No. 24 Michigan State men’s soccer gave the Red Cedar Rowdies plenty to cheer about Thursday night, rolling past SIUE 4-0 at DeMartin Stadium to open Red Cedar Rowdies Weekend with a statement win.
The Spartans struck twice in each half, highlighted by a wild bicycle assist from Oscar Huerta on the third goal of the night, and moved to 3-0 on the season. SIUE fell to 0-2.
Michigan State’s attack got rolling early and never really let up. Peter Soudan put the Spartans in front in the 11th minute, then Andrew Darakdjian doubled the lead in the 23rd.
After halftime, Huerta delivered the moment everyone will remember, sending in an acrobatic bicycle kick that found Conner O’Keefe for a header goal in the 47th minute. Freshman defender Innocent Ngabo added the fourth in the 85th minute for his first collegiate goal.
The win also came with a clean sheet, the Spartans’ first of the season. Jake Grekowicz needed just one save, while the back line kept SIUE from generating much danger. Michigan State out-shot the Cougars 17-5 and allowed only one shot in the first half.
The result kept MSU unbeaten through its first three matches for the second time in the last three years. It’s the program’s first 3-0 start since 2017, when the Green & White opened 7-0.
The Spartans’ defense has now gone five halves without allowing an opponent goal. In Sunday’s 2-1 win over Seattle, the only goal MSU gave up was an own-goal, and the Spartan defense didn’t allow an official shot on goal. Michigan State also posted a shutout in the second half of its 6-2 season-opening win over UAlbany.
For Damon Rensing, Thursday’s matchup carried an extra layer because SIUE head coach Cale Wasserman spent four seasons as an assistant at Michigan State under him. Rensing made clear he has plenty of respect for Wasserman’s work with the Cougars.
"I just have so much respect for Cale and how he has done such a great job at SIUE and their program," Rensing said. "You want to win the game, obviously, more out of respect for Cale.
He has done such a good job. It's always kind of bittersweet when you play, you always want to see your former assistant coaches succeed and, you know, tonight wasn't their night, but he has done a great job, and I'll be rooting for him the rest of the way for sure."
Rensing also praised the atmosphere, with the Rowdies making their presence felt from the opening whistle.
"The Rowdies were rocking tonight, man, they were awesome," Rensing said enthusiastically. "You always like to reward the Rowdies with a couple goals and get the Green & White smoke going.
We have had student-athletes that were out there; the volleyball team and gymnastics have been there, so it's been great. We are just happy to be a part of it.
We love the Rowdies."
O’Keefe, who scored his second goal of the season, said Huerta’s flair made the finish possible.
"Oscar is a phenomenal player. That's what he does.
He has those special moments and that's why he is on the field and makes those great plays," O'Keefe said. "I think it also helps that we're really great friends off the field.
We do a lot of things together, so just that little flair and seeing that ball coming, I knew it was coming right to me. I had no doubt.
As a center back, I get only so many opportunities, so the excitement is obviously there. I think just working through the whole preseason and through these moments, these first three games, no matter if we are 3-0 or whatever the score is, stay focused and keep the course, and I think that is a huge thing for us going forward as well."
Leo Conneh set the tone in the attack with a pair of assists, giving him three on the season. Huerta, Luke Spadafora and Kayden Hudson each added one assist.
The first-half scoring started when Conneh linked up with Spadafora, who helped spring Soudan for the opener. Later, Conneh found Darakdjian in the middle of the box for the second goal.
Michigan State’s next chance to keep the roll going comes Sunday, Aug. 30, when the Spartans continue their five-game homestand with another doubleheader. The women host Colorado at 11 a.m. before the men face Niagara at 2 p.m.
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