Michigan State (Two Star Class Ranking) -  The Spartans have announced the addition of four new recruits.  The marquee player of the class is NSCAA High School All-American center back Kevin Cope who should be able to make an immediate impact.  The biggest news coming out of East Lansing heading into the 2009 season is that Joe Baum has retired as the Spartan head coach after thirty-two years in that capacity.  Damon Rensing who served as an assistant coach under Baum for ten years has taken over the reigns of the program.  Rensing will seek to build on the success the program enjoyed in 2008 when the Green and White won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles and received the number four seed in the NCAA Tournament.  Although Rensing is familiar with the program, he is going to have to depend on some new faces in key roles to step forward and pick up the slack that exists due to the departure of six experienced and talented senior starters.  The biggest shoes to fill will be those of All-American and 2008 Big Ten Player of the Year Doug DeMartin (17g, 3a) who pretty much has been the Michigan State attack for the past two seasons.  It will be interesting to see how the Michigan State attack adapts to life without DeMartin on the pitch.  The Spartans will also be without starting forward Louis Stephens III (4g, 5a), midfielders Zac Scaffidi (3g, 6a) and Ben Pirmann (0g, 4a) and defenders Josh Rogers and David Hertel.  Returning starters include midfielders Spencer Thompson (2g, 6a) and Jeff Ricondo (3g, 4a), defenders Jake Fullerton, Nosa Iyoha, and Colin Givens, and goalkeeper Avery Steinlege.   Thompson is among the players who Rensing will likely look to for offensive firepower in 2009.  Sophomore forward Domenic Barone (1g, 0a) and sophomore midfielder Cyrus Saydee (1g, 3a) are among other returning players who should play a greater role in 2009.  Steinlege, a 2008 All-Big Ten First Team selection , is an outstanding keeper who anchored a Spartan defense that recorded ten shutouts last year.   Michigan State clearly faces a lot of questions heading into the 2009 season, but fortunately Rensing will have a lot of talent to work with.  Unquestionably this team will have a far different makeup than the squad that Michigan State has put on the pitch for the past two seasons. All things considered, it is highly likely that the Spartans will take a step back in 2009 in terms of the number of wins secured as they reload for the future, but on the other hand 2009 could once again be a year in which Michigan State holds their own in Big Ten play and makes a little noise on the national scene.  In the highly competitive and now very balanced Big Ten Conference, any weakness will be exploited.  A lack of offensive productivity and overall team depth look to be potential problem areas for the Spartans.  In addition,  the chemistry on last year’s team was something special since Baum had announced early own that the 2008 season would be his last but realistically that same team chemistry may be unattainable for this year’s team.   Rensing and his staff face the challenge of building for the future while still seeking to maintain the standard of success that the 2008 squad achieved.

 

Kevin Cope - Plymouth, Michigan - Defender - Salem High School - Named the State of Michigan’s Mr. Soccer - NSCAA High School All-American - Three time All-State selection.

 

Ryan Thelen - Mason, Michigan - Defender - Mason High School - Named the 2008 Lansing Player of the Year - Two-time All-State selection - ODP regional pool - Vardar USSF Academy team.

 

Nick Wilson - Fort Wayne, Indiana - Forward - Canterbury High School - All-District selection - Played with the Fort Wayne Fever PDL team.  Led his high school team in scoring.

 

Bryce Dobbins - Auburn Hills, Michigan - Goalkeeper - Avondale High School - Two-time All-State selection - Played club for 91’Vardar.  Three-time All-League and All-District selection.