goldson and into the net for a 1-0 Spartan lead.
Conneh tallied his third goal of the season, while Merritt and Soudan both registered their fourth assists of the year.
The home team held the lead in the physical back-and-forth match living up to its billing as a Battle for the Big Bear, as there were 28 fouls whistled, with five yellow cards issued, with four on U-M and one on MSU.
Michigan State's lone card came in the 85th minute, and after a VAR review, a penalty kick was awarded to U-M, and Michael Ramirez scored the PK to tie the score.
The Spartans pushed ahead but were unable to net the go-ahead goal, finishing in a draw.
Michigan State junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz made two saves and got solid play from his backline all night. Goldson finished with three saves.
The Spartans ended with a slight, 12-11, edge in shots, including 4-3 in shots on goal. Michigan State had an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks.
MSU had several offensive chances in the first half, out-shooting UM, 8-2, in shots in the first half, and 7-1 corner kicks advantage. The Spartans avoided a Wolverine penalty in the 33rd minute, when UM's Grayson Elmquist got a quick shot off that went just wide of Spartan junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz and the frame of the goal, and the Wolverines challenged the call for a review. The call stood with no PK and the Spartans got the goal kick.
The score remained 0-0 into halftime.
Michigan nearly broke the scoreless deadlock in the 49th minute, when the Wolverines got into the box, but Austin Su's shot trickled past Grekowicz, but bounced off the post, with the rebound caroming to Alex Gimple, but his shot went wide of the wide open net, keeping the match nil-nil.
Conneh made his mark in the 69th minute when he took a nifty long pass slotted through from Soudan after Merritt won the ball on the Spartan defensive side of midfield. Merritt fed Soudan, and he threaded the ball from midfield through the needle of the Wolverine defense, and Conneh ran on to the ball, taking one touch into the box, then lacing the ball past a sprawling Goldson and into the net, just inside the post, sparking the celebration, complete with flying flags and green smoke from the raucous Red Cedar Rowdies.
"My job was pretty easy," Conneh said. "Yhey had a really high line in the second half. A couple of times I got it in my feet, but once I noticed that, the high line, tried to thread it in behind, and beautiful ball from Pete (Soudan), and just got to pick up on point and put the ball in the net."
Michigan earned its PK in the 85th minute after a foul in the box was reviewed, and confirmed. Ramirez scored the goal for the equalizer for his first tally of the season in the goal column.
The Spartans and Wolverines went end-to-end in the final minutes, but neither team could put the ball in the net, resulting in the fourth tie in the last six Battles for the Big Bear.
MSU hits the road for its next match, heading to Columbus, Ohio for a border battle with Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 16 in a 7 p.m. start time.
The Spartans then return home to the friendly confines of DeMartin Stadium for their final homestand of the regular-season, hosting Washington on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m., then Green Bay on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. in a non-conference contest.
Michigan State Soccer Ticket Membership are available for $100 for adults & $50 for youth/senior. Season tickets are on sale now online through the Spartan Ticket Office here or by calling 517-355-1610.
To purchase tickets for any Michigan State athletics event, visit the Spartan Ticket Office online at MSUSpartans.com; fans can also call the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610, or email tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.
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