Friday, September 16
Seattle, Wash.
10 pm ET
Michigan State University
at
No. 4 Washington
Spartan Men's Soccer Hits the Road, Facing No. 4 Washington Friday
9/15/2022 12:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MSU's soccer and football teams both play in Seattle this week.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer will hit the road for a pair of games against ranked teams, beginning with No. 4 Washington on Friday, Sept. 16 at Husky Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. ET. The Spartans will then face No. 14 Indiana on Sept. 23.
A.J. Kanell will be on the call for the Pac-12 Network.
The Spartans are 2-3-1 after a dominating 4-1 win over Chicago State on Sept. 12. Washington is 4-0-1 this season after a 1-1 tie against Air Force on Sept. 11.
This is the third time this season the Spartan soccer and football teams have played the same teams in the same week. Both MSU squads have faced Western Michigan, Akron and Washington in the same week.
LOOKING AT WASHINGTON
No. 4 Washington remains undefeated after tying Air Force 1-1, at home on Sept. 11. The Huskies have commanding wins over Sacramento State, Central Arkansas, Utah Valley and South Florida.
Washington has showed its offensive prowess early on this season, out-scoring its opponents, 13-3. Ilijah Paul leads the team in scoring with five goals and one assists for 11 points. Christian Soto is second on the team in scoring with three goals for six points.
Sam Fowler has started all five games allowing only three goals for a 0.60 goals against average.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE HUSKIES
The Huskies hold a slight 1-0-1 series lead over the Spartans. This will be the first meeting in Seattle.
The last time the teams met was in 2019 with UW coming away with a 1-0 victory at DeMartin Stadium. This game was the season after Michigan State reached the College Cup in 2018. Last season, the Huskies reached their first-ever College Cup in 2021, falling to eventual champion Clemson in the championship game.
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LOCAL KID DOES GOOD
Okemos native Jack Guggemos has made the most of his early opportunities, He has started four of Michigan State's six games. Against Bowling Green on Sept. 9, he scored his collegiate goal off the pass from junior forward Greyson Mercer. He followed that performance up with a goal against Chicago State. The freshman is tied for first in scoring with senior defender Will Perkins with two goals and an assist for five points.
TURNING UP THE TEMPERATURE
After being shut out in a pair of losses to Western Michigan and No. 14 Akron, the Spartan offense has looked to find their spark. Michigan State has scored five goals in the last two games, including four in a win against Chicago State on Sept. 12.
HEAD WEST YOUNG MAN
This is the first time that Michigan State has  played in the Pacific Time Zone since the 2018 College Cup when it played Akron in the semifinals, losing 5-1. Prior to that, MSU played at Portland, winning 1-0 in 2015.
looking for the bagel
Michigan State is looking for its first shutout of the season. MSU has allowed one goal to Army, Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Chicago State, while relinquishing two goals to Akron and three to Notre Dame. The Spartans last shutout was a 1-0 win against Ohio State on Oct. 17, 2021 in East Lansing.
GETTING IN THE GAME
The Spartans have been getting a lot of players in the game. Twenty-two of the 28 athletes on the roster have played in at least one of the six games this season.Â
UP NEXT
The Spartan schedule doesn't get any easier. After facing Washington, MSU will remain on the road to start Big Ten play, facing No. 15 Indiana on Sept. 23 in Bloomington.
LOGGING IN THE MINUTES
Senior transfer Owen Finnerty is making a smooth transition from Michigan to Michigan State. Finnerty started six games in goal for the Wolverines last season, allowing only six goals for a 1.11 goals against average. For his career, he has played nearly 2,500 minutes allowing 31 goals and making 75 saves. Finnerty made a season-high six goals against No. 14 Akron on Sept. 5 and Chicago State on Sept. 12.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Seven different players have scored MSU's nine goals this season. Redshirt-senior defender Will Perkins and freshman midfielder Jack Guggemos both have scored two goals apiece for MSU. Senior forward Gianni Ferri and junior midfielder Greyson Mercer both found the back of the net for the first time this season against Chicago State on Sept. 12.
FINDING THE 11
Only four Spartans have started the first six games of the season, including seniors Jack Beck and Will Perkins. Newcomer Owen Finnerty and sophomore Josh Adam also have started every match.Â
Twelve players have seen action in all six matches, including freshmen Jake Spadafora, Jack Guggemos and Jeremy Sharp.
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list.
Graduate midfielder Jack Beck, redshirt-senior defender Will Perkins and junior forward Greyson Mercer were all honored by the league.
The Big Ten preseason poll was also released Monday, as voted on by the nine league coaches. MSU was voted to pick sixth, while reigning Big Ten Tournament champion, Penn State, was voted to finish first. Indiana was voted to finish second, with Maryland taking the third position.
Beck, a native of DeWitt, Michigan, is a two-time All-Big Ten selection for the Spartans, earning first-team honors last season. He was second on the team in scoring in 2021 with nine points. Beck ended last season third in the Big Ten in assists with seven.
Perkins, a Detroit, Michigan native, returns for his fifth season with Michigan State. He started all 17 games last season. Also in 2021, Perkins was fourth on the team in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points.
Mercer, who hails from Heber City, Utah, enters his third season with the Spartans. He has played in 13 games over the last two seasons with four starts.
LOOKING AT THE PRESEASON
The Spartans ended exhibition action with a 1-2 record in three home games. MSU opened with a 3-0 win against Lawrence Tech on Aug. 10 behind goals by freshman forward  Jonathan Stout, senior midfielder Conner George and sophomore forward Efosa Emovon. MSU then dropped a pair of hard-fought 1-0 battles against Butler on Aug. 14 and No. 7 Pitt on Aug. 19.
NEWCOMERS
The Spartans welcome nine new players to the 2022 roster with seven freshmen and two transfers. Graduate goalkeeper Owen Finnerty may look familiar to Spartan fans, transferring from Michigan. Junior defender Elijah Howe comes to MSU from West Florida. The seven freshmen include freshman midfielder Jack Guggemos from Okemos and  Jake Spadafora from Northville.
OLDTIMERS
Michigan State brings back several veterans to the 2022 squad. Both Jack Beck and Will Perkins will return for their fifth seasons with MSU. The duo of captains are the final to Spartans on the roster who were a part of the 2018 College Cup squad.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
The Spartan have named three captains this season. Leading MSU will be seniors Jack Beck, Will Perkins and Louis Sala. This is the second-straight season that Beck and Perkins are captains.
A.J. Kanell will be on the call for the Pac-12 Network.
The Spartans are 2-3-1 after a dominating 4-1 win over Chicago State on Sept. 12. Washington is 4-0-1 this season after a 1-1 tie against Air Force on Sept. 11.
This is the third time this season the Spartan soccer and football teams have played the same teams in the same week. Both MSU squads have faced Western Michigan, Akron and Washington in the same week.
LOOKING AT WASHINGTON
No. 4 Washington remains undefeated after tying Air Force 1-1, at home on Sept. 11. The Huskies have commanding wins over Sacramento State, Central Arkansas, Utah Valley and South Florida.
Washington has showed its offensive prowess early on this season, out-scoring its opponents, 13-3. Ilijah Paul leads the team in scoring with five goals and one assists for 11 points. Christian Soto is second on the team in scoring with three goals for six points.
Sam Fowler has started all five games allowing only three goals for a 0.60 goals against average.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE HUSKIES
The Huskies hold a slight 1-0-1 series lead over the Spartans. This will be the first meeting in Seattle.
The last time the teams met was in 2019 with UW coming away with a 1-0 victory at DeMartin Stadium. This game was the season after Michigan State reached the College Cup in 2018. Last season, the Huskies reached their first-ever College Cup in 2021, falling to eventual champion Clemson in the championship game.
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LOCAL KID DOES GOOD
Okemos native Jack Guggemos has made the most of his early opportunities, He has started four of Michigan State's six games. Against Bowling Green on Sept. 9, he scored his collegiate goal off the pass from junior forward Greyson Mercer. He followed that performance up with a goal against Chicago State. The freshman is tied for first in scoring with senior defender Will Perkins with two goals and an assist for five points.
TURNING UP THE TEMPERATURE
After being shut out in a pair of losses to Western Michigan and No. 14 Akron, the Spartan offense has looked to find their spark. Michigan State has scored five goals in the last two games, including four in a win against Chicago State on Sept. 12.
HEAD WEST YOUNG MAN
This is the first time that Michigan State has  played in the Pacific Time Zone since the 2018 College Cup when it played Akron in the semifinals, losing 5-1. Prior to that, MSU played at Portland, winning 1-0 in 2015.
looking for the bagel
Michigan State is looking for its first shutout of the season. MSU has allowed one goal to Army, Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Chicago State, while relinquishing two goals to Akron and three to Notre Dame. The Spartans last shutout was a 1-0 win against Ohio State on Oct. 17, 2021 in East Lansing.
GETTING IN THE GAME
The Spartans have been getting a lot of players in the game. Twenty-two of the 28 athletes on the roster have played in at least one of the six games this season.Â
UP NEXT
The Spartan schedule doesn't get any easier. After facing Washington, MSU will remain on the road to start Big Ten play, facing No. 15 Indiana on Sept. 23 in Bloomington.
LOGGING IN THE MINUTES
Senior transfer Owen Finnerty is making a smooth transition from Michigan to Michigan State. Finnerty started six games in goal for the Wolverines last season, allowing only six goals for a 1.11 goals against average. For his career, he has played nearly 2,500 minutes allowing 31 goals and making 75 saves. Finnerty made a season-high six goals against No. 14 Akron on Sept. 5 and Chicago State on Sept. 12.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Seven different players have scored MSU's nine goals this season. Redshirt-senior defender Will Perkins and freshman midfielder Jack Guggemos both have scored two goals apiece for MSU. Senior forward Gianni Ferri and junior midfielder Greyson Mercer both found the back of the net for the first time this season against Chicago State on Sept. 12.
FINDING THE 11
Only four Spartans have started the first six games of the season, including seniors Jack Beck and Will Perkins. Newcomer Owen Finnerty and sophomore Josh Adam also have started every match.Â
Twelve players have seen action in all six matches, including freshmen Jake Spadafora, Jack Guggemos and Jeremy Sharp.
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list.
Graduate midfielder Jack Beck, redshirt-senior defender Will Perkins and junior forward Greyson Mercer were all honored by the league.
The Big Ten preseason poll was also released Monday, as voted on by the nine league coaches. MSU was voted to pick sixth, while reigning Big Ten Tournament champion, Penn State, was voted to finish first. Indiana was voted to finish second, with Maryland taking the third position.
Beck, a native of DeWitt, Michigan, is a two-time All-Big Ten selection for the Spartans, earning first-team honors last season. He was second on the team in scoring in 2021 with nine points. Beck ended last season third in the Big Ten in assists with seven.
Perkins, a Detroit, Michigan native, returns for his fifth season with Michigan State. He started all 17 games last season. Also in 2021, Perkins was fourth on the team in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points.
Mercer, who hails from Heber City, Utah, enters his third season with the Spartans. He has played in 13 games over the last two seasons with four starts.
LOOKING AT THE PRESEASON
The Spartans ended exhibition action with a 1-2 record in three home games. MSU opened with a 3-0 win against Lawrence Tech on Aug. 10 behind goals by freshman forward  Jonathan Stout, senior midfielder Conner George and sophomore forward Efosa Emovon. MSU then dropped a pair of hard-fought 1-0 battles against Butler on Aug. 14 and No. 7 Pitt on Aug. 19.
NEWCOMERS
The Spartans welcome nine new players to the 2022 roster with seven freshmen and two transfers. Graduate goalkeeper Owen Finnerty may look familiar to Spartan fans, transferring from Michigan. Junior defender Elijah Howe comes to MSU from West Florida. The seven freshmen include freshman midfielder Jack Guggemos from Okemos and  Jake Spadafora from Northville.
OLDTIMERS
Michigan State brings back several veterans to the 2022 squad. Both Jack Beck and Will Perkins will return for their fifth seasons with MSU. The duo of captains are the final to Spartans on the roster who were a part of the 2018 College Cup squad.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
The Spartan have named three captains this season. Leading MSU will be seniors Jack Beck, Will Perkins and Louis Sala. This is the second-straight season that Beck and Perkins are captains.
Players Mentioned
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