I’m here checking in from Ludwig Field, which now sports nifty signs touting “MARYLAND SOCCER” and “THE CREW” on the stands behind each goal. Both the No. 6 Terrapin men’s soccer team and the No. 24 Michigan State Spartans are warming up at the moment.
If you didn’t get a chance to check out my preview, here it is, but it was mostly about the random connections coach Sasho Cirovski (whose brother I believe I spotted here in College Park) and forward Casey Townsend have with the Spartans.
I’m going to try out something different tonight – a live feed/chat with some of my commentary/analysis and hopefully user comments and questions. Starting at 7:15, you can access the chat: TERPS VS. MSU CHAT
A rundown of Michigan State:
Last season: 11-8-2, garnered a 14th seed in the NCAA Tournament. Lost at home in the second round to Duke.
Top returners: Forward Rubin Bega (10 of Spartans’ 28 goals), Goalkeeper Avery Steinlage (NCAA recordholder for consecutive shutout minutes)
Head coach: Damon Rensing (2nd season, 11-8-2)
Michigan State leads the all-time series with the Terps, with a 3-1-1 record. The last meeting took place in 1998, and before that it was 1979.
Chris Eckard is the Diamondback’s men’s soccer beat reporter. Reach him at ceckard@umdbk.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ceckard.