Friday, October 27
East Lansing, Mich.
6 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Drake
MSU Soccer Concludes Regular Season Against Drake Friday
10/26/2023 4:44:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Spartans end the regular season with non-conference action.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 16 Michigan State men's soccer concludes the regular season with a non-conference matchup against Drake on Friday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. MSU will also honor its seven seniors: Jacob Cromer, Elijah Howe, Chase Inscho, Vedad Kovac, Greyson Mercer, Andrew Nicholsen and Jack Zugay.
Despite suffering its first loss of the season on Tuesday, the Spartans are still tied for first in the Big Ten standings. Michigan State, Penn State and Northwestern are all tied with 13 points. The Wildcats and the Nittany Lions both have one league game remaining.
Joe DesVergnes and Jack Ervin will be on the call for BTN+.
PENALTY PRINCE
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan has turned himself into a penalty kick specialist this season. He has taken all six for MSU this year. He has made five of them, four of which were game-winning goals. The only PK that was saved this season was against Oakland on Sept. 26.
LOOKING AT THE BULLDOGS
This is the first meeting between Michigan State and Drake.
The Bulldogs are 3-9-2 overall and 1-5-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake earned their one MVC win against Evansville on Sept. 16. The Bulldogs and the Spartans have two common opponent in Wisconsin and Bowling Green. MSU is 2-0 against those teams, while Drake is 0-2. Wisconsin beat the Bulldogs, 2-0 on Aug. 27, while Bowling Green stopped the Bulldogs, 3-1, on Oct. 22, which was their last game.
Drake is ninth in the MVC in goals allowed with 31 in 14 games. They are also seventh in points with 19 goals and 15 assists for 53 points.
AJ Franklin leads the team in scoring with six goals and an assist for 13 points. Damian Segura is second in scoring with two goals and four assists for eight points.
BENDING BUT NOT BREAKING
The Spartans 7-0-6 start through the first 13 games was MSU's best start since the 1967 team went 12-0-2 when the Spartans were Co-National Champions.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
Michigan State had three freshmen named to the TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Top 100 list this week. Defender Will Eby came in at No. 2 just behind Cornell's Alex Harris. Eby has played nearly every minute this season and is a key part of the MSU backline. Midfielder Richie Ludwig was No. 77. He has played in 12 games, starting nine and has two goals and one assist for five points. Midfielder Colin Arce was listed No. 99. Arce is a key player off the bench who also has one goal this year.
BREAKING THE TIE
With the Spartans currently holding a 7-1-6 record, tying the 2014 team with most ties in a season. The 2014 team that went 12-5-6, advancing to the Elite Eight. MSU is tied with Saint Francis most ties in the NCAA this season with six.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
After the game against Ohio State on Oct. 24, five different Spartans have started all 14 games this season for Michigan State, including Zac Kelly, Will Eby, Jonathan Stout, Jack Zugay and Jacob Cromer. Ten Spartans have played in every game this season. Kelly (1,260 min.), Cromer (1,214) and Eby (1,241) led the team in minutes played.
SEEING THE SUCCESS
Michigan State's men's and women's teams are the only programs in the Big Ten to be ranked in both United Soccer Coaches polls. This week, the men come in at No. 16 in the USC poll, while the women are No. 14.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
Michigan State did not suffer a setback in the month of September. MSU was 4-0-3 in September after going 1-0 in August. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan led the way with six points in September off of three goals. He had the game-winning goal in three of MSU's four games.
GETTING IN THE W COLUMN
After finishing last season 6-9-2, the Spartans have already matched last season's win total, standing 7-1-6 this year.
Last season, Michigan State was 0-6-2 on the road. The Spartans are already 4-0-3 away from East Lansing in 2023.
WHERE WE STAND
This week, the Spartans stand No. 17 in the RPI, which is best in the Big Ten. Notre Dame has the best RPI in the nation, and the Spartans handed the Fighting Irish their only loss of the season.
BEST OF THE BEST
Michigan State is 10th in the country in save percentage (.817). Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is 34th in the nation in saves percentage. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is also among the nation's best, standing ninth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in game-winning goals with four.
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State historically is among the nation's best in packing DeMartin Stadium. This season, MSU is seventh in the nation in attendance, averaging 2,370 fans per game. The Spartans are third in the Big Ten behind Maryland (2,480) and Indiana (2,470). MSU's largest crowd of the season was the 3,274 fans that packed DeMartin to watch MSU tie Penn State on Oct. 1.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Reigning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jonathan Stout and Jake Spadafora, who was a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team are showing no signs of a sophomore slump. Stout scored the game-tying goal against Maryland in the 77th minute on Oct. 15. Overall, he has five goals for 10 points. Spadafora also has three goals this season, including one against Maryland on Oct. 15.
LEADING THE STAT SHEET
Michigan State has scored 22 goals this season, and they have been scored by nine different people. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan leads the team in scoring with six goals for 12 points. Sophomore forward Jonathan Stout is second with five goals. Sophomore forward Jake Spadafora is third in scoring with seven points.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Spartans have not shied from the bright lights this season. MSU is 7-1-2 so far in night games, including its 2-1 win against No. 21 Northwestern on Oct. 20. The loss against Ohio State on Oct. 24 was the first loss at night for MSU.
PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE FOLKS
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan has his parents in the stands for a big win against Indiana. The Sligo, Ireland native scored the game-winning goal with a penalty kick against Indiana in front of his parents on Sept. 22.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has five shutouts this season, which is the most since Jimmy Hague and the Spartans recorded nine clean sheets in 2018.
Kelly started his first collegiate game against Bowling Green on Aug. 28. He captured his first complete game and clean sheet in MSU's 3-0 win over the Falcons.
He collected his second shutout of the season against Dayton on Sept. 7 and added his third the next game against No. 10 Notre Dame. He earned his first Big Ten shutout against No. 25 Penn State on Oct. 1 and his second against Michigan on Oct. 10.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
This week, Michigan State stands first in the United Soccer Coaches North Region rankings. SIUE stands second with Indiana and Penn State, standing third and fourth, respectively.
NOTRE DAME BY THE NUMBERS
The win over Notre Dame on Sept. 12 was MSU's first win over a top-10 since beating No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend, 1-0, in 2018.
This was the sixth-straight meeting between the Spartans and Fighting Irish that had a one-goal differential. Michigan State has either beaten or tied a Notre Dame squad that was ranked in the top 12 in four of its last five trips to South Bend, going unbeaten in all five, tying No. 5 UND in 2014, before winning over No. 12 UND in 2016, No. 8 UND in 2018 and Tuesday's win over the No. 10 Fighting Irish, with a win over unranked Notre Dame in 2021.
AROUND THE B1G
Michigan State is fourth in the Big Ten in fewest goals allowed with 13 (0.93 gpg) behind Indiana with 10. The Spartans are also fifth in points scored with 57, behind 22 goals and 14 assists.
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is third in the Big Ten with a 0.93 goals against average and first with 4.07 saves per game.
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is tied for second in the league in game-winning goals with four. He has six overall goals which stands fifth in the B1G.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 16 Michigan State men's soccer had its 14-game unbeaten streak come to a halt with a 3-2 loss to Ohio State at DeMartin Stadium on Educator Appreciation Day on Tuesday night.
For the second time in three games, Spartans found themselves in a 2-0 first-half deficit. Unlike the game against Maryland on Oct. 15, the Buckeyes were able to find the game-winning goal. In the 87th minute, Luciano Pechota score his second goal of the game to give OSU the win.
Perchota started the scoring in the 25th minute with a goal off his own blocked shot. The Buckeyes made it a 2-0 game in the 35th minute, when Anthony Samways found Marko Borkovic for his second goal of the year. OSU out-shot MSU 10-3 in the first half.
The Spartans came to life in the second half, maintaining possession for much of the final 45 minutes. Michigan State got on the board in the 48th minute after sophomore forward Jonathan Stout was fouled in the box. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, who has become the Spartans' penalty kick specialist, stepped in to earn his fifth penalty kick of the season. Overall, he leads the team with six goals for 12 points.
Michigan State tied the score at 2-2 in the 74th minute with Stout's fifth goal on the year. He collected his own shot after a save by Max Trejo and drained it to the bottom right corner.
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List, as announced by the conference office. Senior forward Greyson Mercer along with sophomore forwards Jake Spadafora and Jonathan Stout were all honored by the league.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now prepare for the Big Ten Tournament. The bracket will be announced following the conclusion of the all the games on Sunday.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 15th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coaches T.J. Kolba and Nick Barry also return to the bench in 2023. New to the MSU staff this season is Reid Friedrichs, who enters his first year with Michigan State. Friedrichs has plenty of experience in the Green and White as a player, including Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 1996.
Despite suffering its first loss of the season on Tuesday, the Spartans are still tied for first in the Big Ten standings. Michigan State, Penn State and Northwestern are all tied with 13 points. The Wildcats and the Nittany Lions both have one league game remaining.
Joe DesVergnes and Jack Ervin will be on the call for BTN+.
PENALTY PRINCE
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan has turned himself into a penalty kick specialist this season. He has taken all six for MSU this year. He has made five of them, four of which were game-winning goals. The only PK that was saved this season was against Oakland on Sept. 26.
LOOKING AT THE BULLDOGS
This is the first meeting between Michigan State and Drake.
The Bulldogs are 3-9-2 overall and 1-5-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake earned their one MVC win against Evansville on Sept. 16. The Bulldogs and the Spartans have two common opponent in Wisconsin and Bowling Green. MSU is 2-0 against those teams, while Drake is 0-2. Wisconsin beat the Bulldogs, 2-0 on Aug. 27, while Bowling Green stopped the Bulldogs, 3-1, on Oct. 22, which was their last game.
Drake is ninth in the MVC in goals allowed with 31 in 14 games. They are also seventh in points with 19 goals and 15 assists for 53 points.
AJ Franklin leads the team in scoring with six goals and an assist for 13 points. Damian Segura is second in scoring with two goals and four assists for eight points.
BENDING BUT NOT BREAKING
The Spartans 7-0-6 start through the first 13 games was MSU's best start since the 1967 team went 12-0-2 when the Spartans were Co-National Champions.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
Michigan State had three freshmen named to the TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Top 100 list this week. Defender Will Eby came in at No. 2 just behind Cornell's Alex Harris. Eby has played nearly every minute this season and is a key part of the MSU backline. Midfielder Richie Ludwig was No. 77. He has played in 12 games, starting nine and has two goals and one assist for five points. Midfielder Colin Arce was listed No. 99. Arce is a key player off the bench who also has one goal this year.
BREAKING THE TIE
With the Spartans currently holding a 7-1-6 record, tying the 2014 team with most ties in a season. The 2014 team that went 12-5-6, advancing to the Elite Eight. MSU is tied with Saint Francis most ties in the NCAA this season with six.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
After the game against Ohio State on Oct. 24, five different Spartans have started all 14 games this season for Michigan State, including Zac Kelly, Will Eby, Jonathan Stout, Jack Zugay and Jacob Cromer. Ten Spartans have played in every game this season. Kelly (1,260 min.), Cromer (1,214) and Eby (1,241) led the team in minutes played.
SEEING THE SUCCESS
Michigan State's men's and women's teams are the only programs in the Big Ten to be ranked in both United Soccer Coaches polls. This week, the men come in at No. 16 in the USC poll, while the women are No. 14.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
Michigan State did not suffer a setback in the month of September. MSU was 4-0-3 in September after going 1-0 in August. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan led the way with six points in September off of three goals. He had the game-winning goal in three of MSU's four games.
GETTING IN THE W COLUMN
After finishing last season 6-9-2, the Spartans have already matched last season's win total, standing 7-1-6 this year.
Last season, Michigan State was 0-6-2 on the road. The Spartans are already 4-0-3 away from East Lansing in 2023.
WHERE WE STAND
This week, the Spartans stand No. 17 in the RPI, which is best in the Big Ten. Notre Dame has the best RPI in the nation, and the Spartans handed the Fighting Irish their only loss of the season.
BEST OF THE BEST
Michigan State is 10th in the country in save percentage (.817). Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is 34th in the nation in saves percentage. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is also among the nation's best, standing ninth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in game-winning goals with four.
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State historically is among the nation's best in packing DeMartin Stadium. This season, MSU is seventh in the nation in attendance, averaging 2,370 fans per game. The Spartans are third in the Big Ten behind Maryland (2,480) and Indiana (2,470). MSU's largest crowd of the season was the 3,274 fans that packed DeMartin to watch MSU tie Penn State on Oct. 1.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Reigning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jonathan Stout and Jake Spadafora, who was a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team are showing no signs of a sophomore slump. Stout scored the game-tying goal against Maryland in the 77th minute on Oct. 15. Overall, he has five goals for 10 points. Spadafora also has three goals this season, including one against Maryland on Oct. 15.
LEADING THE STAT SHEET
Michigan State has scored 22 goals this season, and they have been scored by nine different people. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan leads the team in scoring with six goals for 12 points. Sophomore forward Jonathan Stout is second with five goals. Sophomore forward Jake Spadafora is third in scoring with seven points.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Spartans have not shied from the bright lights this season. MSU is 7-1-2 so far in night games, including its 2-1 win against No. 21 Northwestern on Oct. 20. The loss against Ohio State on Oct. 24 was the first loss at night for MSU.
PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE FOLKS
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan has his parents in the stands for a big win against Indiana. The Sligo, Ireland native scored the game-winning goal with a penalty kick against Indiana in front of his parents on Sept. 22.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has five shutouts this season, which is the most since Jimmy Hague and the Spartans recorded nine clean sheets in 2018.
Kelly started his first collegiate game against Bowling Green on Aug. 28. He captured his first complete game and clean sheet in MSU's 3-0 win over the Falcons.
He collected his second shutout of the season against Dayton on Sept. 7 and added his third the next game against No. 10 Notre Dame. He earned his first Big Ten shutout against No. 25 Penn State on Oct. 1 and his second against Michigan on Oct. 10.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
This week, Michigan State stands first in the United Soccer Coaches North Region rankings. SIUE stands second with Indiana and Penn State, standing third and fourth, respectively.
NOTRE DAME BY THE NUMBERS
The win over Notre Dame on Sept. 12 was MSU's first win over a top-10 since beating No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend, 1-0, in 2018.
This was the sixth-straight meeting between the Spartans and Fighting Irish that had a one-goal differential. Michigan State has either beaten or tied a Notre Dame squad that was ranked in the top 12 in four of its last five trips to South Bend, going unbeaten in all five, tying No. 5 UND in 2014, before winning over No. 12 UND in 2016, No. 8 UND in 2018 and Tuesday's win over the No. 10 Fighting Irish, with a win over unranked Notre Dame in 2021.
AROUND THE B1G
Michigan State is fourth in the Big Ten in fewest goals allowed with 13 (0.93 gpg) behind Indiana with 10. The Spartans are also fifth in points scored with 57, behind 22 goals and 14 assists.
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is third in the Big Ten with a 0.93 goals against average and first with 4.07 saves per game.
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is tied for second in the league in game-winning goals with four. He has six overall goals which stands fifth in the B1G.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 16 Michigan State men's soccer had its 14-game unbeaten streak come to a halt with a 3-2 loss to Ohio State at DeMartin Stadium on Educator Appreciation Day on Tuesday night.
For the second time in three games, Spartans found themselves in a 2-0 first-half deficit. Unlike the game against Maryland on Oct. 15, the Buckeyes were able to find the game-winning goal. In the 87th minute, Luciano Pechota score his second goal of the game to give OSU the win.
Perchota started the scoring in the 25th minute with a goal off his own blocked shot. The Buckeyes made it a 2-0 game in the 35th minute, when Anthony Samways found Marko Borkovic for his second goal of the year. OSU out-shot MSU 10-3 in the first half.
The Spartans came to life in the second half, maintaining possession for much of the final 45 minutes. Michigan State got on the board in the 48th minute after sophomore forward Jonathan Stout was fouled in the box. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, who has become the Spartans' penalty kick specialist, stepped in to earn his fifth penalty kick of the season. Overall, he leads the team with six goals for 12 points.
Michigan State tied the score at 2-2 in the 74th minute with Stout's fifth goal on the year. He collected his own shot after a save by Max Trejo and drained it to the bottom right corner.
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List, as announced by the conference office. Senior forward Greyson Mercer along with sophomore forwards Jake Spadafora and Jonathan Stout were all honored by the league.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now prepare for the Big Ten Tournament. The bracket will be announced following the conclusion of the all the games on Sunday.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 15th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coaches T.J. Kolba and Nick Barry also return to the bench in 2023. New to the MSU staff this season is Reid Friedrichs, who enters his first year with Michigan State. Friedrichs has plenty of experience in the Green and White as a player, including Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 1996.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's SoccerDamon Rensing | Men's Soccer Press Conference | Sep. 29 2025
Monday, September 29
Spartans All-Access | Keeper of the Turf
Thursday, November 14
Playing Out His Dream | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, October 31
Coach Rensing | Men's Soccer Press Conference | Oct. 14 2024
Monday, October 14