By Danielle Rumore

Daily Sports Writer

EAST LANSING -- Any contest between Michigan and Michigan State is a big deal, and last night's hockey game at Munn Ice Arena was no exception.

The No. 4 Wolverines visited Michigan State for an intrastate battle that did not disappoint. The Spartans won, 4-3, in front of a sellout crowd, spotted with a handful of Wolverine fans.

Michigan State showed heart in the first period but was nonetheless outplayed and outmuscled by the Wolverines. In fact, Michigan almost took up permanent residence in the Spartans' end. The Wolverines outshot Michigan State 14-5 in the first, yet you could never really count out the team that has on its roster the enthusiastic and talented player that is Anson Carter.

The Spartans' senior captain single-handily kept his squad alive in the lopsided first period and was probably the reason that the game's outcome swung in their direction.

"When you talk about Anson Carter, you talk about everything," Michigan State coach Ron Mason said. "He's a great all-around player in terms of what he does in the lockerroom, in the community, and on the ice. He's just a pleasure to have on a team. Tonight, he did it on the ice in every way."

Carter jumped out of the starting blocks after the first faceoff and made sure that the game was tied when both teams entered the lockerroom at the end of the first stanza.

He notched the first score of the game on a power play goal. He dumped the puck past Michigan goalie Marty Turco, assisted by Tony Tuzzolino and Spartan netminder Chad Alban. That goal was his 10th of the season.

"I'm a senior leader and captain of this team," Carter said. "It's my job, and all the other seniors on the team, to get all the other guys going."

Carter's guys were outplayed in the first and found themselves down 2-1 after Dale Rominski notched the Wolverines' second goal. Carter took over, responding by racing down the right side and drilling a shot past Turco with 15 seconds remaining in the period to tie the score.

"He's an elite player," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "He's going to have an impact on any game he plays in. I don't think we underestimated his speed, but maybe we didn't respect it. He just blew by Steven Halko on (his second) goal."

The second and third periods were nothing like the first. The game became more of an even battle because Carter's play in the first got the ball rolling. Taylor Clarke put Michigan State up 3-2 at 14:16 of the second with a power play goal and after that, the Spartans never really looked back.

Carter has not only helped his team this season, but has been a vital part of the Spartan squad his past three seasons. His 34 goals last year made him the nation's top returning goal scorer. His seven shorthanded goals last season led the nation. Carter is also the leading active scorer on the Spartan squad and has been a Hobey Baker Award candidate for the past two seasons. Can this be Carter's year to win the coveted award?

"It all depends on the rest of our team," Mason said. "He's the right type of person to win that award because of everything he stands for. Our team has to play well (for him)."