Tuesday, October 14
East Lansing, Mich.
1 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Ball State
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartans to Host Ball State, #12 Ohio State
10/14/2025 10:10:00 AM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State field hockey continues its home stand at Ralph Young Field when it welcomes MAC opponent Ball State on Tuesday, October 14, and B1G conference foe No. 12-ranked Ohio State on Sunday, October 19. Both contests will be streamed live on B1G+.
SERIES HISTORY
MSU leads the all-time series against Ball State, 14-13-2 and is 7-6-2 when hosting the Cardinals in East Lansing. MSU has won the previous five meetings against Ball State, with Michigan State's latest victory over the Cardinals occurring in September 2024 by a score of 2-1. The last time the two schools faced off in East Lansing, was on October 29, 2023, in a game MSU was victorious, 4-0.
MSU trails OSU 24-44-3 in the all-time series record. When the two teams meet in East Lansing, the series remains neutral, with a 11-11-2 record. OSU won last year's contest, 4-0, which took place in Columbus, Ohio. The last time the two schools met at Ralph Young Field was in September 2023 where the Buckeyes defeated MSU, 2-1 in overtime.
ABOUT BALL STATE
Ball State arrives to East Lansing with a 3-11 record (1-4 MAC). The Cardinals are coming off an 0-2 weekend, in which it suffered defeats at the hands of Richmond, 5-0, and conference opponent Ohio, 1-0.
Ball State is offensively charged by junior forward Julia Verratti and freshman forward Jade Vandevoorde. Verratti enters the week leading the Cardinals in goals (4) and points (10) and has started all 14 games for Ball State this season. Vandevoorde is second on the team in goals (3), and points (9) behind Verratti, but is tied for the team lead with 3 assists with sophomore forward Emily Kate Covert. Senior forward Emma van Hal leads Ball State in shots (37) and shots on goal (19).
Junior goalkeeper Carleigh Hofelich enters as Ball State's top netminder. Hofelich has made 62 saves against 22 goals allowed thus far, giving her a .738 save percentage ranking third in the MAC.
ABOUT OHIO STATE
Ohio State enters the week sporting a 7-5 record (3-1 B1G). The Buckeyes are coming off a 2-0 weekend in which it defeated conference rivals Penn State, 2-0, and then ranked No. 11 Michigan, 1-0.
The Buckeyes offense is spearheaded by graduate forward Makenna Webster. Webster leads OSU in goals scored (16), assists (5), points (37) and shots on goal (28). Second in charge of the Buckeye attack is senior back Katie Fichtner. Fichtner has two goals and two assists, while tallying six points and a team high 35 shots.
Maddie Stevens is the only goalkeeper to receive game action for the Buckeyes this season. Stevens ranks among the top 5 in the B1G in starts (12), minutes (755), shots faced (56), saves (38) and wins (7). Stevens enters boasting a .731 save percentage.
PREVIOUSLY FOR MSU
MSU fell in its lone game of the week last Sunday to Appalachian State, 3-1. The Spartans out-shot the Mountaineers 17-11 and had double the number of penalty corner attempts (13-6) but were unable to overcome a three-goal deficit. Graduate Tatum Johnson and junior Bianca Pizano had a combined 8 shots, 6 of which were on goal. MSU's only goal came on an intercepted pass from graduate Maddie Lawlor, who started a break the other way and dumped a centered pass off to the nearby Caroline Horace, who fired a shot past the Mountaineer goalkeeper.
EVEN DISTRIBUTION
Michigan State has had 11 different goalscorers through 12 games this season. Seven Spartans are tied for second in goals scored with two each.
Caroline Horace leads the Spartans with three goals scored, while Caro Schafer, Gracie Burns, Brynn Shaffer, Katelyn Dulin, Maddie Lawlor and Bianca Pizano have each scored twice. Schafer and Horace are tied for the team-leader in points (7) with Burns, Lawlor and B. Shaffer close behind (5). Schafer and Alexa Shaffer are tied with three assists apiece this season.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will hit the road for two conference matchups next week when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. Following the Spartans matchup with Iowa, MSU will travel to Bloomington, Indiana to take on Indiana on Sunday, October 26 at noon.
SERIES HISTORY
MSU leads the all-time series against Ball State, 14-13-2 and is 7-6-2 when hosting the Cardinals in East Lansing. MSU has won the previous five meetings against Ball State, with Michigan State's latest victory over the Cardinals occurring in September 2024 by a score of 2-1. The last time the two schools faced off in East Lansing, was on October 29, 2023, in a game MSU was victorious, 4-0.
MSU trails OSU 24-44-3 in the all-time series record. When the two teams meet in East Lansing, the series remains neutral, with a 11-11-2 record. OSU won last year's contest, 4-0, which took place in Columbus, Ohio. The last time the two schools met at Ralph Young Field was in September 2023 where the Buckeyes defeated MSU, 2-1 in overtime.
ABOUT BALL STATE
Ball State arrives to East Lansing with a 3-11 record (1-4 MAC). The Cardinals are coming off an 0-2 weekend, in which it suffered defeats at the hands of Richmond, 5-0, and conference opponent Ohio, 1-0.
Ball State is offensively charged by junior forward Julia Verratti and freshman forward Jade Vandevoorde. Verratti enters the week leading the Cardinals in goals (4) and points (10) and has started all 14 games for Ball State this season. Vandevoorde is second on the team in goals (3), and points (9) behind Verratti, but is tied for the team lead with 3 assists with sophomore forward Emily Kate Covert. Senior forward Emma van Hal leads Ball State in shots (37) and shots on goal (19).
Junior goalkeeper Carleigh Hofelich enters as Ball State's top netminder. Hofelich has made 62 saves against 22 goals allowed thus far, giving her a .738 save percentage ranking third in the MAC.
ABOUT OHIO STATE
Ohio State enters the week sporting a 7-5 record (3-1 B1G). The Buckeyes are coming off a 2-0 weekend in which it defeated conference rivals Penn State, 2-0, and then ranked No. 11 Michigan, 1-0.
The Buckeyes offense is spearheaded by graduate forward Makenna Webster. Webster leads OSU in goals scored (16), assists (5), points (37) and shots on goal (28). Second in charge of the Buckeye attack is senior back Katie Fichtner. Fichtner has two goals and two assists, while tallying six points and a team high 35 shots.
Maddie Stevens is the only goalkeeper to receive game action for the Buckeyes this season. Stevens ranks among the top 5 in the B1G in starts (12), minutes (755), shots faced (56), saves (38) and wins (7). Stevens enters boasting a .731 save percentage.
PREVIOUSLY FOR MSU
MSU fell in its lone game of the week last Sunday to Appalachian State, 3-1. The Spartans out-shot the Mountaineers 17-11 and had double the number of penalty corner attempts (13-6) but were unable to overcome a three-goal deficit. Graduate Tatum Johnson and junior Bianca Pizano had a combined 8 shots, 6 of which were on goal. MSU's only goal came on an intercepted pass from graduate Maddie Lawlor, who started a break the other way and dumped a centered pass off to the nearby Caroline Horace, who fired a shot past the Mountaineer goalkeeper.
EVEN DISTRIBUTION
Michigan State has had 11 different goalscorers through 12 games this season. Seven Spartans are tied for second in goals scored with two each.
Caroline Horace leads the Spartans with three goals scored, while Caro Schafer, Gracie Burns, Brynn Shaffer, Katelyn Dulin, Maddie Lawlor and Bianca Pizano have each scored twice. Schafer and Horace are tied for the team-leader in points (7) with Burns, Lawlor and B. Shaffer close behind (5). Schafer and Alexa Shaffer are tied with three assists apiece this season.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will hit the road for two conference matchups next week when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. Following the Spartans matchup with Iowa, MSU will travel to Bloomington, Indiana to take on Indiana on Sunday, October 26 at noon.
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