MSU Men's Soccer Opens B1G Road Action at Penn State Friday
9/19/2024 12:34:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Spartans are looking for their first win against PSU since 2021.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer hits the road for its Big Ten road opener against Penn State on Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.
The Spartans stand 2-3-2 overall and 1-0-0 in league play with a dramatic 1-0 win against Washington on Sept. 13. Jonathan Stout scored the game winner for Michigan State.
Owen Cameros and Ben Hoyt will be on the call for B1G+.
FINDING HIS GROOVE
Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout leads the team in scoring with two goals and one assist for five points. He is also tied for the team lead in shots on goal with seven with senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan. Sophomore forward Richie Ludwig, senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan and freshman forward Mohamed Saad have also found the back of the net this season.
BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opened Big Ten action against new Big Ten member Washington on Sept. 13. The Spartans are 7-1-2 in their last 10 Big Ten openers. Last season, the Spartans tied Rutgers on the road 1-1 in the league opener. In 2022, MSU tied No. 16 Indiana to open league play. In 2021, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 in Madison.
Prior to the last three seasons, Michigan State had begun B1G action against RU for five-straight seasons, going 4-1-0 during that span.
LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
After a midweek loss to Ohio State on Sept. 17, Penn State stands 2-5 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten action. PSU lost its B1G opener to then-No. 22 Michigan in Ann Arbor, 2-1.
Christian Dionne leads the Nittany Lions in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points. Both Matthew Henderson and Caden Grabfelder are second in scoring with two goals apiece. Andrew Cooke has started five games in goal for Penn State, allowing 15 goals for a 3.00 GAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads the overall series with Michigan State, 26-17-3. On the road, PSU leads 10-7, while holding the lead 10-7-3 in East Lansing. On neutral territory, Penn State leads 6-3. Last season at DeMartin Stadium, the teams battled to a 0-0 tie. The Nittany Lions won the three previous games. Michigan State's last win against Penn State was a 1-0 victory in East Lansing in 2021.
FRESHMAN FRENZY
Freshman defender Brandon Munson has made the most of his brief time as a Spartan. He has played in all seven games, starting six. Against Washington on Sept. 13, his bicycle kick back save prevented the Huskies from scoring and was the No. 1 play on ESPN SportsCenter. Fellow freshman forward Mohamed Saad has also played in all seven games, starting four. He has scored one goal this season against Oregon State.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Through seven games this season, MSU has used six different starting lineups. In the first seven games, four Spartans have started every in Zac Kelly, Cristiano Bruletti, Jeremy Sharp, and Josh Adam.
BIG TIME B1G
Five teams in the Big Ten are ranked in either the United Soccer Coaches Poll or the Top Drawer Soccer Poll. In the USC poll, Wisconsin is ranked No. 7, while Michigan is No. 16, Wisconsin is No. 17 and Northwestern is No. 20. In the Top Drawer Poll, Wisconsin is No. 11, while Ohio State (No. 16), Maryland (No. 21) and Michigan (No. 24) are all ranked.
RULE CHANGES THIS SEASON
This season the clock will stop on substitutions with 15 minutes left if the game is tied or the winning team makes a sub.
Substitutions can be made during any stoppage of time. Another change is to allow teams six moments to make substitutions in a game. Current substitution exceptions for goalkeepers, injury caused by an opposing player who was cautioned or ejected, bleeding injury, blood on the uniform, concussion evaluation and a permanent medical condition will not count as a moment as long as no other substitutions are made at the same time by that team. If a coach has used all of their moments and there is an injury not covered by the current exceptions listed previously, the team will play short. For postseason overtime games, any unused moments will carry over and one additional moment for all of overtime will be awarded.
PK KING
Senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan scored the Spartans' first goal of the season in the 1-1 tie against No. 25 SIUE. Kerrigan continues to shine from the penalty spot. Last season, Kerrigan led Michigan State in scoring with 12 points on six goals. Five of his six goals were penalty kicks.
HERMANN TROPHY
Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout was named to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. Stout is the first Spartan to make the list since Giuseppe Barone and Patrick Nielsen were named to the Hermann Watch List in 2019.
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.
Juniors Jeremy Sharp, Jake Spadafora and Jonathan Stout were all honored by the league.
The Big Ten preseason poll was also released Tuesday, as voted on by the 11 conference coaches. This is first season the league has expanded to 11 teams with the addition of UCLA and Washington. MSU was voted to pick fifth, while Indiana was once again picked to win the league. Penn State was voted second, while newcomer UCLA was picked third.
Sharp, who hails from Roseville, Michigan, earned a spot on the B1G Player to Watch list for the first time in his career. Last season, the defender earned second-team All-Big Ten honors, playing in all 15 games. Sharp ended the season with third-team All-North Region honors.
Stout, a native of Wyoming, Michigan, was second on the team in scoring last season with 10 points on five goals. The midfielder was named to the preseason list last season as well. Stout was also named first-team All-Big Ten as a sophomore.
Spadafora, a forward who hails from Northville, Michigan, was tied for third on the team in scoring with three goals and one assist for seven points. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season, as well as capturing second-team All-North Region accolades.
UP NEXT
After the road Big Ten opener against Penn State, MSU remains on the road to take on UCLA on Sept. 27.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 16th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coaches T.J. Kolba is in his sixth season, while Nick Barry enters his fifth year at MSU. Reid Friedrichs, who enters his second 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.
The Spartans stand 2-3-2 overall and 1-0-0 in league play with a dramatic 1-0 win against Washington on Sept. 13. Jonathan Stout scored the game winner for Michigan State.
Owen Cameros and Ben Hoyt will be on the call for B1G+.
FINDING HIS GROOVE
Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout leads the team in scoring with two goals and one assist for five points. He is also tied for the team lead in shots on goal with seven with senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan. Sophomore forward Richie Ludwig, senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan and freshman forward Mohamed Saad have also found the back of the net this season.
BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opened Big Ten action against new Big Ten member Washington on Sept. 13. The Spartans are 7-1-2 in their last 10 Big Ten openers. Last season, the Spartans tied Rutgers on the road 1-1 in the league opener. In 2022, MSU tied No. 16 Indiana to open league play. In 2021, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 in Madison.
Prior to the last three seasons, Michigan State had begun B1G action against RU for five-straight seasons, going 4-1-0 during that span.
LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
After a midweek loss to Ohio State on Sept. 17, Penn State stands 2-5 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten action. PSU lost its B1G opener to then-No. 22 Michigan in Ann Arbor, 2-1.
Christian Dionne leads the Nittany Lions in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points. Both Matthew Henderson and Caden Grabfelder are second in scoring with two goals apiece. Andrew Cooke has started five games in goal for Penn State, allowing 15 goals for a 3.00 GAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads the overall series with Michigan State, 26-17-3. On the road, PSU leads 10-7, while holding the lead 10-7-3 in East Lansing. On neutral territory, Penn State leads 6-3. Last season at DeMartin Stadium, the teams battled to a 0-0 tie. The Nittany Lions won the three previous games. Michigan State's last win against Penn State was a 1-0 victory in East Lansing in 2021.
FRESHMAN FRENZY
Freshman defender Brandon Munson has made the most of his brief time as a Spartan. He has played in all seven games, starting six. Against Washington on Sept. 13, his bicycle kick back save prevented the Huskies from scoring and was the No. 1 play on ESPN SportsCenter. Fellow freshman forward Mohamed Saad has also played in all seven games, starting four. He has scored one goal this season against Oregon State.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Through seven games this season, MSU has used six different starting lineups. In the first seven games, four Spartans have started every in Zac Kelly, Cristiano Bruletti, Jeremy Sharp, and Josh Adam.
BIG TIME B1G
Five teams in the Big Ten are ranked in either the United Soccer Coaches Poll or the Top Drawer Soccer Poll. In the USC poll, Wisconsin is ranked No. 7, while Michigan is No. 16, Wisconsin is No. 17 and Northwestern is No. 20. In the Top Drawer Poll, Wisconsin is No. 11, while Ohio State (No. 16), Maryland (No. 21) and Michigan (No. 24) are all ranked.
RULE CHANGES THIS SEASON
This season the clock will stop on substitutions with 15 minutes left if the game is tied or the winning team makes a sub.
Substitutions can be made during any stoppage of time. Another change is to allow teams six moments to make substitutions in a game. Current substitution exceptions for goalkeepers, injury caused by an opposing player who was cautioned or ejected, bleeding injury, blood on the uniform, concussion evaluation and a permanent medical condition will not count as a moment as long as no other substitutions are made at the same time by that team. If a coach has used all of their moments and there is an injury not covered by the current exceptions listed previously, the team will play short. For postseason overtime games, any unused moments will carry over and one additional moment for all of overtime will be awarded.
PK KING
Senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan scored the Spartans' first goal of the season in the 1-1 tie against No. 25 SIUE. Kerrigan continues to shine from the penalty spot. Last season, Kerrigan led Michigan State in scoring with 12 points on six goals. Five of his six goals were penalty kicks.
HERMANN TROPHY
Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout was named to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. Stout is the first Spartan to make the list since Giuseppe Barone and Patrick Nielsen were named to the Hermann Watch List in 2019.
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.
Juniors Jeremy Sharp, Jake Spadafora and Jonathan Stout were all honored by the league.
The Big Ten preseason poll was also released Tuesday, as voted on by the 11 conference coaches. This is first season the league has expanded to 11 teams with the addition of UCLA and Washington. MSU was voted to pick fifth, while Indiana was once again picked to win the league. Penn State was voted second, while newcomer UCLA was picked third.
Sharp, who hails from Roseville, Michigan, earned a spot on the B1G Player to Watch list for the first time in his career. Last season, the defender earned second-team All-Big Ten honors, playing in all 15 games. Sharp ended the season with third-team All-North Region honors.
Stout, a native of Wyoming, Michigan, was second on the team in scoring last season with 10 points on five goals. The midfielder was named to the preseason list last season as well. Stout was also named first-team All-Big Ten as a sophomore.
Spadafora, a forward who hails from Northville, Michigan, was tied for third on the team in scoring with three goals and one assist for seven points. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season, as well as capturing second-team All-North Region accolades.
UP NEXT
After the road Big Ten opener against Penn State, MSU remains on the road to take on UCLA on Sept. 27.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 16th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coaches T.J. Kolba is in his sixth season, while Nick Barry enters his fifth year at MSU. Reid Friedrichs, who enters his second 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.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's SoccerDamon Rensing | Men's Soccer Press Conference | Oct. 6, 2025
Monday, October 06
Damon Rensing | Men's Soccer Press Conference | Sep. 29 2025
Monday, September 29
Spartans All-Access | Keeper of the Turf
Thursday, November 14
Playing Out His Dream | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, October 31