This Week In Spartan Athletics – October 23
10/23/2024 10:43:00 AM | General
This Week In Spartan Athletics – October 23
Here's a look at the week ahead (October 23-29) for Michigan State Athletics:
Football
Michigan State and Michigan meet for the 117th time in the series in the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, awarded to the game's winner since 1953. The two teams meets Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. in Ann Arbor, where MSU has won five of the last eight games and three of the last five. MSU is riding the momentum of a 32-20 Homecoming win over Iowa, led by six field goals from Jonathan Kim who earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors, while also being named one of the Lou Groza Award three stars of the week.
Women's Tennis
The women's tennis program is hosting the Michigan State Classic, presented by Auto-Owners Insurance, Friday through Sunday at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center. In their last competition at the ITA Midwest Regional Championship, three Spartans competed in the main draw. Junior Matilde Morais won two matches, advancing to the round of 16.
Field Hockey
Michigan State plays its final two home games of the season this weekend, hosting a pair of ranked opponents in Iowa and Northwestern. Friday, the Spartans take on the No. 16 Hawkeyes at 3 p.m. Fans receive free admission and students who attend will receive 2X points in the Student Rewards App. Sunday, MSU hosts No. 1 Northwestern at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Women's Soccer
The Spartans wrap up the regular season Sunday at home against Purdue. No. 18 Michigan State got back on the winning track last weekend with shutout home victories against both Wisconsin and Northwestern. Senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks earned Big Ten Goalkeeper of the week and ranks tied for third in the Big Ten with eight clean sheets on the season. The Spartans have clinched a first round bye in the Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament and will play in the quarterfinals against a yet-to-be-determined opponent on Nov. 2.
Men's Basketball
The Spartans host Ferris State on Oct. 29 at Breslin Center for the second exhibition contest of the season. Last season, the Bulldogs advanced to the Elite Eight of the Division 2 NCAA Tournament. FSU is led by Ethan Erickson who averaged a team-best 14.8 points per game last season, including connecting on 44.4 percent shooting from 3-point range. The regular season begins Nov. 4 vs. Monmouth.
Women's Basketball
The women's basketball team hosts Wayne State on Oct. 28 in the lone exhibition contest of the season for the Spartans. Michigan State is led by graduate student Julia Ayrault, a first team All-Big Ten selection in 2023-24, and junior Theryn Hallock, who averaged 11.2 last season.
Men's Soccer
Just two games remain in the regular season, starting with a Oct. 29 contest at Ohio State. The Spartans and Buckeyes both stand in the top four in the Big Ten entering the stretch run. Last time out, Michigan State battled Michigan to a scoreless draw to retain the Big Bear Trophy.
Volleyball
Michigan State travels out west for a pair of matches against new Big Ten foes USC and UCLA. The Spartans will face the No. 16 Trojans on Thursday followed by a Sunday contest against the Bruins. Away from the court, the Spartans have partnered with Team IMPACT to spread some joy in the world.
Women's Golf
The Spartans wrap up the fall season at The Landfall Tradition at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, North Carolina, Friday through Sunday. Michigan State has finished in the top four in each of its previous three fall tournaments, including second-place finishes at the Mary Fossum Invitational and the Tar Heel Invitational. Brooke Biermann is currently ranked No. 28 in the nation and was named Big Ten Golfer of the Week after her performance at the Tar Heel Invitational.
Cross Country
It's the final meet of the regular season, as members of the men's and women's cross country teams will compete Friday at the EMU Fall Classic in Dexter. The Spartans are gearing up for the Big Ten Cross Country Championships Nov. 1 in Champaign. Men's senior Andrew Nolan, the top Spartan finisher at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, was recently featured on Spartans All-Access.
Men's Tennis
Members of the men's tennis team will compete in the Louisville Classic Friday through Sunday in Louisville, Kentucky. After last week's victory at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships, Ozan Baris was named Big Ten Men's Tennis Co-Player of the Week, becoming the first Spartan to earn three career Big Ten weekly honors.
Ice Hockey
No. 4 Michigan State is on the road at Canisius for Friday and Saturday night contests. Isaac Howard and Daniel Russell lead the Spartans with three goals each, while Howard's seven points not only lead the team, they rank tied for second in the Big Ten.
Rowing
Michigan State novice rowers will compete at Michigan on Saturday.
