Field Hockey To Host #15 Rutgers, #11 Maryland

EAST LANSING, Mich.- Michigan State field hockey returns home to Ralph Young Field for the first time in nearly a month this weekend, as they host two nationally ranked conference foes in No. 15-ranked Rutgers and No. 11-ranked Maryland.

Both games will be streamed on B1G+.

SERIES HISTORY
MSU trails in the all-time series with Rutgers, 8-12-1 and is 1-4 when hosting the Scarlet Knights in East Lansing. Rutgers has won the last 10 meetings against MSU, with Michigan State's last victory coming nearly 10 years to date as the Spartans defeated Rutgers 5-4 in double overtime on October 2, 2015.

Maryland is 17-0 all-time against Michigan State. The two teams last met in East Lansing on October 11, 2024, when the Terrapins defeated the Spartans, 3-1.

ABOUT RUTGERS
Rutgers enters the weekend sporting a 6-4 record (1-0 B1G) and rose to #15 in the NFHCA rankings this week. The Scarlet Knights come to East Lansing after a 2-0 weekend, with wins over conference opponent Ohio State 2-1 in overtime, and non-conference opponent Columbia, 8-0.

The Scarlet Knight offensive attack is charged by a trio of players; junior forward Olivia Fraticelli, sophomore forward Sophie Kuiper and graduate student Paulina Niklaus. Fraticelli leads Rutgers in goals (5) and points (12), is tied for the team lead with two assists and is second on the team with 11 shots on goal. Kuiper and Niklaus have a combined seven goals, four assists and 18 points. Kuiper leads Rutgers with a team-high 27 shots taken, 18 of which were on goal.

Emily Nicholls enters as Rutgers' top goalkeeper. Nicholls boasts a .840 save percentage, which ranks second in the Big Ten, and has made 69 saves against 82 shots faced, which ranks atop the Big Ten charts.

ABOUT MARYLAND
Maryland comes to town with a 6-3 record (2-0 B1G) and fell one spot to #11 in the NFHCA rankings this week. The Terrapins are coming off a 1-1 weekend, in which they defeated nationally ranked conference opponent #12 Michigan, 1-0 and fell to another nationally ranked opponent in #8 Princeton, 2-1. Maryland has played four consecutive nationally ranked opponents and went 3-1 in those four games.

Maryland's offense is paced by junior forward Maci Bradford and freshman midfielder Jordyn Hollamon. Bradford leads Maryland in assists (5) and points (13), while ranking second on the team behind Hollamon in shots (15) and shots on goal (10). Hollamon leads the Terps with 26 shots and 13 shots on goal while ranking second on the team with two assists and 10 points. Bradford and Hollamon have accounted for 8 of the 17 Terrapin goals this season, notching 4 apiece.

Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko enters the weekend as Maryland's top goalkeeper and has been the lone goalkeeper for the Terrapins this season. Klebasko has made 23 saves against 32 shots faced, giving her a .719 save percentage, which ranks third in the B1G. Klebasko faced a season high seven shots against Princeton last weekend, making five saves.

PREVIOUSLY FOR MSU
Michigan State went 0-2 last weekend, dropping its first game at #20 Penn State, 2-0, before heading to Lewisburg, Pa. and falling 4-0 to Bucknell.

MSU and Penn State played to a 0-0 tie through three periods last Friday before the Nittany Lions put two goals on the board in the fourth period.

ONES TO WATCH
Several Spartans were named to Watch Lists prior to the 2025 season:

Graduate students Tatum Johnson and Maddie Lawlor were named to the NFHCA Watch List. Johnson is in her first season back from a season-ending knee injury in 2024 and has contributed 4 points (1g, 2a) for the Spartans in her final season of eligibility. Lawlor is one of seven Spartans to score two goals this season and is in her fifth year at MSU.

In addition to Johnson and Lawlor, sophomore Lilian Knorr was named as a B1G Player to Watch. Knorr started all 18 games for MSU as a freshman in 2024 and tied for the team-best in points by a first-year player (10, 4g, 2a). Knorr has started in six games for MSU this season tallying an assist against Merrimack.

EVEN DISTRIBUTION
Michigan State has had 11 different goal-scorers through seven games this season. Seven Spartans are tied for the team-high in goals scored with two each.

Caro Schafer, Gracie Burns, Caroline Horace, Brynn Shaffer, Katelyn Dulin, Maddie Lawlor and Bianca Pizano have each scored twice. Schafer is the team-leader in points (7) with Burns, Horace and B. Shaffer close behind (5). Schafer and Alexa Shaffer are tied with three assists apiece this season.

In 2024, MSU had seven players register two or more goals scored and 10 different goal scorers overall.

UP NEXT
Michigan State returns to action next Sunday when it welcomes Appalachian State (10/12) to Ralph Young Field for the Spartans only game of the week.

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Players Mentioned

Gracie Burns

Katelyn Dulin

Caroline Horace

Tatum Johnson

Lilian Knorr

Maddie Lawlor

Bianca Pizano

Caro Schafer

Alexa Shaffer

Brynn Shaffer