MSU's final goal is happy ending

EAST LANSING - Hollywood would have trouble writing a better script than the storybook season of the Michigan State men's soccer team.

After 32 years, legendary coach Joe Baum is in his last season on the Spartans' sidelines and experiencing the type of success he could have only dreamed about.

Already this season, Baum has led the Spartans to their first-ever regular season Big Ten championship and second-career Big Ten Tournament title.

Now they have their eyes set on the big prize: a national championship.

The quest to send Baum out on top begins at 1 p.m. today at DeMartin Stadium when the No. 4 seed Spartans host the University of Illinois-Chicago in a second-round NCAA Tournament game.

"The last couple weeks have seemed like a dream," said Baum, whose team received a first-round bye. "Our goal was just to get in the NCAA Tournament. To get a No. 4 seed is just a dream. We are just hoping we can take advantage of it and play some good soccer."

Offensively, All-American candidate Doug DeMartin leads the Spartans (13-5-1). The senior ranks third in the nation in goals (17) and points (37) and was recently named the Big Ten player of the year.

The former Mason Bulldog was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team on Wednesday. DeMartin becomes the first MSU player to ever earn first-team honors.

"It has been a great season," DeMartin said. "You always hope to play for a title in your last season and to win the regular season at home was amazing. And then going up to Madison and winning the (Big Ten) tournament was great too. But now we need to focus on the NCAA Tournament."

As good as DeMartin has been, it is the Spartan defense that has won them the first two championships and will be their bread and butter if they plan to win a third.

In the last nine games, MSU has allowed only one goal.

Not coincidentally, during that time span, the Spartans are 8-0-1.

"We always stress defense here at Michigan State," said Baum, who was recently named Big Ten coach of the year for the third time in his career. "We feel like defense can keep us in every match. The defenders and goalie, Avery Steinlage, have been very reliable, very solid."

Today's match will be the second meeting this season between the Spartans and Flames (12-3-5).

The two teams met on Oct. 15 in East Lansing with the Spartans winning 3-1.

In the game, DeMartin scored two second-half goals that proved to be the difference.

"They have a very good team. They have dangerous players up front and they are an experienced team," DeMartin said of the Flames. "They made a run in the tournament last year, I think to the Elite Eight, so they know what it takes in the tournament and how to be successful."

In the first round, Illinois-Chicago beat Dayton in penalty kicks. The game ended scoreless with the Flames winning 3-1 in the shootout.

DeMartin also said playing at home will be a big advantage.

They have a 7-1-1 record at DeMartin Stadium with the only loss coming early in the season to Vermont.

"We practice (at home) everyday so we are very comfortable out there. Being able to sleep in our own beds always helps too."

DeMartin is one of six seniors who could potentially be playing in their final game at MSU today.

According to Baum, those six players are the reason this has been the most successful season in MSU men's soccer history.

"I was hoping I would go out on a positive note, so this is a little more than I expected. But I really attribute all this to the seniors. We have six seniors that really work hard that never get discouraged or never give up. Just a great group of young men. I'm just very grateful for this group of seniors."

The winner of today's MSU/UIC game will face the North Carolina/Jacksonville winner on Saturday or Sunday.