Thursday, September 12
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Bowling Green
Photo by: Rey Del Rio MSU Athletic Communications
MSU Women’s Soccer Enters Last Week of Non-Conference Play
9/11/2019 5:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Spartans will host Bowling Green on Thursday night before making a trip to Oakland on Sunday.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's soccer closes out the non-conference portion of the season this week with two matches. The Spartans host Bowling Green on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. and travel to Oakland on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m.
The Spartans are 5-1-0 through the first six non-conference matches, and boast an undefeated record of 4-0-0 at home.
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans shutout Detroit Mercy, 3-0, on Sunday, Sept. 8 at DeMartin Stadium.
Redshirt goalkeeper Lauren Kozal earned her second shutout of the season, with two saves. The Spartan backline only allowed two shots the entire game.
Junior midfielder Danielle Stephan connected with sophomore forward Gia Wahlberg for her fifth assist of the year.
Junior midfielder Bella Jodzis scored her second goal of the season off an assist from sophomore forward Camryn Evans to put the Spartans up by two in the second half.
Wahlberg scored her second goal of the game and seventh of the season in the 67th minute on a deep shot that sailed into the top corner.
WAHLBERG CONTINUES TO SHINE
Gia Wahlberg continues to shine on the Spartan offense, scoring two of Michigan State's three goals against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 8. Wahlberg also scored the game winning goal in double OT to secure the win for Michigan State over Boston University.
Her four first-half goals vs. Marshall on Sept. 25 set a record for the most goals in a first-half at DeMartin Stadium, while the five total Spartan goals ties a record for most goals in a game and the most goals scored at DeMartin Stadium. The forward also tied the Big Ten record for most goals in a game, which only 12 other Big Ten players have achieved, including former Spartan Lauren Hill.
Overall, Wahlberg leads the team with 14 points, 14 shots on goal and three game winning goals this sesaon.
SPARTANS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Wahlberg and Stephan are both ranked nationally in various NCAA Division I Women's Soccer categories in total goals and total assists, respectively.
With her seven goals this season, Wahlberg is tied for sixth nationally in total goals scored. Wahlberg ties the 2018 Spartan leading goal scorer, Evans, through six games. She is also tied for fourth nationally with three game winning goals.
Stephan has a team-high five assists in the first six games, which is tied for seventh in the NCAA. Stephan led the Spartans in assists for the past two seasons, tallying six in 2017 and four last season.
MICHIGAN STATE NOTES
The Spartans have had seven different goal scorers through the first six matches, with Camryn Evans, Danielle Stephan, Bella Jodzis, Michaela Kovacs, Sydney Kloosterman, Gia Wahlberg and Paige Webber all tallying goals on the score-sheet. The seven goal scorers tops last season's numbers, with there only being six goal scorers through all 18 games in 2018.
This was also the second consecutive season that the Spartans have begun the season an undefeated 4-0-0 at home. Last season, the team began the 2018 season with a 4-0-0 record, before falling to No. 23 Colorado on Sept. 9.
Through six games, the Spartans have 15 goals and are one away from matching the total goals from last season. In 2018, MSU scored 16 goals through 18 games.
MSU leads opponents in shots on goal (48-26), shots per game (15.3-9.3), corners (30-18) and total goals (15-6) through six games.
FRESHMAN RETURNS FROM U.S. U-20 WNT TRAINING CAMP
Freshman defender Bria Schrotenboer returns to the Spartan lineup last week after spending a week in Chula Vista, California training with the U.S. Under-20 National Team. The Holland, Michigan, native, was one of twenty players selected to attend the training camp.
Schrotenboer returned to the Spartan backline as a starter against Butler and Detroit Mercy last week, and played all 180 minutes.
PRESEASON HONORS
Sophomore forward Camryn Evans, senior defender Michaela Kovacs and freshman defender Bria Schrotenboer were selected to the Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Honors List.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
The Spartans own a 17-1-2 all-time series record with the Falcons. In the last meeting between the two programs, MSU defeated BG, 2-1, on the road on Sept. 1, 2017.
Bowling Green begins their season with a 2-2-1 record. The team is looking for their first road win of the season. Last time out, the Falcons fell to Michigan on Sept. 8, on the road, 2-0.
The Falcons are led by freshman forward Kennedy White, who has a team-high three goals this season for nine points.
"(Bowling Green is) a very well coached and an organized team defensively; hard to break down," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "Very physical and that's an area we need to grow in. I think we got pushed around a little bit against Butler. I thought we did a good job with physicality against Boston University and we have to get back to at least that level against Bowling Green because they are athletic and they are physical."
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Michigan State has a 13-2-3 series advantage over Oakland. Last season, the Spartans shutout the Golden Grizzlies, 2-0, on Sept. 6 at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans remain unbeaten vs. Oakland since 2001.
The Golden Grizzlies also begin their season with a 2-2-1 record, notching wins versus Valparaiso, 1-0, and a home overtime win over Eastern Kentucky. 2-1. The team is coming off a 1-0 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 8.
Sophomore midfielders Alexa Sabbagh and Sami Lopez lead the Golden Grizzlies with three goals and one assist each through five games, for 14 of the team's 26 points.
Oakland plays at Western Michigan on Thursday, Sept. 12 before hosting the Spartans on Sunday afternoon.
SAXTON SAYS
"I think we have a very difficult opponent (Bowling Green) tomorrow; I watched them play Michigan, they played them very tough and just gave up two late in the game. Just raising our level; we were disapointed with our first-half against Detroit. This is going to be another level but we have a nice attainable goal sitting there for us tomorrow night which is to finish the non-league season undefeated at home. That's where we want to put our focus right now. If we play at our best and are fortunate enough to get a result, we'll go to Oakland with the idea of finishing out a great non-league schedule to get ready for Big Ten. We want to go into Big Ten on an up-note because we're going on the toughest road trip in the Big Ten on the first week and we all know that."
The Spartans are 5-1-0 through the first six non-conference matches, and boast an undefeated record of 4-0-0 at home.
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans shutout Detroit Mercy, 3-0, on Sunday, Sept. 8 at DeMartin Stadium.
Redshirt goalkeeper Lauren Kozal earned her second shutout of the season, with two saves. The Spartan backline only allowed two shots the entire game.
Junior midfielder Danielle Stephan connected with sophomore forward Gia Wahlberg for her fifth assist of the year.
Junior midfielder Bella Jodzis scored her second goal of the season off an assist from sophomore forward Camryn Evans to put the Spartans up by two in the second half.
Wahlberg scored her second goal of the game and seventh of the season in the 67th minute on a deep shot that sailed into the top corner.
WAHLBERG CONTINUES TO SHINE
Gia Wahlberg continues to shine on the Spartan offense, scoring two of Michigan State's three goals against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 8. Wahlberg also scored the game winning goal in double OT to secure the win for Michigan State over Boston University.
Her four first-half goals vs. Marshall on Sept. 25 set a record for the most goals in a first-half at DeMartin Stadium, while the five total Spartan goals ties a record for most goals in a game and the most goals scored at DeMartin Stadium. The forward also tied the Big Ten record for most goals in a game, which only 12 other Big Ten players have achieved, including former Spartan Lauren Hill.
Overall, Wahlberg leads the team with 14 points, 14 shots on goal and three game winning goals this sesaon.
SPARTANS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Wahlberg and Stephan are both ranked nationally in various NCAA Division I Women's Soccer categories in total goals and total assists, respectively.
With her seven goals this season, Wahlberg is tied for sixth nationally in total goals scored. Wahlberg ties the 2018 Spartan leading goal scorer, Evans, through six games. She is also tied for fourth nationally with three game winning goals.
Stephan has a team-high five assists in the first six games, which is tied for seventh in the NCAA. Stephan led the Spartans in assists for the past two seasons, tallying six in 2017 and four last season.
MICHIGAN STATE NOTES
The Spartans have had seven different goal scorers through the first six matches, with Camryn Evans, Danielle Stephan, Bella Jodzis, Michaela Kovacs, Sydney Kloosterman, Gia Wahlberg and Paige Webber all tallying goals on the score-sheet. The seven goal scorers tops last season's numbers, with there only being six goal scorers through all 18 games in 2018.
This was also the second consecutive season that the Spartans have begun the season an undefeated 4-0-0 at home. Last season, the team began the 2018 season with a 4-0-0 record, before falling to No. 23 Colorado on Sept. 9.
Through six games, the Spartans have 15 goals and are one away from matching the total goals from last season. In 2018, MSU scored 16 goals through 18 games.
MSU leads opponents in shots on goal (48-26), shots per game (15.3-9.3), corners (30-18) and total goals (15-6) through six games.
FRESHMAN RETURNS FROM U.S. U-20 WNT TRAINING CAMP
Freshman defender Bria Schrotenboer returns to the Spartan lineup last week after spending a week in Chula Vista, California training with the U.S. Under-20 National Team. The Holland, Michigan, native, was one of twenty players selected to attend the training camp.
Schrotenboer returned to the Spartan backline as a starter against Butler and Detroit Mercy last week, and played all 180 minutes.
PRESEASON HONORS
Sophomore forward Camryn Evans, senior defender Michaela Kovacs and freshman defender Bria Schrotenboer were selected to the Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Honors List.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
The Spartans own a 17-1-2 all-time series record with the Falcons. In the last meeting between the two programs, MSU defeated BG, 2-1, on the road on Sept. 1, 2017.
Bowling Green begins their season with a 2-2-1 record. The team is looking for their first road win of the season. Last time out, the Falcons fell to Michigan on Sept. 8, on the road, 2-0.
The Falcons are led by freshman forward Kennedy White, who has a team-high three goals this season for nine points.
"(Bowling Green is) a very well coached and an organized team defensively; hard to break down," MSU head coach Tom Saxton said. "Very physical and that's an area we need to grow in. I think we got pushed around a little bit against Butler. I thought we did a good job with physicality against Boston University and we have to get back to at least that level against Bowling Green because they are athletic and they are physical."
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Michigan State has a 13-2-3 series advantage over Oakland. Last season, the Spartans shutout the Golden Grizzlies, 2-0, on Sept. 6 at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans remain unbeaten vs. Oakland since 2001.
The Golden Grizzlies also begin their season with a 2-2-1 record, notching wins versus Valparaiso, 1-0, and a home overtime win over Eastern Kentucky. 2-1. The team is coming off a 1-0 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 8.
Sophomore midfielders Alexa Sabbagh and Sami Lopez lead the Golden Grizzlies with three goals and one assist each through five games, for 14 of the team's 26 points.
Oakland plays at Western Michigan on Thursday, Sept. 12 before hosting the Spartans on Sunday afternoon.
SAXTON SAYS
"I think we have a very difficult opponent (Bowling Green) tomorrow; I watched them play Michigan, they played them very tough and just gave up two late in the game. Just raising our level; we were disapointed with our first-half against Detroit. This is going to be another level but we have a nice attainable goal sitting there for us tomorrow night which is to finish the non-league season undefeated at home. That's where we want to put our focus right now. If we play at our best and are fortunate enough to get a result, we'll go to Oakland with the idea of finishing out a great non-league schedule to get ready for Big Ten. We want to go into Big Ten on an up-note because we're going on the toughest road trip in the Big Ten on the first week and we all know that."
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