Destination: B1G Championship Weekend

No. 9 Michigan State (11-3-5, 7-1-3 B1G) vs No. 17 UCLA (11-4-3, 6-2-3 B1G)
Dates/Location	Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 \| 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT Energizer Park, St. Louis, Mo. \| GameDay Information
Television	Big Ten Network
Webstream	Fox Sports App
Live Statistics	Click Here
Game Notes	Michigan State \| UCLA
Tournament Website	Tournament Central
Social Media	Facebook X Instagram

The Starting XI
The top notes you need to know about Michigan State women's soccer

• No. 9 Michigan State is the overall No. 2 seed in the 2025 Women's Soccer Tournament, and has advanced to the league semifinals to take on third-seeded UCLA. The Spartans defeated Northwestern 1-0 in the quarterfinals, while the Bruins dispatched Penn State, 2-1.

• MSU and UCLA played during the regular season, which was the first-ever meeting between the two schools in the sport of women's soccer. The teams played to a 1-1 deadlock.

• With 45 goals through 19 games, MSU is first in the Big Ten in both total goals (13th nationally) and scoring offense (2.37, 17th nationally). UCLA boasts a 0.33 team goals against, which leads the Big Ten and the nation. The Bruins have conceded just six goals in 18 games with 12 shutouts.

• MSU is playing in the semifinals for the sixth time in program history and first time since 2022. The Spartans are 1-4 in their previous semifinal appearances and 5-16-2 all-time in the Big Ten postseason affair.

• Through games of Nov. 2, MSU's schedule has been rated the toughest in the nation, with the Spartans holding the highest spot in the RPI rankings (11th) and national poll (No. 9) of any Big Ten institution.

• Jeff Hosler is in his fifth season coaching the Spartan program, and owns 299 victories in his 20-year coaching career. He has guided the Spartans to 10 wins or more in each of his five seasons in East Lansing, (66-17-19), with five top-four finishes in the Big Ten standings and two titles (2022, 2023).

• The All-Big Ten teams were announced on Tuesday, with the Spartans placing four players on the first team and one on the second team. Kennedy Bell was named the B1G Forward of the Year and a unanimous first team pick, and was joined by Emerson Sargeant, Kayla Briggs, and Maggie Illig. Bella Najera earned second team honors, and senior Remini Tillotson was the Sportsmanship Award honoree for the Spartans.

• B1G Forward of the Year Bell leads the Big Ten in goals and points, (10-5-25) and in conference games only posted six scores and four assists in 11 games (1.45 ppg). Fellow transfer Kayla Briggs posted 5-7-17 in two seasons at Providence - the same scoring line she owns through 19 games this year.

• Illig, Najera and Sargeant are all repeat All-Big Ten performers - both Illig and Sargeant were previously second team picks, and Najera was a two-time third team selection. Najera and Sargeant are tied with Briggs for second on the team with five goals, while the centerback Illig has guided the Spartan back line in front of a pair of freshmen keepers.

• Freshman Noelle Henning posted her seventh shutout of the season on Sunday vs. Northwestern (one save), and has not allowed a goal in 245:40, dating back to the game vs. Illinois (10/19).

• MSU brings a pair of local products home to St. Louis – Kaleigh McPherson is from St. Charles and attended Saint Dominic high school; Maggie Illig is from Troy and attended Troy Buchanan.

Players Mentioned

Kennedy Bell

Kayla Briggs

Noelle Henning

Maggie Illig

Kaleigh McPherson

Bella Najera

Emerson Sargeant

Remini Tillotson

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