Spartans Travel to Seattle for Husky/Nike Invitational

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State women's soccer team travels to Seattle, Wash. for two games at the Husky/Nike Invitational this week against Portland on Aug. 30, followed by host Washington on Sept. 2.

The Spartans (3-0) will kickoff at 8 p.m. ET Thursday against the Pilots (2-1) and 5 p.m. ET Sunday when they take on the Huskies (2-1) at Husky Soccer Stadium. Wisconsin rounds out the field and will also take on both Portland and Washington.

Live video and live stats links are available at www.msuspartans.com.

GAME NOTES

MICHIGAN STATE NOTES
The Spartans are the only team in the Big Ten Conference without a loss or draw heading into the third week of play at 3-0-0.

Goalkeeper Reilley Ott is one of 21 keepers in the country to currently hold a 0.00 GAA this season. Ott and Claire Graves (Iowa) are the only Big Ten goalkeepers to still hold a 1.000 save percentage this season.

Sadie Misiewicz is tied for fifth in Division I women's soccer in points per game at 3.00 with four goals and an assist in three outings for the Spartans. She's second in the Big Ten behind Indiana's Abby Allen (3.33).

SCOUTING THE PILOTS
Portland heads into Thursday's game with a 2-1-0 record following a 1-0 loss (Aug. 26) to Sunday's opponent, Washington. The Pilots started the season with a 2-0 win over Northern Arizona (Aug. 17) and a 1-0 OT defeat of San Jose State (Aug. 24).

Junior forward Kimberly Hazlett leads the team with two goals and an assist in the three games. Hazlett has taken seven shots with five of them coming on goal. Senior forward Hanna Armendariz is the other Pilot to find the back of the net this season.

This will be the third matchup all-time, and first since 1995 between the Spartans and Pilots with Portland holding a 2-0 advantage.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Washington has won two straight after suffering a season-opening 2-1 loss at No. 7 Florida, including a 3-0 victory over Cal State Fullerton (Aug. 24) and the 1-0 win at Portland (Aug. 26).

Sophomore midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt leads UW with two goals scored, one each against Cal State Fullerton and Portland. Junior defender Lisa Jensen recorded an assist against both Florida and Cal State Fullerton.

The Huskies lead the all-time series against MSU 3-0, defeating the Spartans 4-0 last season in East Lansing.

MISIEWICZ MAGIC
Sadie Misiewicz was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 21 after she scored three goals in the Spartans' first two games of the season. Misiewicz scored twice in the opener against Southern Utah (Aug. 17) and followed that with a third goal against Boston University (Aug. 19).

She found the back of the net again in the victory over Green Bay (Aug. 23). Misiewicz is currently tied for second in the country with four goals scored this season and is tied for fourth in goals per game average.

THE BIG TEN SO FAR
Michigan State is the lone team without a loss or draw on the season through three games. Nebraska, Northwestern and Rutgers each have three wins and a draw, while Iowa and Purdue each have two wins and a draw.

SAXTON SAYS
"We're excited. This is a big stage. We played in this event more than 20 years ago, it's an annual event in a beautiful city and beautiful campus against great opponents. We're out there with Wisconsin so we have a chance for the Big Ten to make a statement that will help all of us moving forward. Adjustment to the tempo of the game will be the key for us. The opponents will be better athletes than we've faced so far and the pace will be faster. We have the soccer players and composure to deal with it, but we have to execute."

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Players Mentioned

Sadie Misiewicz

Reilley Ott