Friday, September 12
Seattle, Wash.
10:30 PM ET
Michigan State University
at
Washington
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Spartan Men's Soccer Opens B1G Action at Washington Friday
9/11/2025 3:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer
This is just the sixth meeting between the teams.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer heads west to open Big Ten action on Friday, Sept. 12 at Husky Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.
The Spartans are looking for their second-straight win after defeating Oakland in East Lansing, 3-2, on Tuesday. The Huskies improved to 2-2-2 with a dominating 7-2 win over Seattle on Tuesday.
Tony Chen (PxP) and Scot Gladstone (analyst) will be on the call for B1G Student U.
BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opens Big Ten action against Washington on Friday, Sept. 12. This is the second-straight season that the two teams have met in the B1G opener. The Spartans are 7-1-3 in their last 11 Big Ten openers. Last season, MSU defeated UW, 1-0, in East Lansing. The Spartans tied Rutgers on the road 1-1 in the league opener in 2023. In 2022, MSU tied No. 16 Indiana to open league play. In 2021, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 in Madison.
LOOKING AT THE HUSKIES
Washington improved to 2-2-2 with a dominating 7-2 win over Seattle on Tuesday. After going doing down 2-0 in the first half, the Huskies recovered scoring seven unanswered goals by six different people.
Zach Ramsey leads the team in scoring with three goals and three assists for nine points. Richie Aman is second with two goals and four assists for eight points. Eleven of Washington's 15 goals have come in two games, a 4-0 win over UNLV and the 7-2 victory over Seattle.
Three different goalkeepers have spent time in net for the Huskies this season. Jadon Bowton played the bulk of the game against the Redhawks. Overall, the Husky netminders have allowed only nine goals in six games.
SERIES HISTORY
Washington leads the overall series with Michigan State 2-1-2. The teams met twice last season. During the regular season, MSU captured its first-ever win against the Huskies in East Lansing, 1-0, on Sept. 13 in the Big Ten opener. On Alumni Day, Jonathan Stout scored the games only goal in the 62nd minute. Brandon Munson's ESPN Top Plays worthy bicycle kick save in the 65th minute kept MSU on top. In the 87th minute, Zac Kelly saved a penalty kick, as the Spartans held on to victory. In Bridgeview, Illinois on Nov. 7, the teams battled to a scoreless tie in the Big Ten Tournament. UW advanced on PKs 5-3. In 2022 prior to joining the Big Ten, Washington came out on top in Seattle, 4-1.
ON THE STAT SHEETS
The Spartans are third in the league in shots with 83 so far this season. Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly is tied for third in the Big Ten in shutouts with two.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Rutgers' Joschi Schelb is first in the Big Ten in goals scored with five. He is also first in the league in points with 11 (5 goals, 1 assist). Junior midfielder Miles Merritt is eighth in points with six off of two goals and two assists.
REACHING A MILESTONE
With a win against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 1, MSU head coach Damon Rensing reached the 150 win-plateau. He is the second winningest coach in Spartan history. Hall of Famer Joe Baum is the all-time leader with 320 career wins. Rensing holds a career record of 151-114-49 in 17 seasons in the Green and White.
MAKING AN IMPACT
In the first five games, two newcomers have started all games. Junior transfer Miles Merritt and freshman Luke Spadafora have been in all games. Freshmen Chim Okeke and JEB Knox have played in all five games with Knox starting two. Freshman Peter Soudan has played in all five games and started the last four games. Freshman Charlie Norkett has played in four games this season, while Kayden Hudson has seen action in three games. Luke Spadafora scored his first collegiate goal against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 1.
LUKE SPADAFORA EARNS LEAGUE HONOR
Luke Spadafora was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 2.
Spadafora is the second Spartan to earn B1G Freshman of the Week honors. The 2024 season was the first season that the award was given. Midfielder Brandon Munson was named Freshman of the Week on Oct. 1, 2024.
The midfielder, who hails from Northville, Michigan, scored the game-winning goal in MSU's 1-0 victory over Detroit Mercy on Sept. 1. His first goal in the Green and White was a game winner in the 78th minute was the game winner for the Spartans.
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Sophomore midfielder Brandon Munson and junior midfielder Miles Merritt lead the team in points with one goal and one assist for three points each. Freshman midfielder Luke Spadafora is the only other Spartan to find the back of the net this season.
DID YOU KNOW?
With two shutouts so far this season, redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has 14 career clean sheets. With his next shutout, he will be tied for eighth in the MSU record books. He would be tied with T.J. Lieckfelt (1997-00), Joe Baum (1967-68) and Paul Zimmerman (1983-85).
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List.
Kelly, who hails from Holt, Michigan, is the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. Last season, he was the first Michigan State athlete to earn B1G Goalkeeper of the Year honors since Jimmy Hague in 2017. Kelly started all 17 games for MSU last season, earning seven shutouts.
Merritt, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was named a United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch. The midfielder is in his first season with the Spartans after playing two years at Incarnate Word.
Munson, a sophomore who hails from Spring Hill, Florida, was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Ahead of the start of practice on Aug. 5, Michigan State head men's soccer coach Damon Rensing announced the three captains for the 2025 season in Zac Kelly, Josh Adam and Will Eby.
PRESEASON PLAY
The Spartans played two exhibition games in preparation for the 2025 season. On Aug. 10, Michigan State defeated Butler at DeMartin Stadium, 2-0. On Aug. 15, the Spartans came away with a 2-1 win at UIC.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Several Spartans are logging in the minutes early on this season. Outside of goalkeeper Zac Kelly and defender Josh Adam, who have played all 450 minutes, defender Will Eby has logged in the most minutes with 439. Midfielders Luke Spadafora (404 minutes) and Miles Merritt (403) are next in minutes played.
LAST TIME OUT
Three different Spartans found the back of the net, as Michigan State men's soccer powered past Oakland, 3-2, Monday night at DeMartin Stadium.
Michigan State got on the board early in the 18th minute. Freshman midfielder Peter Soudan scored his first collegiate goal to start the barrage of scoring. Soudan stole the ball from an Oakland defender and launched the ball to the lower right corner past OU goalkeeper Cole Thompson.
Less than five minutes later, the Spartans jumped out to a 2-0 lead. In the 23rd minute, Soudan started the play on the left side of the field, finding junior midfielder Miles Merritt. The midfielder then found freshman midfielder Luke Spadafora inside the six-yard box for the goal. Spadafora now has two goals on the season.
The Spartans weren't done yet scoring in the 25th minute. This time Merritt scored his second goal of the season off assists from Luke Spadafora and Jack Guggemos. Soudan, Spadafora and Merritt all had three points on the day.
UP NEXT
After traveling to Washington, Michigan State will return home to take on Ohio State in its Big Ten home opener on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 17th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coach T.J. Kolba is in his seventh season, while Nick Barry enters his sixth year at MSU. Reid Friedrichs, who enters his third 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.
This year there is a new face on the Spartan bench in former Spartan Zach Carroll, who was the No. 38 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls. He earned first-team All-Big honors in 2015.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
MSU junior midfielder Colin Arce is following in his father's footsteps. Steve Arce played at Michigan State from 1998-01 when current head coach Damon Rensing was an assistant coach.
The Spartans are looking for their second-straight win after defeating Oakland in East Lansing, 3-2, on Tuesday. The Huskies improved to 2-2-2 with a dominating 7-2 win over Seattle on Tuesday.
Tony Chen (PxP) and Scot Gladstone (analyst) will be on the call for B1G Student U.
BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opens Big Ten action against Washington on Friday, Sept. 12. This is the second-straight season that the two teams have met in the B1G opener. The Spartans are 7-1-3 in their last 11 Big Ten openers. Last season, MSU defeated UW, 1-0, in East Lansing. The Spartans tied Rutgers on the road 1-1 in the league opener in 2023. In 2022, MSU tied No. 16 Indiana to open league play. In 2021, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 in Madison.
LOOKING AT THE HUSKIES
Washington improved to 2-2-2 with a dominating 7-2 win over Seattle on Tuesday. After going doing down 2-0 in the first half, the Huskies recovered scoring seven unanswered goals by six different people.
Zach Ramsey leads the team in scoring with three goals and three assists for nine points. Richie Aman is second with two goals and four assists for eight points. Eleven of Washington's 15 goals have come in two games, a 4-0 win over UNLV and the 7-2 victory over Seattle.
Three different goalkeepers have spent time in net for the Huskies this season. Jadon Bowton played the bulk of the game against the Redhawks. Overall, the Husky netminders have allowed only nine goals in six games.
SERIES HISTORY
Washington leads the overall series with Michigan State 2-1-2. The teams met twice last season. During the regular season, MSU captured its first-ever win against the Huskies in East Lansing, 1-0, on Sept. 13 in the Big Ten opener. On Alumni Day, Jonathan Stout scored the games only goal in the 62nd minute. Brandon Munson's ESPN Top Plays worthy bicycle kick save in the 65th minute kept MSU on top. In the 87th minute, Zac Kelly saved a penalty kick, as the Spartans held on to victory. In Bridgeview, Illinois on Nov. 7, the teams battled to a scoreless tie in the Big Ten Tournament. UW advanced on PKs 5-3. In 2022 prior to joining the Big Ten, Washington came out on top in Seattle, 4-1.
ON THE STAT SHEETS
The Spartans are third in the league in shots with 83 so far this season. Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly is tied for third in the Big Ten in shutouts with two.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Rutgers' Joschi Schelb is first in the Big Ten in goals scored with five. He is also first in the league in points with 11 (5 goals, 1 assist). Junior midfielder Miles Merritt is eighth in points with six off of two goals and two assists.
REACHING A MILESTONE
With a win against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 1, MSU head coach Damon Rensing reached the 150 win-plateau. He is the second winningest coach in Spartan history. Hall of Famer Joe Baum is the all-time leader with 320 career wins. Rensing holds a career record of 151-114-49 in 17 seasons in the Green and White.
MAKING AN IMPACT
In the first five games, two newcomers have started all games. Junior transfer Miles Merritt and freshman Luke Spadafora have been in all games. Freshmen Chim Okeke and JEB Knox have played in all five games with Knox starting two. Freshman Peter Soudan has played in all five games and started the last four games. Freshman Charlie Norkett has played in four games this season, while Kayden Hudson has seen action in three games. Luke Spadafora scored his first collegiate goal against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 1.
LUKE SPADAFORA EARNS LEAGUE HONOR
Luke Spadafora was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 2.
Spadafora is the second Spartan to earn B1G Freshman of the Week honors. The 2024 season was the first season that the award was given. Midfielder Brandon Munson was named Freshman of the Week on Oct. 1, 2024.
The midfielder, who hails from Northville, Michigan, scored the game-winning goal in MSU's 1-0 victory over Detroit Mercy on Sept. 1. His first goal in the Green and White was a game winner in the 78th minute was the game winner for the Spartans.
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Sophomore midfielder Brandon Munson and junior midfielder Miles Merritt lead the team in points with one goal and one assist for three points each. Freshman midfielder Luke Spadafora is the only other Spartan to find the back of the net this season.
DID YOU KNOW?
With two shutouts so far this season, redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has 14 career clean sheets. With his next shutout, he will be tied for eighth in the MSU record books. He would be tied with T.J. Lieckfelt (1997-00), Joe Baum (1967-68) and Paul Zimmerman (1983-85).
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List.
Kelly, who hails from Holt, Michigan, is the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. Last season, he was the first Michigan State athlete to earn B1G Goalkeeper of the Year honors since Jimmy Hague in 2017. Kelly started all 17 games for MSU last season, earning seven shutouts.
Merritt, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was named a United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch. The midfielder is in his first season with the Spartans after playing two years at Incarnate Word.
Munson, a sophomore who hails from Spring Hill, Florida, was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Ahead of the start of practice on Aug. 5, Michigan State head men's soccer coach Damon Rensing announced the three captains for the 2025 season in Zac Kelly, Josh Adam and Will Eby.
PRESEASON PLAY
The Spartans played two exhibition games in preparation for the 2025 season. On Aug. 10, Michigan State defeated Butler at DeMartin Stadium, 2-0. On Aug. 15, the Spartans came away with a 2-1 win at UIC.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Several Spartans are logging in the minutes early on this season. Outside of goalkeeper Zac Kelly and defender Josh Adam, who have played all 450 minutes, defender Will Eby has logged in the most minutes with 439. Midfielders Luke Spadafora (404 minutes) and Miles Merritt (403) are next in minutes played.
LAST TIME OUT
Three different Spartans found the back of the net, as Michigan State men's soccer powered past Oakland, 3-2, Monday night at DeMartin Stadium.
Michigan State got on the board early in the 18th minute. Freshman midfielder Peter Soudan scored his first collegiate goal to start the barrage of scoring. Soudan stole the ball from an Oakland defender and launched the ball to the lower right corner past OU goalkeeper Cole Thompson.
Less than five minutes later, the Spartans jumped out to a 2-0 lead. In the 23rd minute, Soudan started the play on the left side of the field, finding junior midfielder Miles Merritt. The midfielder then found freshman midfielder Luke Spadafora inside the six-yard box for the goal. Spadafora now has two goals on the season.
The Spartans weren't done yet scoring in the 25th minute. This time Merritt scored his second goal of the season off assists from Luke Spadafora and Jack Guggemos. Soudan, Spadafora and Merritt all had three points on the day.
UP NEXT
After traveling to Washington, Michigan State will return home to take on Ohio State in its Big Ten home opener on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 17th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coach T.J. Kolba is in his seventh season, while Nick Barry enters his sixth year at MSU. Reid Friedrichs, who enters his third 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.
This year there is a new face on the Spartan bench in former Spartan Zach Carroll, who was the No. 38 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls. He earned first-team All-Big honors in 2015.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
MSU junior midfielder Colin Arce is following in his father's footsteps. Steve Arce played at Michigan State from 1998-01 when current head coach Damon Rensing was an assistant coach.
Players Mentioned
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