Tuesday, September 26
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Oakland
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
No. 12 Spartans Continue Homestand Against Oakland Tuesday
9/25/2023 1:32:00 PM | Men's Soccer
This is the second of three-straight home games for MSU.
Michigan State Oakland
EAST LANSING, Mich. - In the midst of a three-game homestand, the Michigan State men's soccer team will host Oakland on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. Tuesday is First Responders Night where all first responders can get in free with a valid ID.
The Spartans remain unbeaten with a 5-0-2 overall record. Last time out, the Spartans defeated Indiana, 2-1, at home on Sept. 22. MSU is off to its best start since opening the 2018 season 8-0-2. Oakland is currently 2-4-1 overall and 1-2-1 in Horizon League action.
Jack Stager and Lexi Alston will be on the broadcast for the B1G+.
BACK IN THE POLLS
Michigan State returns to the polls for the first time since Sept. 3, 2019 when the Spartans were ranked No. 16 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. This week MSU is up to No. 12 in the TopDrawerSoccer Poll.
LOOKING AT THE GRIZZLIES
Oakland leads the overall series lead 22-14-3 with the Spartans on top at home 10-8-3. On the road, OU leads the series 14-4-0. In the last 10 meetings, MSU has led 8-2.
The two teams have not met since 2021 when Michigan State came out on top 3-1 in East Lansing. In that battle, Will Perkins, Farai Mutatu and Louis Sala all found the back of the net in the victory.
Oakland currently stands 2-5-1 overall and 1-2 in Horizon League action. OU has wins against Cleveland State and in-state foe Michigan. In conference play, the Grizzlies defeated Cleveland State, along with losses to Northern Kentucky and IUPUI.
Donovan Phillip leads the team in scoring with two goals and three assists for seven points. Mikey Ketterman is second with three goals for six points. Oakland has used three different goalkeepers this season. Finn Jurak was the netminder against IUPUI on Sept. 23. Overall, he has played in five games, allowing seven goals for a 1.45 GAA.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Eight different Spartans have started all seven games this season for Michigan State, including Zac Kelly, Jeremy Sharp and Will Eby who have all played all 630 minutes this season. Jake Spadafora, Jonathan Stout, Cristiano Bruletti, Jack Zugay and Jacob Cromer have also started all seven games.
PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE FOLKS
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan has his parents in the stands for the second-straight game. The Sligo, Ireland native scored the game-winning goal with a penalty kick against Indiana in front of his parents on Sept. 22.
BEST OF THE BEST
Michigan State is seventh in the country in save percentage (.867). Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is 13th in the nation in goals against average (0.57). Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is also among the nation's best, standing tied for fifth in game-winning goals with three.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State has scored 11 goals this season, and they have been scored by eight different people. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan leads the team with three goals scored, while freshman defender Will Eby is second in scoring with two goals for four points. Sophomores Josh Mason, Jack Guggemos and Jeremy Sharp are tied for third in scoring with three points each.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Spartans have not shied from the bright lights this season. MSU is 5-0 so far in night games, including its 2-1 win over Indiana on Sept. 22.
CLEAN SHEETS
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 the Falcons.
Kelly collected his second shutout of the season against Dayton on Sept. 7 and added his third the next game against No. 10 Notre Dame.
OFF TO A FAST START
The Spartans are off to their best start since the 2018 season when MSU began 8-0-2.
ADDING ON THE WINS
After finishing last season 6-9-2, the Spartans are now just one wins away from tying last season's win total. So far, MSU stands 5-0-2.
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.
ZAC ATTACK
Michigan State redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly was named Big Ten Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18. Kelly is the first Spartan to capture back-to-back Big Ten honors.
He was also named to the Top Drawer Soccer honorable mention team of the week.
Kelly, who hails from Holt, Michigan, earned his third clean sheet of the season after a 1-0 win over No. 10 Notre Dame on the road on Sept. 12. He collected four saves in the big win over the Irish. Kelly finished out the week with a 1-1 tie on the road against Rutgers on Sept. 17. He tied his season high with five saves against the Scarlet Knights.
Prior to last week, Michigan State's last Big Defensive Player of the Week honor was on Oct. 4, 2022 when goalkeeper Owen Finnerty earned the honor. The last Offensive Player of the Week honor went to Farai Mutatu on Sept. 21, 2021.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 18/22 Michigan State men's soccer posted its first win over Indiana since 2014 with a 2-1 Victory for MSU on Friday night at a spirited DeMartin Stadium as part of MSU Homecoming festivities.
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, a native of Sligo, Ireland and with his parents visiting from Ireland in attendance, roofed a penalty kick goal in the 77th minute for a 2-1 Spartan advantage. The MSU defense then bolted down the hatches and defended DeMartin for the win, sparking the celebration of the nearly 3,000 fans in attendance.
Along with tying in last season's meeting, 1-1, MSU's previous win over Indiana was on Nov. 5, 2014 in Bloomington, Ind., and was also a one-goal contest, 3-2. The Spartans' last win over the Hoosiers in a match played in East Lansing was Oct. 28, 2012, with a 3-1 Victory for MSU.
In the 15th minute, freshman Richie Ludwig took a pass from sophomore midfielder Cristiano Bruletti, and fired a shot from just outside the 18-yard box and slotted in home to the lower left corner of the IU goal and past Hoosier goalkeeper JT Harms, to give MSU the early 1-0 advantage.
The Spartans' lead was short-lived as in the 20th minute, Indiana's Samuel Sarver scored the equalizer on a partial breakaway. Sarver fired a shot that Spartan redshirt-sophomore netminder Zac Kelly got a hand to, but not enough to keep it out of the net, leveling the score at 1-all.
In the 77th minute, sophomore forward Jonathan Stout was fouled in the box, before getting reviewed by the official. After video review confirmed the penalty kick, Kerrigan smashed the shot to the upper right corner of the net for what held up as the game-winning goal.
AROUND THE B1G
Michigan State leads the Big Ten in fewest goals allowed with four. Indiana and Penn State follow behind, allowing only five. The Spartans are also fourth in points scored with 31, behind 11 goals and nine assists.
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is first in the Big Ten with a 0.57 goals against average and second with 3.71 saves per game.
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is third in the league in game-winning goals with two, while sophomores Jack Guggemos and Jeremy Sharp are tied for fourth in assists with three each.
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.
PRESEASON
The season opener was 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
Michigan State will close out its three-game homestand on Sunday, Oct. 1 against Penn State at 3 p.m. The game will be the second half of a doubleheader with the MSU women's team who are also facing PSU.
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.
| 2023 Record | 5-0-2, 1-0-1 B1G | 2-4-1, 1-2-1 HL |
| 2022 Record | 6-9-2, 3-4-1 B1G | 4-10-5, 4-2-3 HL |
| Head Coach | Damon Rensing | Eric Pogue |
| Career Record | 141-103-39(15th) | 113-116-36 (15th) |
| at Current School | Same | Same |
EAST LANSING, Mich. - In the midst of a three-game homestand, the Michigan State men's soccer team will host Oakland on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. Tuesday is First Responders Night where all first responders can get in free with a valid ID.
The Spartans remain unbeaten with a 5-0-2 overall record. Last time out, the Spartans defeated Indiana, 2-1, at home on Sept. 22. MSU is off to its best start since opening the 2018 season 8-0-2. Oakland is currently 2-4-1 overall and 1-2-1 in Horizon League action.
Jack Stager and Lexi Alston will be on the broadcast for the B1G+.
BACK IN THE POLLS
Michigan State returns to the polls for the first time since Sept. 3, 2019 when the Spartans were ranked No. 16 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. This week MSU is up to No. 12 in the TopDrawerSoccer Poll.
LOOKING AT THE GRIZZLIES
Oakland leads the overall series lead 22-14-3 with the Spartans on top at home 10-8-3. On the road, OU leads the series 14-4-0. In the last 10 meetings, MSU has led 8-2.
The two teams have not met since 2021 when Michigan State came out on top 3-1 in East Lansing. In that battle, Will Perkins, Farai Mutatu and Louis Sala all found the back of the net in the victory.
Oakland currently stands 2-5-1 overall and 1-2 in Horizon League action. OU has wins against Cleveland State and in-state foe Michigan. In conference play, the Grizzlies defeated Cleveland State, along with losses to Northern Kentucky and IUPUI.
Donovan Phillip leads the team in scoring with two goals and three assists for seven points. Mikey Ketterman is second with three goals for six points. Oakland has used three different goalkeepers this season. Finn Jurak was the netminder against IUPUI on Sept. 23. Overall, he has played in five games, allowing seven goals for a 1.45 GAA.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Eight different Spartans have started all seven games this season for Michigan State, including Zac Kelly, Jeremy Sharp and Will Eby who have all played all 630 minutes this season. Jake Spadafora, Jonathan Stout, Cristiano Bruletti, Jack Zugay and Jacob Cromer have also started all seven games.
PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE FOLKS
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan has his parents in the stands for the second-straight game. The Sligo, Ireland native scored the game-winning goal with a penalty kick against Indiana in front of his parents on Sept. 22.
BEST OF THE BEST
Michigan State is seventh in the country in save percentage (.867). Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is 13th in the nation in goals against average (0.57). Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is also among the nation's best, standing tied for fifth in game-winning goals with three.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State has scored 11 goals this season, and they have been scored by eight different people. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan leads the team with three goals scored, while freshman defender Will Eby is second in scoring with two goals for four points. Sophomores Josh Mason, Jack Guggemos and Jeremy Sharp are tied for third in scoring with three points each.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Spartans have not shied from the bright lights this season. MSU is 5-0 so far in night games, including its 2-1 win over Indiana on Sept. 22.
CLEAN SHEETS
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 the Falcons.
Kelly collected his second shutout of the season against Dayton on Sept. 7 and added his third the next game against No. 10 Notre Dame.
OFF TO A FAST START
The Spartans are off to their best start since the 2018 season when MSU began 8-0-2.
ADDING ON THE WINS
After finishing last season 6-9-2, the Spartans are now just one wins away from tying last season's win total. So far, MSU stands 5-0-2.
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.
ZAC ATTACK
Michigan State redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly was named Big Ten Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18. Kelly is the first Spartan to capture back-to-back Big Ten honors.
He was also named to the Top Drawer Soccer honorable mention team of the week.
Kelly, who hails from Holt, Michigan, earned his third clean sheet of the season after a 1-0 win over No. 10 Notre Dame on the road on Sept. 12. He collected four saves in the big win over the Irish. Kelly finished out the week with a 1-1 tie on the road against Rutgers on Sept. 17. He tied his season high with five saves against the Scarlet Knights.
Prior to last week, Michigan State's last Big Defensive Player of the Week honor was on Oct. 4, 2022 when goalkeeper Owen Finnerty earned the honor. The last Offensive Player of the Week honor went to Farai Mutatu on Sept. 21, 2021.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 18/22 Michigan State men's soccer posted its first win over Indiana since 2014 with a 2-1 Victory for MSU on Friday night at a spirited DeMartin Stadium as part of MSU Homecoming festivities.
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, a native of Sligo, Ireland and with his parents visiting from Ireland in attendance, roofed a penalty kick goal in the 77th minute for a 2-1 Spartan advantage. The MSU defense then bolted down the hatches and defended DeMartin for the win, sparking the celebration of the nearly 3,000 fans in attendance.
Along with tying in last season's meeting, 1-1, MSU's previous win over Indiana was on Nov. 5, 2014 in Bloomington, Ind., and was also a one-goal contest, 3-2. The Spartans' last win over the Hoosiers in a match played in East Lansing was Oct. 28, 2012, with a 3-1 Victory for MSU.
In the 15th minute, freshman Richie Ludwig took a pass from sophomore midfielder Cristiano Bruletti, and fired a shot from just outside the 18-yard box and slotted in home to the lower left corner of the IU goal and past Hoosier goalkeeper JT Harms, to give MSU the early 1-0 advantage.
The Spartans' lead was short-lived as in the 20th minute, Indiana's Samuel Sarver scored the equalizer on a partial breakaway. Sarver fired a shot that Spartan redshirt-sophomore netminder Zac Kelly got a hand to, but not enough to keep it out of the net, leveling the score at 1-all.
In the 77th minute, sophomore forward Jonathan Stout was fouled in the box, before getting reviewed by the official. After video review confirmed the penalty kick, Kerrigan smashed the shot to the upper right corner of the net for what held up as the game-winning goal.
AROUND THE B1G
Michigan State leads the Big Ten in fewest goals allowed with four. Indiana and Penn State follow behind, allowing only five. The Spartans are also fourth in points scored with 31, behind 11 goals and nine assists.
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly is first in the Big Ten with a 0.57 goals against average and second with 3.71 saves per game.
Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan is third in the league in game-winning goals with two, while sophomores Jack Guggemos and Jeremy Sharp are tied for fourth in assists with three each.
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.
PRESEASON
The season opener was 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
Michigan State will close out its three-game homestand on Sunday, Oct. 1 against Penn State at 3 p.m. The game will be the second half of a doubleheader with the MSU women's team who are also facing PSU.
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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