Friday, October 3
East Lansing, Mich.
5 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Penn State
Spartan Men's Soccer Hosts Penn State on Annual Pink Game
10/2/2025 12:16:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Fans can get complimentary parking by bringing selected items: tumblers, lemon candy and fuzzy socks among others.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer returns home to take on Penn State on Friday, Oct. 3 in its annual Pink Game at 5 p.m. Spartan fans can get complimentary admission by bringing tumblers, unscented lotion, lemon candy, bagged tea, lip balm and fuzzy socks.
The Spartans improved to 5-4-0 overall and 2-2-0 in Big Ten play after a 2-1 win over No. 5 Michigan on Sept. 26. Penn State improved to 3-4-2 overall and 0-2-1 Big Ten action. The Nittany Lions improved to 3-4-2 overall after a 2-0 non-conference win over Robert Morris on Sept. 30.
Charlie Schmidgall and Shin Nakamura will be on the call for B1G Student U.
WHAT A WEEK!
Last week was one for the record books for the Spartans. Michigan State started the week with a 1-0 win over then-No. 3 Indiana on Sept. 23. It was MSU's first win over a top-5 team since defeating Indiana on No. 5, 2014 in Bloomington. The Spartans then defeated then No. 5 Michigan to retain the Big Bear on Sept. 26, 2-1, in Ann Arbor. It was the first time in Michigan State history that the team had defeated two top-5 teams in the same week.
LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State holds a 3-4-2 overall record and stand 0-2-1 in Big Ten action. The Nittany Lions are also 0-2-1 in road action.
Caden Grabfelder leads the team in points with two goals and four assists for eight points. The four assists are also first on the team in assists. Kai Phillip and Ben Liscum are tied for second with five points.
Penn State has used two different goalkeepers this season with Fredrick Grundin playing two games, and Jonathan Evans starting seven. Evans has allowed only eight goals in seven games for a 1.14 GAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads the overall series with Michigan State 27-17-3. MSU trails the series in East Lansing 7-10-3 and 7-11-0 in University Park. On neutral ground, PSU leads 6-3-0. Penn State has had the best of Michigan State lately in the series, going 4-0-1 in the last five games. The last time MSU defeated PSU was a 1-0 road win in 2021.
PACKING THE STANDS
Through the first five home games, the Spartans stand 11th in the nation in average attendance, averaging 2,138 fans. Indiana stands second (3,647), while Maryland is fourth (2,823).
ON THE STAT SHEETS
Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly is tied for third in the Big Ten in shutouts with three. Kelly is also fifth in the league with 24 saves.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
Two of the three top scorers for Michigan State are freshmen with the third being a newcomer. With the game-winning goal against No. 3 Indiana, freshman Peter Soudan is tied for the team lead with three goals and two assists for eight points. Transfer Miles Merritt is tied for the team lead in points with eight points on three goals and two assists. Freshman Luke Spadafora is third in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points. Freshman Chim Okeke, who has served as a spark plug off the bench, scored his first collegiate goal against Ohio State on Sept. 19. Freshman Charlie Norkett made his first collegiate start against Ohio State on Sept. 19.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Indiana's Palmer Ault is first in the Big Ten in goals scored with eight. He is also first in the league in points with 19 (8 goals, 3 assists). Freshman midfielder Peter Soudan and junor midfielder Miles Merritt are tied for 12th in points with eight off of three goals and two assists.
REACHING A MILESTONE
With a win against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 1, MSU head coach Damon Rensing reached the 150 win-plateau. He is the second winningest coach in Spartan history. Hall of Famer Joe Baum is the all-time leader with 320 career wins. Rensing holds a career record of 153-115-49 in 17 seasons in the Green and White.
GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Seven players have started all nine games in Zac Kelly, Luke Spadafora, Miles Merritt, Richie Ludwig, Jack Guggemos, Colin Arce and Josh Adam. Peter Soudan and Chim Okeke have also played in all nine games. Will Eby and Peter Soudan have both started eight games, while fighting injuries Brandon Munson has started six games.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Several Spartans are logging in the minutes on this season. Goalkeeper Zac Kelly has played all 810, while and defender Josh Adam is second in minutes with 792. Midfielders Richie Ludwig (745 minutes) and Colin Arce (747) are next in minutes played.
DID YOU KNOW?
With three shutouts so far this season, redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has 15 career clean sheets. He is now tied for eighth in the MSU record books. He would be tied with T.J. Lieckfelt (1997-00), Joe Baum (1967-68) and Paul Zimmerman (1983-85).
UP NEXT
The Spartans will hit the road to take on Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List.
Kelly, who hails from Holt, Michigan, is the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. Last season, he was the first Michigan State athlete to earn B1G Goalkeeper of the Year honors since Jimmy Hague in 2017. Kelly started all 17 games for MSU last season, earning seven shutouts.
Merritt, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was named a United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch. The midfielder is in his first season with the Spartans after playing two years at Incarnate Word.
Munson, a sophomore who hails from Spring Hill, Florida, was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Ahead of the start of practice on Aug. 5, Michigan State head men's soccer coach Damon Rensing announced the three captains for the 2025 season in Zac Kelly, Josh Adam and Will Eby.
LAST TIME OUT
For the first time in school history, the Michigan State men's soccer team defeated back-to-back top 5 teams with a 2-1 road victory over No. 5 Michigan on Friday at U-M Soccer Stadium. With the win the Big Bear Trophy returns to East Lansing.
The Spartans took the 1-0 lead in the 51st minute. Freshman midfielder Peter Soudan was taken down in the box by Goldson, leading to a penalty kick. Junior midfielder Miles Merritt stepped up to the spot and drilled the ball to the lower right corner for his third goal of the season. He is now 2-for-2 in penalty kicks this season.
Michigan State found the game-winning goal in the 64th minute. Freshman forward Chim Okeke got the play started up the right side. Okeke found Ludwig, who's blast ricocheted off the post and past Goldson to give the Spartans' the 2-1 lead. The goal was Ludwig's second of the season.
BATTLE FOR THE BIG BEAR
This was the 25th anniversary for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy. The trophy originated in 2000. MSU leads the series 15-5-5 since 2000 after the 2-1 against No. 5 Michigan on Sept. 26. The Spartans had possession of the trophy after the teams tied 0-0 the last two seasons on BTN. Last season, in East Lansing, Zac Kelly and Isaiah Goldson were both stellar in the 0-0 tie. Kelly made four saves on the night.
In 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan State came out on top with a 2-0 win behind goals from Greyson Mercer and Jonathan Stout.
Michigan State leads the overall series with Michigan 34-12-10, including 17-3-5 in East Lansing. The Wolverines have closed the gap of late, winning five of the last nine games. With the COVID-19 shortened season, MSU and U-M met three times with the Wolverines winning all three, including a 1-0 win in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan also won both meetings in 2019. In 2021, the teams battled to a 2-2 double overtime tie in Ann Arbor.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 17th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coach T.J. Kolba is in his seventh season, while Nick Barry enters his sixth year at MSU. Reid Friedrichs, who enters his third 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.
This year there is a new face on the Spartan bench in former Spartan Zach Carroll, who was the No. 38 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls. He earned first-team All-Big honors in 2015.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
MSU junior midfielder Colin Arce is following in his father's footsteps. Steve Arce played at Michigan State from 1998-01 when current head coach Damon Rensing was an assistant coach.
KELLY AND SOUDAN EARN LEAGUE HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer players Zac Kelly and Peter Soudan both captured Big Ten honors on Sept. 30.
Kelly, a native of Holt, Michigan, captured Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the first time this season. He also was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week. He led the team to a pair of wins over top five teams for the first time in MSU history. Against No. 3 Indiana, he earned a clean sheet with a season-high five saves. In the Spartans' road win against No. 5 Michigan, he allowed only one goal in MSU's 2-1 win.
This is Kelly's second career Goalkeeper of the Week honor. His first honor came on Oct. 1, 2024.
Soudan is the third Spartan to earn B1G Freshman of the Week honors. The 2024 season was the first season that the award was given. Midfielder Brandon Munson was named Freshman of the Week on Oct. 1, 2024. Luke Spadafora also captured Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors on Sept. 2, 2025.
The midfielder, who hails from Western Springs, Illinois, scored the game-winning goal in MSU's 1-0 victory over Indiana on Sept. 23. He also drew the penalty that led to a penalty kick goal in the 2-1 victory at Michigan on Sept. 26. Soudan is tied for the team lead in points with three goals and two assists for eight points.
BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opened up Big Ten action against Washington on Sept. 12 with a 2-1 loss. This was the second-straight season that the two teams have met in the B1G opener. The Spartans are 7-2-3 in their last 12 Big Ten openers. Last season, MSU defeated UW, 1-0, in East Lansing. The Spartans tied Rutgers on the road 1-1 in the league opener in 2023. In 2022, MSU tied No. 16 Indiana to open league play. In 2021, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 in Madison.
The Spartans improved to 5-4-0 overall and 2-2-0 in Big Ten play after a 2-1 win over No. 5 Michigan on Sept. 26. Penn State improved to 3-4-2 overall and 0-2-1 Big Ten action. The Nittany Lions improved to 3-4-2 overall after a 2-0 non-conference win over Robert Morris on Sept. 30.
Charlie Schmidgall and Shin Nakamura will be on the call for B1G Student U.
WHAT A WEEK!
Last week was one for the record books for the Spartans. Michigan State started the week with a 1-0 win over then-No. 3 Indiana on Sept. 23. It was MSU's first win over a top-5 team since defeating Indiana on No. 5, 2014 in Bloomington. The Spartans then defeated then No. 5 Michigan to retain the Big Bear on Sept. 26, 2-1, in Ann Arbor. It was the first time in Michigan State history that the team had defeated two top-5 teams in the same week.
LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State holds a 3-4-2 overall record and stand 0-2-1 in Big Ten action. The Nittany Lions are also 0-2-1 in road action.
Caden Grabfelder leads the team in points with two goals and four assists for eight points. The four assists are also first on the team in assists. Kai Phillip and Ben Liscum are tied for second with five points.
Penn State has used two different goalkeepers this season with Fredrick Grundin playing two games, and Jonathan Evans starting seven. Evans has allowed only eight goals in seven games for a 1.14 GAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads the overall series with Michigan State 27-17-3. MSU trails the series in East Lansing 7-10-3 and 7-11-0 in University Park. On neutral ground, PSU leads 6-3-0. Penn State has had the best of Michigan State lately in the series, going 4-0-1 in the last five games. The last time MSU defeated PSU was a 1-0 road win in 2021.
PACKING THE STANDS
Through the first five home games, the Spartans stand 11th in the nation in average attendance, averaging 2,138 fans. Indiana stands second (3,647), while Maryland is fourth (2,823).
ON THE STAT SHEETS
Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly is tied for third in the Big Ten in shutouts with three. Kelly is also fifth in the league with 24 saves.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
Two of the three top scorers for Michigan State are freshmen with the third being a newcomer. With the game-winning goal against No. 3 Indiana, freshman Peter Soudan is tied for the team lead with three goals and two assists for eight points. Transfer Miles Merritt is tied for the team lead in points with eight points on three goals and two assists. Freshman Luke Spadafora is third in scoring with two goals and two assists for six points. Freshman Chim Okeke, who has served as a spark plug off the bench, scored his first collegiate goal against Ohio State on Sept. 19. Freshman Charlie Norkett made his first collegiate start against Ohio State on Sept. 19.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Indiana's Palmer Ault is first in the Big Ten in goals scored with eight. He is also first in the league in points with 19 (8 goals, 3 assists). Freshman midfielder Peter Soudan and junor midfielder Miles Merritt are tied for 12th in points with eight off of three goals and two assists.
REACHING A MILESTONE
With a win against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 1, MSU head coach Damon Rensing reached the 150 win-plateau. He is the second winningest coach in Spartan history. Hall of Famer Joe Baum is the all-time leader with 320 career wins. Rensing holds a career record of 153-115-49 in 17 seasons in the Green and White.
GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Seven players have started all nine games in Zac Kelly, Luke Spadafora, Miles Merritt, Richie Ludwig, Jack Guggemos, Colin Arce and Josh Adam. Peter Soudan and Chim Okeke have also played in all nine games. Will Eby and Peter Soudan have both started eight games, while fighting injuries Brandon Munson has started six games.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Several Spartans are logging in the minutes on this season. Goalkeeper Zac Kelly has played all 810, while and defender Josh Adam is second in minutes with 792. Midfielders Richie Ludwig (745 minutes) and Colin Arce (747) are next in minutes played.
DID YOU KNOW?
With three shutouts so far this season, redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has 15 career clean sheets. He is now tied for eighth in the MSU record books. He would be tied with T.J. Lieckfelt (1997-00), Joe Baum (1967-68) and Paul Zimmerman (1983-85).
UP NEXT
The Spartans will hit the road to take on Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List.
Kelly, who hails from Holt, Michigan, is the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. Last season, he was the first Michigan State athlete to earn B1G Goalkeeper of the Year honors since Jimmy Hague in 2017. Kelly started all 17 games for MSU last season, earning seven shutouts.
Merritt, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was named a United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch. The midfielder is in his first season with the Spartans after playing two years at Incarnate Word.
Munson, a sophomore who hails from Spring Hill, Florida, was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Ahead of the start of practice on Aug. 5, Michigan State head men's soccer coach Damon Rensing announced the three captains for the 2025 season in Zac Kelly, Josh Adam and Will Eby.
LAST TIME OUT
For the first time in school history, the Michigan State men's soccer team defeated back-to-back top 5 teams with a 2-1 road victory over No. 5 Michigan on Friday at U-M Soccer Stadium. With the win the Big Bear Trophy returns to East Lansing.
The Spartans took the 1-0 lead in the 51st minute. Freshman midfielder Peter Soudan was taken down in the box by Goldson, leading to a penalty kick. Junior midfielder Miles Merritt stepped up to the spot and drilled the ball to the lower right corner for his third goal of the season. He is now 2-for-2 in penalty kicks this season.
Michigan State found the game-winning goal in the 64th minute. Freshman forward Chim Okeke got the play started up the right side. Okeke found Ludwig, who's blast ricocheted off the post and past Goldson to give the Spartans' the 2-1 lead. The goal was Ludwig's second of the season.
BATTLE FOR THE BIG BEAR
This was the 25th anniversary for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy. The trophy originated in 2000. MSU leads the series 15-5-5 since 2000 after the 2-1 against No. 5 Michigan on Sept. 26. The Spartans had possession of the trophy after the teams tied 0-0 the last two seasons on BTN. Last season, in East Lansing, Zac Kelly and Isaiah Goldson were both stellar in the 0-0 tie. Kelly made four saves on the night.
In 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan State came out on top with a 2-0 win behind goals from Greyson Mercer and Jonathan Stout.
Michigan State leads the overall series with Michigan 34-12-10, including 17-3-5 in East Lansing. The Wolverines have closed the gap of late, winning five of the last nine games. With the COVID-19 shortened season, MSU and U-M met three times with the Wolverines winning all three, including a 1-0 win in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan also won both meetings in 2019. In 2021, the teams battled to a 2-2 double overtime tie in Ann Arbor.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 17th season at the helm of the Spartans. Assistant coach T.J. Kolba is in his seventh season, while Nick Barry enters his sixth year at MSU. Reid Friedrichs, who enters his third 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.
This year there is a new face on the Spartan bench in former Spartan Zach Carroll, who was the No. 38 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls. He earned first-team All-Big honors in 2015.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
MSU junior midfielder Colin Arce is following in his father's footsteps. Steve Arce played at Michigan State from 1998-01 when current head coach Damon Rensing was an assistant coach.
KELLY AND SOUDAN EARN LEAGUE HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer players Zac Kelly and Peter Soudan both captured Big Ten honors on Sept. 30.
Kelly, a native of Holt, Michigan, captured Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the first time this season. He also was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week. He led the team to a pair of wins over top five teams for the first time in MSU history. Against No. 3 Indiana, he earned a clean sheet with a season-high five saves. In the Spartans' road win against No. 5 Michigan, he allowed only one goal in MSU's 2-1 win.
This is Kelly's second career Goalkeeper of the Week honor. His first honor came on Oct. 1, 2024.
Soudan is the third Spartan to earn B1G Freshman of the Week honors. The 2024 season was the first season that the award was given. Midfielder Brandon Munson was named Freshman of the Week on Oct. 1, 2024. Luke Spadafora also captured Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors on Sept. 2, 2025.
The midfielder, who hails from Western Springs, Illinois, scored the game-winning goal in MSU's 1-0 victory over Indiana on Sept. 23. He also drew the penalty that led to a penalty kick goal in the 2-1 victory at Michigan on Sept. 26. Soudan is tied for the team lead in points with three goals and two assists for eight points.
BIG TEN OPENER
MSU opened up Big Ten action against Washington on Sept. 12 with a 2-1 loss. This was the second-straight season that the two teams have met in the B1G opener. The Spartans are 7-2-3 in their last 12 Big Ten openers. Last season, MSU defeated UW, 1-0, in East Lansing. The Spartans tied Rutgers on the road 1-1 in the league opener in 2023. In 2022, MSU tied No. 16 Indiana to open league play. In 2021, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 in Madison.
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