What happened in MSU’s less-covered sports last week?
There is always a lot to talk about with Spartan Football, Basketball, and Hockey but there is also a lot happening elsewhere in the MSU athletic department. Here is a recap and roundup of other Spartan teams that are in season this fall.
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country didn’t race last week but competed at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational on October 4 where the men placed 5th and the women 9th. The team next races in Madison, WI on October 19 at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals.
Men’s Golf wrapped up their fall season at the Fighting Irish Classic in South Bend, IN by placing 12th of 15 teams. They return to the links in Lake Wales, FL on February 1, 2025.
Women’s Golf placed 2nd of 17 teams at the Tar Heel Invitational over the weekend, just 3 shots behind first place Duke. Senior Brooke Bierman was the Spartans’ top individual finisher, coming in at 11th overall. Women’s Golf has one more competition this fall at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, NC, which takes place October 25-27.
Men’s Soccer defeated #25 Wisconsin 2-0 at DeMartin Stadium on Friday. The Spartans are 5-5-2 overall on the season, including 4-2 in Big Ten play. They sit alone in 3rd place in the conference standings, just one point behind Ohio State and 4 behind Maryland. MSU returns to the field on October 18 at Indiana before hosting Michigan on October 22.
Women’s Soccer dropped their first match of the season 2-1 at Washington on Sunday after opening their Pacific Northwest trip with a scoreless tie at Oregon on Friday. After previously being ranked #1 in the country, MSU went into the weekend with a #5 ranking. They are 9-1-5 overall, 4-1-3 in conference play, but 1-1-3 in their last 5 matches. MSU finished the week tied with Washington for 7th place in the conference standings, 7 points behind league leaders UCLA and USC. The Spartans return home to face Wisconsin on Thursday October 17 and Northwestern on October 20. Look for a more in depth piece on MSU Women’s Soccer from O later this week.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Men’s Tennis hosted the ITA team regionals October 10-14 at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center. Sheldon Mitchell advanced to the second round in Men’s Singles play before falling to Ashton Adesoro from Western Michigan. In Doubles action, Mitchell and Matthew Forbes advanced to the semi-finals before falling to Gavin Young and Benjamin Kittay from U of M.
Women’s Tennis traveled to Columbus, OH for their ITA team regionals. In singles play, Matilde Morais advanced to the round of 16 with wins over Jolene Fernandes from Valparaiso and Ohio State’s Alessia Cau before falling to Emily Sartz-Lunde from Michigan. Ellie Blackford had to retire due to injury in her first round matchup with Alina Mukhortova from Wisconsin. Liisa Vehvilainen also fell in the first round to Michigan’s Reese Miller. Vehvilainen and Oriana Parkins Godwin fell in their first round doubles match to Ohio State. The Spartans host the Michigan State Classic on October 25-27.
Women’s Field Hockey had a busy week falling to Kent State on penalty shots on Sunday October 6, before losing to Maryland at home 3-1 on Friday. The Spartans rebounded to win 3-1 at Central Michigan on Sunday. They currently sit at 7-6 overall but 0-3, and in last place, in conference play. Field Hockey is on a road trip this weekend, facing Rutgers on Friday and Penn State on Sunday.
Women’s Volleyball had a tough week, falling 3-0 at #10 Purdue on Sunday October 6 before returning home for a 3-0 loss to #3 Penn State on Friday and dropping a 3-2 decision to Illinois on Saturday. The Spartans have lost 7 in a row, sit at 7-10 overall and 0-6 in the Big Ten, tied with Rutgers for last place. Volleyball continues their home stand against Nebraska on Friday and Washington on Sunday October 20.