Spartan Soccer Hits the Road to Face Army Friday

Michigan State Army

2023 Record	1-0, 0-0 B1G	1-1, 0-0 Patriot League
2022 Record	6-9-2, 3-4-1 B1G	8-4-5, 5-1-3 PL
Head Coach	Damon Rensing	Brian Plotkin
Career Record	137-103-37(15th)	17-12-8 (3rd)
at Current School	Same	Same

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer will hit the road for the first time this season, taking on Army on Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at Malek Stadium at Clinton Field.

The Spartans started the season with a hard-fought 3-0 win over Bowling Green on Aug. 28 in East Lansing. In the win, three different MSU players found the back of the net.

LOOKING AT THE BLACK KNIGHTS
Michigan State holds a 3-0-0 overall series lead with Army, leading at home 1-0. This is the first time that the two teams have met in New York. The Spartans hold 2-0 record in neutral site games, winning 3-2 in Providence in 1964 and 3-1 in St. Louis in 1965. Last season in East Lansing, Michigan State came out on top 2-1 on Aug. 22. In last season's season opener, MSU used first half goals from Will Perkins and Jake Spadafora to seal the win.

The Black Knights have started the season 1-1 this season. Army opened with a 3-2 home win against Air Force. La Salle capture the win against Army, 1-0 on Monday in Philadelphia.

Joey Hickson leads the Black Knights in scoring with one goal and one assist for three points. Harrison Faulkner has played all 180 minutes in goal, allowing three goals.

CLEAN SHEET
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac 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 Bowling Green. He also collected two saves in the victory.

LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State welcomed back the Red Cedar Rowdies in style with a 3-0 win against Bowling Green on Monday Aug. 28. Junior forward Efosa Emovon scored his first collegiate goal, which ended up being the game-winning goal. Sophomore forward Jake Spadafora and freshman defender Colin Arce also got in on the scoring with second-half goals. Sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp added a pair of assists in the win.

THEN THE SKIES PARTED
Michigan State men's soccer had its season opener against Loyola Chicago declared a no contest due to severe weather in the East Lansing area.

In the 54th minute, the game was initially delayed due to lighting in the area and the teams retreated to Jenison Field House. The match would not resume from that point as the rain, thunder and lightning intensified and was declared a no contest.

The Spartans were leading 1-0 at the time of the stoppage. Sophomore forward Jonathan Stout scored what would have been the first game of 2023 with a brilliant strike to the upper right corner of the net. Stout took the well-timed pass from sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp.

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 Big Ten preseason poll was also released Monday, as voted on by the nine conference coaches. MSU was voted to pick seventh, while Maryland was once again picked to win the league. The 2022 NCAA runner-up Indiana was chosen second, with Ohio State standing third.
Mercer, who hails from Heber City, Utah, enters his fourth season with the Spartans. He was named to the preseason list last season as well. In 2022, Mercer was second on the team in scoring with four goals and two assists for 10 points, playing in all 17 games.

Stout, a native of Wyoming, Michigan, led the team in scoring last season with four goals and four assists for 12 points. He shared Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year honors as a rookie, as well as being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Stout played in 12 games as a freshman.
Spadafora, who hails from Northville, Michigan, played in 16 games last season, starting 13. He had one goal and one assist for three points during his rookie campaign, scoring the game-winning goal in the season opener against Army in 2022. He also joined Stout as a member of the All-Freshman Team.

PRESEASON
The season opener will be the Spartans first home game of the season, as MSU's two exhibitions were on the road. Michigan State tied Purdue Fort Wayne, 2-2 in its first game. Against No. 5 Pitt, the Spartans fell just short, 4-3.

NEWCOMERS
The Spartans welcome eight new players to the 2023 roster with six freshmen and two transfers. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan comes to MSU from Mercyhurst. Sophomore midfielder Cristiano Bruletti is a transfer from South Carolina. Kerrigan, Bruletti and Ludwig trained with the team during the spring season for extra experience.

OLDTIMERS
Michigan State brings back its top two scorers in sophomore Jonathan Stout and senior Greyson Mercer. Stout led the team in scoring with four goals and four assists for 12 points, while Mercer was second with four goals and two assists for 10 points.

UP NEXT
After taking on Army, MSU will face Villanova on Monday, Sept. 4 at 3 p.m. The Spartans then return home to face Dayton on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. on Ted Lasso Night.

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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Colin Arce

Cristiano Bruletti

Efosa Emovon

Zac Kelly

Sean Kerrigan

Greyson Mercer

Will Perkins

Jeremy Sharp

Jake Spadafora

Jonathan Stout