Friday, October 31
Piscataway, NJ
7 PM
Michigan State University
at
Rutgers
Spartans Face Rutgers in Regular-Season Road Finale
10/30/2025 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MSU has to regular-season games remaining.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State prepares for the regular-season road finale, taking on Rutgers in a Halloween battle. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Yurcak Field.
The Spartans are in search of their first win of October starting the month with three losses and two ties. Michigan State holds a 5-7-2 overall record and a 2-4-2 mark in Big Ten action. Rutgers is 8-5-2 overall and 3-4-1 in league contests.
LOOKING AT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers is 8-5-2 overall and 3-4-1 in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights have lost three in a row, falling at then-No. 8 Maryland, 2-0, on Oct. 14, before another 2-0 loss, coming at the hands of then-No. 21 Washington on Oct. 17, for RU's first home defeat. RU is now 6-1 at Yurcak Field, the Scarlet Knights' home pitch, entering their final regular-season home match Friday night in hosting the Spartans.
Last time out, Rutgers fell at UCLA, 5-2, last Friday night, playing scoreless soccer for the first 39 minutes, before the Bruins scored two goals 26 seconds apart in the 40th minute to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. The match's next four goals were scored four minutes apart in the second half, as Rutgers netted two quick goals of their own in the 54th and 55th minutes, only to have UCLA counter with goals in the 56 and 58th minutes, then added the insurance goal in the 67th minute.
The Scarlet Knights have out-scored the opposition, 27-22, with five players netting three or more goals. Junior midfielder Joschi Schelb leads RU with seven goals, adding four assists, for 18 points. Sophomore forward Dan Karsten adds 13 points on five goals and three assists.
RU senior net-minder Ciaran Dalton has played every minute of every match, allowing 22 goals while making 51 saves, for a 69.9 save percentage and a 1.47 GAA, notching five clean sheets.
SERIES HISTORY
The Spartans and the Scarlet Knights have met 11 times with Michigan State holding a 7-2-2 record. MSU holds a 4-1-1 record in Piscataway. In East Lansing, the Spartans lead 3-1-1. Michigan State is looking for its first win in the series since 2022. In 2023, the teams tied 1-1 on the road. Last season, Michigan State dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision on Senior Day in East Lansing on Nov. 3, 2024.
FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
The Spartans have gone over four games without scoring. The last time that Michigan State found the back of the net was in the 39th minute against Penn State on Oct. 3 with a Richie Ludwig goal.
PACKING THE STANDS
Through the first eight home games, the Spartans stand eighth in the nation in average attendance, averaging 2,370 fans. Indiana stands second (3,224), while Maryland is third (3,200).
FRESH FACES
Dealing with injuries throughout the season, the Spartans have depended on freshmen all season. Five different newcomers have started a game this season, led by Luke Spadafora who has started all 13 and Peter Soudan who has started 12. Overall, seven Michigan State freshmen have seen action this season.
LOOKING AT THE STANDINGS
With the regular season coming to a close, Washington remains in the lead in the standings with 21 points. Maryland stands second with 20. Michigan is in third with 16 points, UCLA holds the final spot with 14 points. The Spartans are eighth with eight points. This season, only four teams advance to the Big Ten Tournament.
PLAYING AGAINST THE BEST
This week, there are four teams in the Big Ten that are ranked. MSU is 2-1-0 against those teams, not yet having played No. No. 4 Maryland. Michigan State has wins over No. 17 Indiana and No. 12 Michigan. The Spartans suffered a 1-0 road loss to No. 14 Washington.
MORE THAN ROWDY
Against Penn State on Oct. 3, Michigan State set a new men's record for attendance with 4,861 fans at DeMartin Stadium. The previous record was 4,678 against Maryland on Sept. 22, 2017. The overall record at DeMartin is held by the MSU women with 5,145 fans at DeMartin Stadium against Michigan on Oct. 5, 2024.
GETTING TOP MARKS
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 on Sept. 23, 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 and junior midfielder Richie Ludwig are third in scoring with 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.
WHAT A WEEK!
Four weeks ago 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.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Indiana's Palmer Ault is first in the Big Ten in goals scored with 15. He is also first in the league in points with 38 (15 goals, 8 assists). Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly is tied for third in shutouts with five.
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 153-119-51 in 17 seasons in the Green and White.
GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Only four players have started all 14 games in Zac Kelly, Luke Spadafora, Colin Arce and Josh Adam. Richie Ludwig, Jack Guggemos, Peter Soudan, Will Eby and Miles Merritt have also started in 13 games. Chim Okeke has played in all 14 games, while earning his first start against Northwestern on Oct. 11. While fighting injuries, Brandon Munson has started seven games, returning to the starting lineup against Wisconsin on Oct. 17.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Several Spartans are logging in the minutes on this season. Goalkeeper Zac Kelly has played 1,251 minutes, while defender Josh Adam is second in minutes with 1,143. Midfielders Richie Ludwig (1,233 minutes) and Colin Arce (1,164) are next in minutes played.
DID YOU KNOW?
With five shutouts so far this season, redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has 17 career clean sheets. He is now eighth in the MSU record books. He passed T.J. Lieckfelt (1997-00), Joe Baum (1967-68) and Paul Zimmerman (1983-85).
UP NEXT
The Spartans end the regular season taking on No. 4 Maryland at DeMartin Stadium on Nov. 7.
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
Michigan State men's soccer dropped a 2-0 decision to Kansas City on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium to complete non-conference action.
Following the game, the Spartans honored seniors Zac Kelly, Josh Adam, Josh Mason, Michael Sly, Jr., Ryan Van De Winkle, Jack Guggemos and Jake Spadafora following the game. All seven seniors were able to see time on the pitch on Sunday. MSU also honored alumni from several decades at half time.
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.
The Spartans are in search of their first win of October starting the month with three losses and two ties. Michigan State holds a 5-7-2 overall record and a 2-4-2 mark in Big Ten action. Rutgers is 8-5-2 overall and 3-4-1 in league contests.
LOOKING AT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers is 8-5-2 overall and 3-4-1 in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights have lost three in a row, falling at then-No. 8 Maryland, 2-0, on Oct. 14, before another 2-0 loss, coming at the hands of then-No. 21 Washington on Oct. 17, for RU's first home defeat. RU is now 6-1 at Yurcak Field, the Scarlet Knights' home pitch, entering their final regular-season home match Friday night in hosting the Spartans.
Last time out, Rutgers fell at UCLA, 5-2, last Friday night, playing scoreless soccer for the first 39 minutes, before the Bruins scored two goals 26 seconds apart in the 40th minute to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. The match's next four goals were scored four minutes apart in the second half, as Rutgers netted two quick goals of their own in the 54th and 55th minutes, only to have UCLA counter with goals in the 56 and 58th minutes, then added the insurance goal in the 67th minute.
The Scarlet Knights have out-scored the opposition, 27-22, with five players netting three or more goals. Junior midfielder Joschi Schelb leads RU with seven goals, adding four assists, for 18 points. Sophomore forward Dan Karsten adds 13 points on five goals and three assists.
RU senior net-minder Ciaran Dalton has played every minute of every match, allowing 22 goals while making 51 saves, for a 69.9 save percentage and a 1.47 GAA, notching five clean sheets.
SERIES HISTORY
The Spartans and the Scarlet Knights have met 11 times with Michigan State holding a 7-2-2 record. MSU holds a 4-1-1 record in Piscataway. In East Lansing, the Spartans lead 3-1-1. Michigan State is looking for its first win in the series since 2022. In 2023, the teams tied 1-1 on the road. Last season, Michigan State dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision on Senior Day in East Lansing on Nov. 3, 2024.
FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
The Spartans have gone over four games without scoring. The last time that Michigan State found the back of the net was in the 39th minute against Penn State on Oct. 3 with a Richie Ludwig goal.
PACKING THE STANDS
Through the first eight home games, the Spartans stand eighth in the nation in average attendance, averaging 2,370 fans. Indiana stands second (3,224), while Maryland is third (3,200).
FRESH FACES
Dealing with injuries throughout the season, the Spartans have depended on freshmen all season. Five different newcomers have started a game this season, led by Luke Spadafora who has started all 13 and Peter Soudan who has started 12. Overall, seven Michigan State freshmen have seen action this season.
LOOKING AT THE STANDINGS
With the regular season coming to a close, Washington remains in the lead in the standings with 21 points. Maryland stands second with 20. Michigan is in third with 16 points, UCLA holds the final spot with 14 points. The Spartans are eighth with eight points. This season, only four teams advance to the Big Ten Tournament.
PLAYING AGAINST THE BEST
This week, there are four teams in the Big Ten that are ranked. MSU is 2-1-0 against those teams, not yet having played No. No. 4 Maryland. Michigan State has wins over No. 17 Indiana and No. 12 Michigan. The Spartans suffered a 1-0 road loss to No. 14 Washington.
MORE THAN ROWDY
Against Penn State on Oct. 3, Michigan State set a new men's record for attendance with 4,861 fans at DeMartin Stadium. The previous record was 4,678 against Maryland on Sept. 22, 2017. The overall record at DeMartin is held by the MSU women with 5,145 fans at DeMartin Stadium against Michigan on Oct. 5, 2024.
GETTING TOP MARKS
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 on Sept. 23, 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 and junior midfielder Richie Ludwig are third in scoring with 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.
WHAT A WEEK!
Four weeks ago 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.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Indiana's Palmer Ault is first in the Big Ten in goals scored with 15. He is also first in the league in points with 38 (15 goals, 8 assists). Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly is tied for third in shutouts with five.
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 153-119-51 in 17 seasons in the Green and White.
GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Only four players have started all 14 games in Zac Kelly, Luke Spadafora, Colin Arce and Josh Adam. Richie Ludwig, Jack Guggemos, Peter Soudan, Will Eby and Miles Merritt have also started in 13 games. Chim Okeke has played in all 14 games, while earning his first start against Northwestern on Oct. 11. While fighting injuries, Brandon Munson has started seven games, returning to the starting lineup against Wisconsin on Oct. 17.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Several Spartans are logging in the minutes on this season. Goalkeeper Zac Kelly has played 1,251 minutes, while defender Josh Adam is second in minutes with 1,143. Midfielders Richie Ludwig (1,233 minutes) and Colin Arce (1,164) are next in minutes played.
DID YOU KNOW?
With five shutouts so far this season, redshirt-senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly now has 17 career clean sheets. He is now eighth in the MSU record books. He passed T.J. Lieckfelt (1997-00), Joe Baum (1967-68) and Paul Zimmerman (1983-85).
UP NEXT
The Spartans end the regular season taking on No. 4 Maryland at DeMartin Stadium on Nov. 7.
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
Michigan State men's soccer dropped a 2-0 decision to Kansas City on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium to complete non-conference action.
Following the game, the Spartans honored seniors Zac Kelly, Josh Adam, Josh Mason, Michael Sly, Jr., Ryan Van De Winkle, Jack Guggemos and Jake Spadafora following the game. All seven seniors were able to see time on the pitch on Sunday. MSU also honored alumni from several decades at half time.
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.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerDamon Rensing | Men's Soccer Press Conference | Oct. 6, 2025
Monday, October 06
Damon Rensing | Men's Soccer Press Conference | Sep. 29 2025
Monday, September 29
Spartans All-Access | Keeper of the Turf
Thursday, November 14
Playing Out His Dream | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, October 31