MSU hosts first home fall games Saturday

The Michigan State men’s lacrosse team continues their fall ball schedule with two games this weekend. The Spartans are set to take on Western Michigan and Culver Academy on Saturday at Hope Sports Complex.

Western Michigan finished the 2016 regular season with a 6-5 record after falling to Michigan State in the first round of the CCLA tournament. Attackman David Gushee and midfielders Mike Petrey and Brad Gardner accumulated 87 combined points for the Broncos during their senior campaigns, and their production will need to be replaced.

Meanwhile, Culver Academy ended their 2016 regular season with a win in the Inter-Ac Championship and a record of 20-3. A major key to the Eagles’ championship run was senior attackman Ethan Walker.

Walker was named American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year. He compiled 108 goals and 58 assists during his senior year. Culver will need to find a way to make up for Walker’s 166 total points during the rest of their fall scrimmages before the 2017 season and against Michigan State on Saturday.

Michigan State face-off coach Joe Mikkelson will also make for an interesting story line on Saturday. Over the past summer, Mikkelson worked as an assistant for Culver helping to improve their face-off specialists. Although he will be wearing green and white on the sidelines, Mikkelson may have a tough time cheering during face-offs during the MSU vs. Culver game.

Michigan State takes on Culver Academy at 1 p.m. and Western Michigan at 7 p.m.

– Jess Todd