Michigan State Opens Big Ten Play Sunday Against No. 17 Ohio State

No. 17 Ohio State (6-1) at Michigan State (1-4)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 17
Time: 12 p.m.
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Game Notes
Game Program
Location: East Lansing, Mich. (Ralph Young Field)
Promotional Event: Alumni Celebration/Throwback Sunday

EAST LANSING, Mich.— MSU hasn't traveled much recently as it hosts the third of five straight home games against no. 17 Ohio State in a televised B1G matchup to open conference play. The Spartans look to get back in the win column after they fell to Stanford 3-2 in a back-and-forth overtime matchup.

This will be the 71st meeting between these two programs. The Buckeyes lead the series 43-24-3. Michigan State's last victory over OSU was in 2017 in the first ever shootout between the teams, 2-1.

WHO TO WATCH

Lulu Fulton and Kim Smit each recorded their first goal this season in Tuesday's matchup against Stanford. Smit had MSU play of the game with a buzzer-beater at the end of the first half.

Lyra Gavino has started the last three games for the Spartans. She leads the team with 12 saves. Gavino has a 1.98 GAA and .600 save percentage.

Senior Emma O'Neill is the team's leading scorer with three goals on nine shot attempts.

SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES

Starting the season unranked, Ohio State finds itself in the rankings for a second week in a row moving up one spot in the NFHCA rankings this week to no. 17.

Senior forward Makenna Webster ranks fifth in the country with eight goals. Through seven games, Webster has scored in five of the seven matchups. The Buckeyes are 5-0 when Webster scores.

Ohio State won last year's matchup in Columbus in a tightly contested double overtime, 2-1.

Abby Danson is the veteran in the net for OSU, appearing in 48 career games. Through seven games Danson has a 1.04 GAA that ranks 12th in the country.