No. 5 Michigan State Takes on Top-Seeded Duke in NCAA Third Round

DURHAM, N.C. - 16th-ranked and fifth-seeded Michigan State women's soccer makes its second all-time appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 in as many years on Sunday, Nov. 24, taking on No. 1 overall seed Duke at 6 p.m. in Durham, North Carolina, at Duke's Koskinen Stadium.

All NCAA Third Round games will stream on ESPN+.

FIRST TOUCH
The Spartans enter Sunday's match at 14-2-5 after a 3-2 second-round victory over No. 4 seed Texas in overtime on Friday. Graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony scored the opening goal of the match and the golden goal in the 93rd minute, while sophomore midfielder Bella Najera scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season in the second half.

Graduate forward and Second Team All-Big Ten selection Meg Hughes leads the Spartans in points (20) and assists (6) this season. Graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor, a three-time All-Big Ten selection, also has six assists, while graduate goalkeeper and Third Team All-Big Ten selection Kaitlyn Parks holds a 0.82 goals-against average.

SCOUTING DUKE
The Blue Devils are 16-2-1 this season and posted an undefeated 9-0-1 record in ACC play to earn the ACC regular season title. Duke is the second ACC opponent for the Spartans this season, who defeated then-No. 15, 2-1, in South Bend in their 2024 opener.

Duke earned a 3-0 win over No. 8 Texas Tech on Friday to punch its ticket to the third round. Graduate midfielder Maggie Graham notched a brace, while sophomore midfielder Mia Oliaro added an 86th-minute goal to secure the victory for the Blue Devils. Duke's 2024 appearance in the NCAA Tournament is its 29th all-time. The Blue Devils will make their 20th appearance all-time in the NCAA Third Round on Sunday.

Graham, the 2024 ACC Midfielder of the Year, leads Duke in scoring (33 points) and goals (14) this season. Sophomore defender Cameron Roller and fifth year goalkeeper Leah Freeman also earned ACC Player of the Year nods for their respective positions.

Sunday will be the first meeting all-time between Michigan State and Duke.

MSU IN THE TOURNAMENT
The Spartans are playing in their third-straight NCAA Tournament this weekend and are making their seventh overall appearance. This is the first time in program history that MSU has earned a bid to three-consecutive NCAA Tournaments. MSU's 2024 bid is also its third-straight seeded selection.

MSU is making its second-consectutive appearance in the third round and second appearance overall. Last season, MSU advanced to the third round of the tournament for the first time in program history as No. 5 seed, falling 3-1 to eventual College Cup participant and No. 1 seed BYU. Current graduate midfielder Gabby Mueller scored the lone goal for the Spartans in that contest.

MSU is 7-6 overall in the NCAA Tournament, 0-1 in the third round and 5-2 in the last three seasons.

UP NEXT
The winner of Sunday's match will advance to the quarterfinals to play the winner of No. 3 seed Iowa and No. 7 Virginia Tech. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Nov. 29 and 30 at the highest remaining seed in the quadrant (No. 1 Duke, No. 3 Iowa, No. 5 MSU).

No. 5 Michigan State Takes on Top-Seeded Duke in NCAA Third Round

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Players Mentioned

Mackenzie Anthony

Justina Gaynor

Meg Hughes

Gabby Mueller

Bella Najera

Kaitlyn Parks