Michigan State got exactly the response it needed on Saturday night, shaking off a frustrating 1-0 shutout loss to New Hampshire and grinding out a 2-1 win to split the weekend series with the Wildcats.
The Spartans did not make it easy on themselves, but Joshua Ravensbergen made sure they never fell too far behind the play. The goaltender turned aside 38 shots and spent most of the night denying New Hampshire clean looks, repeatedly coming out of the crease to challenge shooters and shrink the ice. It was the kind of performance that can flip a series.
For nearly 38 minutes, neither side could crack the score sheet. Then, with less than three minutes left in the second period, Michigan State finally found the breakthrough - and it came off a sharp give-and-go look between Jimmy Clark and Mason West.
Clark carried the puck in with West on the rush, waited for the defender to commit, and slipped the puck to West for the finish. It was the Spartans’ first goal of the weekend, and it also gave West his first goal and point of the season and his career.
Clark picked up his second assist of the season and third point, while Tommi Mannisto added his first assist of the season and second point overall on the play.
Michigan State added breathing room early in the third period when Anthony Romani buried his fifth goal of the season just 5:30 into the frame. Romani now leads the team in both goals and points with eight. Ryker Lee earned the assist, giving him four on the season and tying him with Chase Reid and Eric Nilson for the team lead in that category, while Thomas Bleyl collected his third assist and third point.
New Hampshire wasn’t done, though. Less than four minutes later, Emile Guite scored his second goal of the series on the power play, his second straight day finding the net with the man advantage, and suddenly the Wildcats were within one again.
That only meant more pressure on Ravensbergen, and he handled it. Michigan State closed it out from there, leaning on its goalie to secure the win after being outshot 39-23 in the game.
Across the two-game series, the Spartans were outshot 73-37, but Ravensbergen still stopped 71 of the 73 shots he faced against New Hampshire.
In Other News...
Michigan State Fans Had Another Reason To Be Frustrated After UCLA
UCLAs 28-10 win over Michigan State at the Rose Bowl did more than push the Bruins to 7-0 and keep their College Football Playoff hopes intact. For the Spartans, it was another frustrating afternoon in a game that started with early miscues and never really gave them much traction, even as Bob Chesney pointed to the two costly fumbles that handed Michigan State favorable field position and return yards.
By halftime, UCLA had steadied itself and played a cleaner second half to close out the victory, leaving Michigan State to regroup after a loss that never felt far away but also never felt truly winnable. And while the action on the field was enough to drive plenty of reaction, the game also drew a separate wave of attention online as photos of UCLA cheerleader Kelsey Lowder spread across social media, adding an unexpected layer to an already talked-about night in Pasadena. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Already Has One Worry As Its Backcourt Takes Shape
Michigan States backcourt is starting to look like the clear strength of Tom Izzos newest group, with Jeremy Fears Jr., Jasiah Jervis and Jordan Scott all starting together in recent exhibition action. Scott, in particular, offered a glimpse of how much he can help on both ends, scoring 18 points while also making his presence felt defensively with blocks and steals, which is the kind of two-way lift the Spartans can build around as the season approaches.
The concern, though, is in front of that perimeter trio, where the frontcourt left more questions than answers. Center Anton Bonke had limited impact, while power forwards Cam Ward and Coen Carr were uneven, leaving Michigan State with some real work to do in the paint before the games start counting. The guard play looks ready to carry a significant load, but the Spartans still need the interior rotation to settle in if they want the rest of the roster to match that progress. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Volleyball Heads Home With Real Big Ten Momentum
Michigan State wrapped up a four-match road trip in convincing fashion, finishing with a 3-0 sweep at Maryland and heading back home with its Big Ten standing looking a lot stronger. The Spartans are 17-3 overall and 7-3 in conference play after controlling the match in just about every phase, from kills and service aces to blocks and digs.
Madi Andrews supplied 12 kills and Hayley Ogden added seven blocks as Michigan State kept Maryland from finding much rhythm on its home floor. With the Spartans now back in East Lansing, the bigger question is how this momentum carries into the next stretch of league play, where every clean road result can shape the conference race. [Read more 🡒]