While the football team suffered a setback against Nebraska in Pat Fitzgerald’s rebuild, several other Spartan Sports are off to great starts this fall. We thought it was worth taking a quick look at some of these performances.
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Women’s Soccer is currently ranked #2 in the nation and in a four-way tie for first place in the Big Ten conference standings. MSU is 8-1-2 overall and 4-1 in the league.
Michigan State got a massive
win at #6 North Carolina in their third game of the season on August 24, downing the Tar Heels by a score of 3-2. This was MSU’s first of four wins so far against ranked opponents. The Spartans have also won at UCLA and while defeating Colorado and, most recently on Sunday, Washington at home.
Even more impressive is that the Spartans have done much of this damage without starting goalkeeper Noelle Henning. The sophomore from Milton, Ontario last played in the game three win at North Carolina and returned to the lineup Sunday against the Huskies. In between, she had been representing Team Canada as the starting keeper at the U-20 World Cup. Henning has recorded three shutouts in her four MSU appearances so far this season.
Senior forward Kennedy Bell leads MSU with six goals and five assists while senior midfielder Kayla Briggs has added five goals and five assists.
Michigan State next takes the pitch on Sunday at Illinois (2 PM ET, B1G+).
Men’s Soccer holds a #11 national ranking with a 7-1-1 overall record, including a perfect 3-0 in the Big Ten. The Spartans are coming off a 3-0 win over #13 Wisconsin on September 25. The victory over the Badgers was MSU’s first against a ranked opponent this year, with their only loss at #19 Kansas City on September 11.
Senior forward Andrew Darakdjian has four goals and two assists while fellow senior forward Richie Ludwig leads the team with six assists to go with his two goals. Sophomore defender Conner O’Keefe has added three goals.
Junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz has started all nine games for MSU, making 14 saves and recording 5 shutouts.
Next up for MSU is a home game against UCLA on Saturday (9 PM, B1G+).
Volleyball is off to an 11-1 start and, under second-year head coach Kristen Kelsay, just recorded its first win against a top-15 opponent in three years.
MSU defeated #14 Penn State on in four sets on Sunday in the Breslin Center. Michigan State bounced back quickly after dropping their Big Ten opener to Washington on September 25.
A West Coast swing is next up for MSU, with games at UCLA (Friday, 10 PM ET) and USC (Sunday, 5 PM ET). Both games are on B1G+.
Looming down the road for the Spartans is a massive opportunity when MSU hosts top-ranked Nebraska on October 31.
Finally, in what may be welcome news for MSU fans, men’s basketball and hockey begin competition on Friday, with each team hosting an exhibition game. On the court, the Spartans host Division 2 Incarnate Word at 7 PM and on the ice, it’s #3 MSU vs. #12 Boston College at 5 PM. The hockey game can be seen on B1G+ but no broadcast information for basketball is currently listed on the MSU website.
Go Green!
