Michigan State men’s soccer program unveils spring schedule
EAST LANSING, Mich. (Via Michigan State University)– Fresh off its first NCAA College Cup appearance in 50 years, the Michigan State men’s soccer team returns to the pitch to open its spring schedule.
“We are extremely excited about our 2019 Spring Schedule. Each game is a little different and will allow individuals to be evaluated and develop whether they were starters last fall or are looking to earn their first minutes as a Spartan. The different opponents and environments will also provide me and the new coaching staff opportunities to see where we are as a team both tactically and psychologically,” MSU head coach Damon Rensing said.
This year, Michigan State added a pair of new assistant coaches in Joe Ahearn and T.J. Kolba. Ahearn was formerly an associate head coach at Northwestern, while Kolba was an assistant at Akron.
The Spartans open the spring campaign against Saginaw Valley State on Saturday, March 23 at 5 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. MSU will then face Bradley on Sunday, March 31 at 12 p.m. The Spartans will begin April, taking on a familiar foe. Michigan State will battle Big Ten rival Michigan on Friday, April 6 at 12:15 p.m. at Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac.
“We should have good crowds at four of our six games. Good crowds bring great energy, which will in return raise the level of the game itself,” Rensing said. “Anytime you play Michigan there is a little extra to the game. This will help us see our team in Big Ten type game. It’s great to see how our young guys handle some of their first minutes against a Big Ten opponent.”
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Michigan State will begin a new tradition this season when it takes on the Lansing Ignite in the inaugural Capital Cup on April 16 at 7 p.m. at Cooley Law School Stadium. Set to kick off its first season as a professional club in League One, LIFC will be led by head coach Nate Miller.
“Playing the inaugural Capital Cup at Cooley Law Stadium will be fun. I think it will be great to have our MSU soccer fans and students interact with the greater Lansing soccer community. Certainly there is some overlap, but it will be great to see everyone together. For our older and more experienced guys who aspire to one day be pros, this will be a great test for them,” Rensing added.
On Saturday, April 20, MSU will take on Detroit City FC in another exhibition at 5 p.m. The game will be played at PAL Complex in Detroit. DCFC currently plays in the National Premier Soccer League and is coached by Trevor James.
“Similar to Lansing Ignite, playing DCFC will be a will be a great test on the field. Playing at PAL where historic Tiger Stadium used to be will very cool. DCFC has one of the best soccer environments in the country pro or amateur.”
The Spartans conclude the difficult spring schedule on Saturday, April 28 against the Mexico U-20 team. Returning to DeMartin Stadium kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
“The highlight of the spring will be playing the Mexican U-20 National Team at DeMartin Stadium. Not often do you get to play an international match against a national team. We hope to connect with a great Hispanic community that resides throughout Michigan. This team will represent the best players in Mexico under the age of 20 pro or amateur. This will not only be a great soccer experience for our guys, but a great cultural experience as well,” Rensing said.
Michigan State ended a historic season 14-5-4 record, tying the record for single-season wins and reaching the NCAA College Cup for the first time in 50 years. Returning to the Spartans for the 2019 season are All-Big Ten honorees Giuseppe Barone and Patrick Nielsen, who both earned first-team accolades. Jack Beck and Farai Mutatu are also back after earning All-Freshman Team honors in 2018.
