For a second time this week, Michigan State men’s soccer has beaten a top five team. And this time, it was their top rival on the road.
Michigan State stunned rival No. 5 Michigan on Friday night to retain the Big Bear trophy for another season, winning by the final score of 2-1. This was the second win over a top five team this week, as Michigan State knocked off No. 3 Indiana earlier in the week at home.
Michigan State took the lead in the 51st minute on a penalty kick goal from Miles Merritt. The Wolverines would tie it up shortly after in the 56th minute at 1-1, but Richie Ludwig would give the Spartans the lead back in the 64th minute. Michigan State would retain that lead the rest of the way en route to the upset.
“To beat two top-five teams in a week and keep the Big Bear is pretty amazing,” Michigan State head coach Damon Rensing said afterwards. “This class has had the bear all four years and that is something to be proud of. I am really happy for the guys. They really earned it. They really played great today. I think the guys have the belief now. I think that they have believed all year. You just need some results to go your way once in a while. We had a couple bounces go our way today. Michigan is a very good team, but we have the belief that we are a great team.”
Check out the Spartans’ celebration of the victory over rival Michigan on Friday night in Ann Arbor in the social media post below:
Michigan State will retain the Big Bear trophy for a third straight year with Friday’s win. Additionally, this is the first win over rival Michigan in Ann Arbor since 2017.
With the victory over Michigan, the Spartans are now 5-4 overall. Michigan State will next play Penn State on Friday at DeMartin Stadium in East Lansing, Mich.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State men’s soccer stuns rival Michigan, picks up second straight top 5 win
Reporting by Robert Bondy, Spartans Wire / Spartans Wire
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