Thursday, September 9
Rochester, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
at
Oakland
Spartans Finish Non-Conference Play on the Road vs. Oakland, Dayton
9/8/2021 6:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's soccer is set to hit the road this week for its final non-conference matchups of the season. They take on Oakland Thursday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. before heading to Dayton for a match with the Flyers on Sunday, Sept. 12.
Thursday and Saturday's games will be available to watch on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans battled to a 1-1 draw against Bowling Green on Thursday, Sept. 2 to remain undefeated on the season.
After going up 1-0 three minutes into the match after a successful penalty kick by Zivana Labovic, the game stayed quiet on scoring. The Falcons did not come up with the equalizer until the 88th minute to force overtime.
Both overtimes went scoreless to end in the 1-1 tie. Michigan State outshot Bowling Green 18-11 and held an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal. Lauren Kozal had a season-high four saves in goal for the Green & White.
SPARTANS TOP THE BIG TEN
While the start of conference play has yet to begin for the Spartans, the Green & White are still making waves statistically among fellow Big Ten teams.
Ava Cook has averaged 4.8 shot attempts per game, the most of any Big Ten player. Her 24 total shots is the fourth-highest in the league. She also sits at fourth in shots on goal taken with ten, and has the second-most game winning goals with two.
Goalkeeper Lauren Kozal averages 2.2 saves per game over five games, and boasts a save percentage of 84.6, the fifth-best in the conference. She is one of just seven Big Ten goalies to only have allowed two goals or less from opponents so far this season.
Head Coach Jeff Hosler's 3-0-2 start makes him just the fourth-ever Big Ten women's soccer coach to go undefeated in the first five matches of their inaugural season.
QUOTING COACH HOSLER
On the two back-to-back nonconference road games: "I think one of the bigger challenges is that we didn't play well on the road our first time out [against Toledo], so having back-to-back road matches and everything that comes with that can actually give our team a singular focus, on each other and soccer."
"We're going to have to be on our A-game. As we've learned through five matches, we have to stay sharp for all 90 minutes in order to get results."
SPARTANS VS. GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Oakland, led by head coach Juan Pablo Favero, are currently 1-5 heading into Thursday's match. The Golden Grizzlies won at Stetson on Aug. 22 and have since been in a four-game losing skid.
The Spartans lead Oakland all-time with a 13-2-3 advantage dating back to 1986. They are undefeated 8-0-1 in games played at Oakland, and have won the last three matchups in shutout victories.
SPARTANS VS. FLYERS
Michigan State has had a mixed history with Dayton, holding a narrow 7-6-1 advantage over the Flyers all-time. Their road record stands at 3-4-0. Last time out, the Spartans earned a 2-1 victory at home over Dayton in August of 2015.
The Flyers are currently 3-1-2 and are set to play Ohio State this Thursday before they host the Spartans on Sunday. They are led by head coach Eric Golz in his fifth season.
NEXT UP
The start of Big Ten competition is not far off for the Spartans. The squad travels to Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday, Sept. 19 for the first conference match of the season against Indiana University. Kick-off is set for 12 p.m.
Thursday and Saturday's games will be available to watch on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans battled to a 1-1 draw against Bowling Green on Thursday, Sept. 2 to remain undefeated on the season.
After going up 1-0 three minutes into the match after a successful penalty kick by Zivana Labovic, the game stayed quiet on scoring. The Falcons did not come up with the equalizer until the 88th minute to force overtime.
Both overtimes went scoreless to end in the 1-1 tie. Michigan State outshot Bowling Green 18-11 and held an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal. Lauren Kozal had a season-high four saves in goal for the Green & White.
SPARTANS TOP THE BIG TEN
While the start of conference play has yet to begin for the Spartans, the Green & White are still making waves statistically among fellow Big Ten teams.
Ava Cook has averaged 4.8 shot attempts per game, the most of any Big Ten player. Her 24 total shots is the fourth-highest in the league. She also sits at fourth in shots on goal taken with ten, and has the second-most game winning goals with two.
Goalkeeper Lauren Kozal averages 2.2 saves per game over five games, and boasts a save percentage of 84.6, the fifth-best in the conference. She is one of just seven Big Ten goalies to only have allowed two goals or less from opponents so far this season.
Head Coach Jeff Hosler's 3-0-2 start makes him just the fourth-ever Big Ten women's soccer coach to go undefeated in the first five matches of their inaugural season.
QUOTING COACH HOSLER
On the two back-to-back nonconference road games: "I think one of the bigger challenges is that we didn't play well on the road our first time out [against Toledo], so having back-to-back road matches and everything that comes with that can actually give our team a singular focus, on each other and soccer."
"We're going to have to be on our A-game. As we've learned through five matches, we have to stay sharp for all 90 minutes in order to get results."
SPARTANS VS. GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Oakland, led by head coach Juan Pablo Favero, are currently 1-5 heading into Thursday's match. The Golden Grizzlies won at Stetson on Aug. 22 and have since been in a four-game losing skid.
The Spartans lead Oakland all-time with a 13-2-3 advantage dating back to 1986. They are undefeated 8-0-1 in games played at Oakland, and have won the last three matchups in shutout victories.
SPARTANS VS. FLYERS
Michigan State has had a mixed history with Dayton, holding a narrow 7-6-1 advantage over the Flyers all-time. Their road record stands at 3-4-0. Last time out, the Spartans earned a 2-1 victory at home over Dayton in August of 2015.
The Flyers are currently 3-1-2 and are set to play Ohio State this Thursday before they host the Spartans on Sunday. They are led by head coach Eric Golz in his fifth season.
NEXT UP
The start of Big Ten competition is not far off for the Spartans. The squad travels to Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday, Sept. 19 for the first conference match of the season against Indiana University. Kick-off is set for 12 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Jeff Hosler | Women's Soccer Press Conference | Sep. 15 2025
Monday, September 15
Jeff Hosler | Women's Soccer Press Conference | Sep. 01 2025
Monday, September 01
Jeff Hosler | Women's Soccer Press Conference | Aug. 25 2025
Monday, August 25
Jeff Hosler Post Game Comments | Milwaukee
Sunday, August 24