MSU Men's Soccer Concludes Road Trip at Villanova Monday

Michigan State Villanova

2023 Record	2-0, 0-0 B1G	0-2, 0-0 Big East
2022 Record	6-9-2, 3-4-1 B1G	6-8-3, 2-6-2 Big East
Head Coach	Damon Rensing	Tom Carlin
Career Record	138-103-37(15th)	221-150-36 (22nd)
Record at Current School	Same	122-127-27 (6th)

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer will conclude its two-game road trip, facing Villanova in a Labor Day battle on Monday, Sept. 4. Due to excessive heat expected in the area, the game was moved to 11 a.m.

The Spartans improved to 2-0 with a road-opening win against Army on Sept. 1. MSU stopped the Black Knights 2-1 thanks to a second-half game winner from sophomore forward Jonathan Stout.

MSU improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2017 season. That season, Michigan State won its first seven games.

LOOKING AT THE WILDCATS
This is the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and Villanova. The game on Monday will be the Wildcats regular-season home opener.

The Wildcats started the season 0-2 and are in search with for their first win. Villanova fell on the road to Albany 2-0 on Aug. 27 and at NJIT 4-1 on Aug. 31 in Newark, New Jersey. Against NJIT, the Wildcats got their goal just 13 seconds into the match when Balthi Saunders found Vincent Petrera, who then blasted a shot into the upper part of the net.

Kent Dickey has played every minute in goal for Villanova, allowing six goals for a 3.00 goals against average.

SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State has scored five goals this season and all five have been scored by different people. Sophomore defender Josh Mason leads the team in scoring with one goal and one assist for three points. Sophomore forwards Jake Spadafora and Jonathan Stout have both also scored. Freshman defender Colin Arce and junior forward Efosa Emovon are the other two Spartans who have found the back of the net.

CLEAN SHEET
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Zac Kelly started his first collegiate game against Bowling Green on Aug. 28. He captured his first complete game and clean sheet in MSU's 3-0 win over Bowling Green. He also collected two saves in the victory. Overall, Kelly has one goal in two games for a 0.50 GPA.

LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State men's soccer captured a come-from-behind victory in its road opener with a 2-1 win against Army West Point on Friday.

Army came out fast with a goal in the eighth minute. Jubril Bamgbala blasted the ball to lower right corner, getting the pass from Joey Hickson to give the Black Knights a 1-0 advantage.

The Spartans tied the score in the 23rd minute when sophomore defender Josh Mason scored his first collegiate goal. Fellow sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp earned his second assist of the week as he found Mason with the equalizer.

Michigan State and Army headed into half time tied at 1-1.

The Spartans found the game-winning goal in the 66th minute. Sophomore forward Johnathan Stout scored his first goal of the season with a brilliant blast that put Michigan State on top for good.

RENSING SAYS...
We showed a lot of heart and grit to beat Army. Villanova is going to be really good. They are 0-2, but they are gong to be really desperate to get a results. There are going to be very tough conditions. I think when we play together, and if we play the way we want to play; we can be a very good team.

THEN THE SKIES PARTED
Michigan State men's soccer had its season opener against Loyola Chicago declared a no contest due to severe weather in the East Lansing area on Aug. 24.

In the 54th minute, the game was initially delayed due to lighting in the area and the teams retreated to Jenison Field House. The match would not resume from that point as the rain, thunder and lightning intensified and was declared a no contest.

The Spartans were leading 1-0 at the time of the stoppage. Sophomore forward Jonathan Stout scored what would have been the first game of 2023 with a brilliant strike to the upper right corner of the net. Stout took the well-timed pass from sophomore defender Jeremy Sharp.

PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List, as announced by the conference office.

Senior forward Greyson Mercer along with sophomore forwards Jake Spadafora and Jonathan Stout were all honored by the league.

The Big Ten preseason poll was also released Monday, as voted on by the nine conference coaches. MSU was voted to pick seventh, while Maryland was once again picked to win the league. The 2022 NCAA runner-up Indiana was chosen second, with Ohio State standing third.
Mercer, who hails from Heber City, Utah, enters his fourth season with the Spartans. He was named to the preseason list last season as well. In 2022, Mercer was second on the team in scoring with four goals and two assists for 10 points, playing in all 17 games.

Stout, a native of Wyoming, Michigan, led the team in scoring last season with four goals and four assists for 12 points. He shared Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year honors as a rookie, as well as being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Stout played in 12 games as a freshman.
Spadafora, who hails from Northville, Michigan, played in 16 games last season, starting 13. He had one goal and one assist for three points during his rookie campaign, scoring the game-winning goal in the season opener against Army in 2022. He also joined Stout as a member of the All-Freshman Team.

PRESEASON
The season opener was the Spartans first home game of the season, as MSU's two exhibitions were on the road. Michigan State tied Purdue Fort Wayne, 2-2 in its first game. Against No. 5 Pitt, the Spartans fell just short, 4-3.

NEWCOMERS
The Spartans welcome eight new players to the 2023 roster with six freshmen and two transfers. Junior midfielder Sean Kerrigan comes to MSU from Mercyhurst. Sophomore midfielder Cristiano Bruletti is a transfer from South Carolina. Kerrigan, Bruletti and Ludwig trained with the team during the spring season for extra experience.

OLDTIMERS
Michigan State brings back its top two scorers in sophomore Jonathan Stout and senior Greyson Mercer. Stout led the team in scoring with four goals and four assists for 12 points, while Mercer was second with four goals and two assists for 10 points.

UP NEXT
The Spartans now return home to face Dayton on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. on Ted Lasso Night. Michigan State will then travel to Notre Dame on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.

THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 15th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coaches T.J. Kolba and Nick Barry also return to the bench in 2023. New to the MSU staff this season is Reid Friedrichs, who enters his first 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.

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Players Mentioned

Colin Arce

Cristiano Bruletti

Efosa Emovon

Zac Kelly

Sean Kerrigan

Josh Mason

Greyson Mercer

Jeremy Sharp

Jake Spadafora

Jonathan Stout