Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Peter Soudan Named Big Ten Freshman of the Year
11/13/2025 11:58:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Three total Spartans were honored by the league.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer player Peter Soudan was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, as the All-Big Ten awards were announced Thursday by the conference.
Soudan, who hails from Western Springs, Illinois, becomes the fifth Spartan to garner B1G Freshman of the Year honors and the first since Jonathan Stout in 2022. Jason Wolff was the first in 1994 followed by Kevin Cope (2009) and Giuseppe Barone (2016). Soudan played in all 16 games this season for the Spartans, starting 15. He ended the season tied for first on the team in points scored with 10. He netted three goals and had team-leading four assists, including the game-winner against No. 3 Indiana on Sept. 23.
Senior Zac Kelly, a native of Holt, Michigan, earned his second-straight All-Big Ten honor with second-team honors. He is the first Spartan goalkeeper to earn multiple league honors since Jimmy Hague was honored three-straight seasons. Kelly started all 16 games for the Spartans, earning five shutouts.
Midfielder Luke Spadafora joined Soudan on the All-Freshman Team. They follow in the footsteps of a pair of fellow Spartan teammates in midfielder Brandon Munson, who was honored in 2024 and defender Will Eby, who was named to the team in 2023. Spadafora, a native of Northville, Michigan, started all 16 games as a freshman. He scored two goals and added two assists for six points, which was fourth on the team this season.
Indiana's Palmer Ault was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Washington's Richie Aman earned Midfielder of the Year honors. Maryland's Lasse Kelp was the Defender of the Year, while Maryland's Sasho Cirovski captured Coach of the Year accolades.
Kelly also earned the Sportsmanship Award for the Spartans, as the Big Ten also recognized 11 Sportsmanship Award honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
2025 Big Ten Men's Soccer Postseason Honors
Offensive Player of the Year: Palmer Ault, Indiana
Midfielder of the Year: Richie Aman, Washington
Defensive Player of the Year: Lasse Kelp, Maryland
Goalkeeper of the Year: Laurin Mack, Maryland
Freshman of the Year: Peter Soudan, Michigan State
Coach of the Year: Sasho Cirovski, Maryland
All-Big Ten First Team*
PALMER AULT, F, Indiana
Luca Costabile, D, Maryland
Lasse Kelp, D, Maryland
Leon Koehl, M, Maryland
Laurin Mack, GK, Maryland
Sadam Masereka, F, Maryland
Stephane Njike, F, Maryland
SERGI SOLANS ORMO, F, UCLA
Richie Aman, M, Washington
Harrison Bertos, D, Washington
Alex Hall, M, Washington
Zach Ramsey, M, Washington
All-Big Ten Second Team
Collins Oduro, M, Indiana
Albi Ndrenika, F, Maryland
William Baker, D, Michigan
Matthew Fisher, D, Michigan
Nolan Miller, D, Michigan
Shuma Sasaki, F, Michigan
Zac Kelly, GK, Michigan State
Joe Suchecki, M, Northwestern
Joschi Schleb, M, Rutgers
Jadon Bowton, GK, Washington
Charlie Kosakoff, F, Washington
Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Colton Swan, F, Indiana
Rocket Ritarita, F, Maryland
Farouk Cisse, D, Maryland
Peter Soudan, M, Michigan State
Luke Spadafora, M, Michigan State
Aaron O'Reilly, F, Northwestern
Aaron Hurge, M, Ohio State
Jonathan Evans, GK, Penn State
Braxton Montgomery, D, Rutgers
Ander Marticorena, M, UCLA
Asher Hestad, D, Washington
Isaac Brown-Samper, D, Wisconsin
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
* - additional players added due to ties in voting
Soudan, who hails from Western Springs, Illinois, becomes the fifth Spartan to garner B1G Freshman of the Year honors and the first since Jonathan Stout in 2022. Jason Wolff was the first in 1994 followed by Kevin Cope (2009) and Giuseppe Barone (2016). Soudan played in all 16 games this season for the Spartans, starting 15. He ended the season tied for first on the team in points scored with 10. He netted three goals and had team-leading four assists, including the game-winner against No. 3 Indiana on Sept. 23.
Peter Soudan is the Big Ten Freshman of the Year!
— Michigan State Men's Soccer (@MSU_MSoccer) November 13, 2025
He is one of 5⃣ Spartans to have earned the honor. 🟢⚪️
🔗 https://t.co/M9fCNbCjxG pic.twitter.com/36WO22VlAK
Senior Zac Kelly, a native of Holt, Michigan, earned his second-straight All-Big Ten honor with second-team honors. He is the first Spartan goalkeeper to earn multiple league honors since Jimmy Hague was honored three-straight seasons. Kelly started all 16 games for the Spartans, earning five shutouts.
Our captain 🫡
— Michigan State Men's Soccer (@MSU_MSoccer) November 13, 2025
Zac earns a pair of honors! All-Big Ten and Sportsmanship! pic.twitter.com/pmQSdygXJR
Midfielder Luke Spadafora joined Soudan on the All-Freshman Team. They follow in the footsteps of a pair of fellow Spartan teammates in midfielder Brandon Munson, who was honored in 2024 and defender Will Eby, who was named to the team in 2023. Spadafora, a native of Northville, Michigan, started all 16 games as a freshman. He scored two goals and added two assists for six points, which was fourth on the team this season.
Big things ahead for these two freshmen! Congrats to Peter and Luke!👏👏 pic.twitter.com/3gU0ZOT57E
— Michigan State Men's Soccer (@MSU_MSoccer) November 13, 2025
Indiana's Palmer Ault was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Washington's Richie Aman earned Midfielder of the Year honors. Maryland's Lasse Kelp was the Defender of the Year, while Maryland's Sasho Cirovski captured Coach of the Year accolades.
Kelly also earned the Sportsmanship Award for the Spartans, as the Big Ten also recognized 11 Sportsmanship Award honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
2025 Big Ten Men's Soccer Postseason Honors
Offensive Player of the Year: Palmer Ault, Indiana
Midfielder of the Year: Richie Aman, Washington
Defensive Player of the Year: Lasse Kelp, Maryland
Goalkeeper of the Year: Laurin Mack, Maryland
Freshman of the Year: Peter Soudan, Michigan State
Coach of the Year: Sasho Cirovski, Maryland
All-Big Ten First Team*
PALMER AULT, F, Indiana
Luca Costabile, D, Maryland
Lasse Kelp, D, Maryland
Leon Koehl, M, Maryland
Laurin Mack, GK, Maryland
Sadam Masereka, F, Maryland
Stephane Njike, F, Maryland
SERGI SOLANS ORMO, F, UCLA
Richie Aman, M, Washington
Harrison Bertos, D, Washington
Alex Hall, M, Washington
Zach Ramsey, M, Washington
All-Big Ten Second Team
Collins Oduro, M, Indiana
Albi Ndrenika, F, Maryland
William Baker, D, Michigan
Matthew Fisher, D, Michigan
Nolan Miller, D, Michigan
Shuma Sasaki, F, Michigan
Zac Kelly, GK, Michigan State
Joe Suchecki, M, Northwestern
Joschi Schleb, M, Rutgers
Jadon Bowton, GK, Washington
Charlie Kosakoff, F, Washington
Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Colton Swan, F, Indiana
Rocket Ritarita, F, Maryland
Farouk Cisse, D, Maryland
Peter Soudan, M, Michigan State
Luke Spadafora, M, Michigan State
Aaron O'Reilly, F, Northwestern
Aaron Hurge, M, Ohio State
Jonathan Evans, GK, Penn State
Braxton Montgomery, D, Rutgers
Ander Marticorena, M, UCLA
Asher Hestad, D, Washington
Isaac Brown-Samper, D, Wisconsin
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
* - additional players added due to ties in voting
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ 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