Friday, November 3
East Lansing, Mich.
6:30 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Ohio State
Spartans Host Ohio State in B1G Tournament Quarterfinals
11/2/2023 4:17:00 PM | Men's Soccer
This is the second meeting of the season between the two teams.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 3-seeded Michigan State men's soccer will open postseason play, hosting No. 6-seeded Ohio State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament matchup on Friday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. This is the Spartans' first home Big Ten Tournament game since 2018.
Michigan State heads into the postseason with a 7-1-7. In their regular-season finale, the Spartans tied Drake, 1-1, on Oct. 27. Ohio State comes into the re-match with a 5-6-5 overall record, winning its last two games.
Zach Surdenik and Owen Oszust will be on the call for BTN+.
SPARTANS VS BUCKEYES
The series between MSU and OSU is tied 5-5 in the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes ended the Spartans' season in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament last season on Nov. 4, 2022. In the 90th minute, Â Devyn Etling found the back of the net to push OSU into the semifinals. with a 1-0 win. The Spartans earned wins in 1991, 1995, 2001, 2002 and 2013. Â The Buckeyes came out on top in 1994, 1997, 2006, 2017 and 2022.
LOOKING AT THE BUCKEYES
Michigan State holds the overall series with Ohio State 29-26-3, including being on top 14-10-2 at home. The Buckeyes handed the Spartans their only loss of the season on  Oct. 24. In a wild, 3-2 affair, Ohio State scored in the 86th minute to win the game. OSU has won the last three outings. The Buckeyes also captured the regular-season win in 2022, 1-0, in Columbus on Oct. 25. MSU's last win came in East Lansing, 2-1, on Oct. 17, 2021.
Luciano Pechota, who scored twice against MSU in the first meeting this season, is tied with four others for the team lead in points with four goals for eight points. Max Trejo has started 13 games as the Buckeyes' netminder. He has allowed 15 goals for a 1.22 GAA.
TOURNEY TIDBITS
The No. 3 seed is the best for the Spartans since the 2017 season when they were also No. 3. That season they hosted Ohio State at DeMartin Stadium, with the Buckeyes coming out on top, 2-1. Michigan State is seeking its first Big Ten Tournament win since 2016.
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.
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.
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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 7-1-7 record, they have passed the 2014 team with most ties in a season. The 2014 team went 12-5-6, advancing to the Elite Eight. MSU is tied with Akron and Saint Francis (PA) for the most ties in the NCAA this season with seven.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
After the game against Drake on Oct. 27, four Spartans have started all 15 games this season for Michigan State, including Zac Kelly, Will Eby, Jonathan Stout and  Jack Zugay. Nine Spartans have played in every game this season. Kelly (1,350 min.), Cromer (1,275) and Eby (1,331) led the team in minutes played.
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 passed last season's win total, standing 7-1-7 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. 40 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 12th in the country in save percentage (.813). Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is 12th in the nation in saves percentage (.811). Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is also among the nation's best, standing 11th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in game-winning goals with four.Â
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State historically is among the nation's best in packing DeMartin Stadium. This season, MSU is sixth in the nation in attendance, averaging 2,325 fans per game. The Spartans are second in the Big Ten behind Maryland (2,480) and just ahead of Indiana (2,299). 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 23 goals this season, and they have been scored by 10 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. Â Senior forward Greyson Mercer scored his first goal of the season against Drake on Oct. 27.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Spartans have not shied from the bright lights this season. MSU is 7-1-3 so far in night games, including its 1-1 tie against Drake on Oct. 27. The loss against Ohio State on Oct. 24 was the first loss at night for MSU.
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
LAST TIME OUT
No. 16 Michigan State men's soccer ended the regular season with a 1-1 tie against Drake Friday night at DeMartin Stadium on Senior Night.
Following the game, the Spartans celebrated Senior Night, honoring Jacob Cromer, Elijah Howe, Chase Inscho, Vedad Kovac, Greyson  Mercer and Jack Zugay.
Senior forward Greyson Mercer made his presence known with five shots on the night. He finally broke through in 18th minute. After a Bulldog foul, sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp's direct kick found the head of Mercer for his first goal of the season. The assist was the fifth of the season for Sharp, which leads the team. Ten different Spartans have now found the back of the net this season.
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.
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.
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Michigan State heads into the postseason with a 7-1-7. In their regular-season finale, the Spartans tied Drake, 1-1, on Oct. 27. Ohio State comes into the re-match with a 5-6-5 overall record, winning its last two games.
Zach Surdenik and Owen Oszust will be on the call for BTN+.
SPARTANS VS BUCKEYES
The series between MSU and OSU is tied 5-5 in the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes ended the Spartans' season in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament last season on Nov. 4, 2022. In the 90th minute, Â Devyn Etling found the back of the net to push OSU into the semifinals. with a 1-0 win. The Spartans earned wins in 1991, 1995, 2001, 2002 and 2013. Â The Buckeyes came out on top in 1994, 1997, 2006, 2017 and 2022.
LOOKING AT THE BUCKEYES
Michigan State holds the overall series with Ohio State 29-26-3, including being on top 14-10-2 at home. The Buckeyes handed the Spartans their only loss of the season on  Oct. 24. In a wild, 3-2 affair, Ohio State scored in the 86th minute to win the game. OSU has won the last three outings. The Buckeyes also captured the regular-season win in 2022, 1-0, in Columbus on Oct. 25. MSU's last win came in East Lansing, 2-1, on Oct. 17, 2021.
Luciano Pechota, who scored twice against MSU in the first meeting this season, is tied with four others for the team lead in points with four goals for eight points. Max Trejo has started 13 games as the Buckeyes' netminder. He has allowed 15 goals for a 1.22 GAA.
TOURNEY TIDBITS
The No. 3 seed is the best for the Spartans since the 2017 season when they were also No. 3. That season they hosted Ohio State at DeMartin Stadium, with the Buckeyes coming out on top, 2-1. Michigan State is seeking its first Big Ten Tournament win since 2016.
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.
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.
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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 7-1-7 record, they have passed the 2014 team with most ties in a season. The 2014 team went 12-5-6, advancing to the Elite Eight. MSU is tied with Akron and Saint Francis (PA) for the most ties in the NCAA this season with seven.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
After the game against Drake on Oct. 27, four Spartans have started all 15 games this season for Michigan State, including Zac Kelly, Will Eby, Jonathan Stout and  Jack Zugay. Nine Spartans have played in every game this season. Kelly (1,350 min.), Cromer (1,275) and Eby (1,331) led the team in minutes played.
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 passed last season's win total, standing 7-1-7 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. 40 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 12th in the country in save percentage (.813). Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is 12th in the nation in saves percentage (.811). Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is also among the nation's best, standing 11th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in game-winning goals with four.Â
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State historically is among the nation's best in packing DeMartin Stadium. This season, MSU is sixth in the nation in attendance, averaging 2,325 fans per game. The Spartans are second in the Big Ten behind Maryland (2,480) and just ahead of Indiana (2,299). 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 23 goals this season, and they have been scored by 10 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. Â Senior forward Greyson Mercer scored his first goal of the season against Drake on Oct. 27.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Spartans have not shied from the bright lights this season. MSU is 7-1-3 so far in night games, including its 1-1 tie against Drake on Oct. 27. The loss against Ohio State on Oct. 24 was the first loss at night for MSU.
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
LAST TIME OUT
No. 16 Michigan State men's soccer ended the regular season with a 1-1 tie against Drake Friday night at DeMartin Stadium on Senior Night.
Following the game, the Spartans celebrated Senior Night, honoring Jacob Cromer, Elijah Howe, Chase Inscho, Vedad Kovac, Greyson  Mercer and Jack Zugay.
Senior forward Greyson Mercer made his presence known with five shots on the night. He finally broke through in 18th minute. After a Bulldog foul, sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp's direct kick found the head of Mercer for his first goal of the season. The assist was the fifth of the season for Sharp, which leads the team. Ten different Spartans have now found the back of the net this season.
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.
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.
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