Spartans Kick Off Spring Season

January 18, 2015

East Lansing, Mich. - 

The 2016 season, and the first under new head coach Cam Holding, is underway for the Spartans. After losing a host of contributing seniors that included All-Americans at goalie and face-off, and replacing them with 20 incoming freshman and newcomers, the team will look to new leadership this year and hopes to hit the ground running. One of those new leaders is senior midfielder Kevin Horton (Clarkston, MI). 

"We have had a lot of success as a program in the past, but this year we are looking to take that next step towards a deep run in the national tournament. We have a lot of new faces this year, but we also return a strong supporting cast of upperclassmen who have played in big games in the past few seasons," Horton says. Michigan State will look to pick up where they left off and defend their CCLA Conference crown, making it four titles in a row. Horton on the program's new coaching leadership, "The new staff has brought in a fresh dynamic that will help us succeed not only this year, but in years to come.

The Spartans have a front-loaded schedule once again this year, taking on Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech during the team's spring break trip, who are ranked number four and seven in the country, respectively. Other notable contests will be against Liberty and perennial conference foe Davenport University. The Spartans have struggled to get over the national quarterfinal hump, having yet to compete in the final days of the national tournament, but their new head coach is confident in his team's ability to deliver big wins.  "With fewer games on the schedule this year, it's imperative that we come out energized and focused for each game. There's not as much room for error as compared with previous seasons," says Holding. "We have a great combination of experienced veterans paired with a group of freshman that are extremely deep and athletic. The older guys have done a great job so far in bringing the younger guys along, and I think having solid team chemistry is important throughout the season."

The team will officially kick off its season on Sunday, March 6th, in Atlanta against Georgia Tech. You can find the complete roster and schedule for Michigan State on the MCLA website by clicking here. Stay tuned to the Spartans this season through social media on the team's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.