Spartans Take On Wolverines Sunday in Ann Arbor

Sunday, October 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan State University

Michigan

10/20/2018 9:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

MSU looks for a third win in four years against rival UM.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State women's soccer team travels to Ann Arbor for a Sunday afternoon battle against rival Michigan. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. from U-M Soccer Stadium. The game will be streamed on BTN Plus.

KICKOFF
The Spartans hold a 13-12-7 advantage in the all-time series against their rivals. MSU is looking for its second win in as many years, and third victory in the last four meetings with the Wolverines. The Green and White won 2-1 last year in East Lansing.

MICHIGAN STATE NOTES
Goalkeeper Reilley Ott sits 48th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten Conference in shutouts with six clean sheets. Ott ranks eighth in the conference and 44th nationally in goalkeeper minutes played with 1,421 spent on the field. The Spartans rank third in the conference in save percentage (0.826), and sixth in shutout percentage (0.400). Offensively, MSU is third in the Big Ten in shot accuracy at 0.500.

DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
The Spartan back line has been much improved in 2018, aided by the return of Michaela Kovacs. MSU gave up 39 goals through the first 16 games in 2017, compared to just 17 goals in 16 games this season. The defense, led by Kovacs, Madsion VanDyke, Samantha White, and Athena Biondi has allowed 13 goals through nine B1G games in 2018, compared to 27 through the first nine games a year ago.

COUNTING CAMS
Camryn Evans, a true freshman from Fenton, Mich., is making the most of her first season as a Spartan. The forward is second in the Big Ten in goals per game at 0.50, and is fourth in the conference with seven goals scored.

SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
Michigan sits at 8-8-1 overall on the season, and 4-5-1 in conference play heading into Sunday's game. The Wolverines are coming off a 2-1 victory over Maryland Thursday. Last week UM tied then-conference-leader Nebraska, 1-1, and fell 1-0 to Iowa on the road. Nicki Hernandez leads the team with 20 points (seven goals, six assists). Sarah Stratigakis scored in Thursday's win over the Terrapins, her seventh goal of the season.