'The city deserves that': MSU's local players embrace professional soccer in Lansing

Phil Friend
Lansing State Journal

Michigan State soccer midfielder Jack Beck was a spectator for Tuesday night’s inaugural Capital Cup against Lansing Ignite Football Club, a hamstring injury keeping him off the pitch.

But the rising sophomore, a DeWitt High School graduate who started on the Spartans’ Final Four team last fall, knows a thing or two about the national soccer scene. 

And seeing the Lansing community be home to one of just 70 professional teams in the United States is a great thing, Beck said.

“This would’ve been something I would’ve died to come out and watch when I was younger,” said Beck, who made the All-Big Ten freshman team in 2018. “Growing up, I wanted to be like the players out here."

Beck’s Spartans came up on the short end of the stick, though, on Tuesday night, losing 4-0 as Lansing Ignite took home the trophy in this first competition between club and program.

But playing against professional soccer players -- and seeing said players exist in Lansing -- is something a few other local players got to experience, too.

Michigan State's goalkeeper Isiah Handspike, left, calls out to teammates during the second half on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing. The Lansing Ignite won the Capital Cup 4-0.

Isiah Handspike, also a DeWitt graduate, didn’t exactly expect to play, but the hometown kid got his opportunity when coach Damon Rensing called upon the goalkeeper in the 76th minute.

Handspike did concede a goal to Alex Bruce in the 88th minute, but before that he made two diving stops to his right to prevent Ignite goals – including one from Bruce.

“It was really cool to think that, you’re playing against professional players, they’re coming down on you, getting paid to play, and we’re still out here going to classes,” Handspike said. “To come up with two saves like that, it was a cool moment in my life, I can’t lie.”

Although Handspike didn’t make an appearance for MSU last year in its national semifinal run, he was the starter at Spring Arbor in 2017 under Lansing Ignite coach Nate Miller. Handspike started all 21 games that season, going 16-4-1.

Growing up in DeWitt, Handspike never believed he’d see a day where professional soccer would come to Lansing.

“I never would’ve thought that I would’ve played a soccer game down on this field,” Handspike said. “I’ve been coming to Lugnuts games here my whole life. Getting to see all the people in the stands, getting to see everyone from around here, it was a really cool moment as a Lansing kid to see your whole community come out and support a new team in your community, and supporting you as well.

“For us to have a new option for players from our team that want to try to make the next step to the professional game, it just helps all of us out."

Lansing Ignite's Brandon Fricke, left, kicks the ball as Michigan State's Farai Mutatu closes in during the first half on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing.

MSU sophomore Farai Mutatu moved to Haslett when he was 8 years old. He played the full 90 minutes on Tuesday night, following up on a freshman season in East Lansing where he played in all 23 matches, finishing with three goals and three assists.

Mutatu played as a left winger in the first half and a center forward in the second. He didn’t finish get on the scoresheet, but he more than held his own in going up against professionals.

Mutatu, like his former fellow Michigan Wolves club teammates Beck and Handspike, definitely never expected professional soccer in the Capital City to be a thing.

“Lansing is one of the greatest cities in Michigan,” Mutatu said. “I’m glad there’s a professional soccer team. The city deserves that. It’s been a long time coming for a city in Michigan to have a pro team."

Michigan State's Jack Beck looks on before the Spartans game against the Lansing Ignite on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing. Beck did not play.

Tuesday's announced crowd was 3,338, with Pato Botello Faz, Steeve Saint-Duc, Elma N'For and Alex Bruce scoring the Ignite goals.

With the Crosstown Showdown between the Lansing Lugnuts and the MSU baseball team continuing for a number of years now, there’s no reason why the Capital Cup would ever stop, if the head coaches have it their way.

“Soccer’s some such a long way here,” said Rensing, an MSU alum who has lived in the Lansing area for 20 years. “I’ve seen it really grow in this community, to see professional soccer playing here, to see where Michigan State’s gone, is really great for the community.

Said Miller: “I hope it was fun for everyone to come and see. The whole point is to unite both sides of the city, so people who are Spartan fans can come and watch. I have so much respect for that program and Damon, he does an amazing job.

“I hope we can just keep building strong bridges and connections between our club and their program."

Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.

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