Friday, November 7
East Lansing, Mich.
8 PM
Michigan State University
vs
No. 1 Maryland
Spartan Men's Soccer Closes Out Season Hosting No. 1 Maryland Friday
11/6/2025 11:06:00 AM | Men's Soccer
*** With multiple events on campus, fans are recommended to park at the Kellogg Center ramp ($5) or Lot 62 ($5) ***Â
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State ends the season, taking on No. 1 Maryland on Friday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. All the Big Ten games to end the season will start at the same time.
The Spartans are in search of their first win since September, going 0-3-3 in the month of October. Michigan State holds a 5-7-3 overall record and a 2-4-3 mark in Big Ten action. No. 1 Â Maryland is 11-0-3 overall and 7-0-2 in league play.
Adam Nothstine and Shin Nakamura will be on the call on B1G+.
TOP OF THE PILE
The last time the Spartans faced the No. 1 team in the nation was Oct. 24, 2024, when MSU tied Ohio State, 2-2 in Columbus. Prior to playing OSU, MSU last faced No. 1 Creighton on Sept. 13, 2015.
LOOKING AT THE TERRAPINS
No. 1 Maryland is undefeated this season with a 11-0-3 record overall and 7-0-2 mark in Big Ten action. Â The Terrapins have won five-straight games, leading up to the season finale. With a win, Maryland would capture its seventh Big Ten title. They last won the regular-season title in 2022.
The Terrapins have three players in double figures in points scored, led by Stephanie Njike who leads the team with 17 points off of six goals and five assists. Sadam Masereka is second with 14 points (six goals, two assists), while Albi Ndrenika is thirs with 13 points (three goals, seven assists).
Goalkeeper Laurin Mack has played every minute this season for the Terps. He leads the Big Ten in shutouts with eight, allowing only nine goals for a 0.64 GAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Maryland holds an 8-6-6 overall series over Michigan State. The Spartans are 0-4-1 in the last five contests. Michigan State's last win in the series was a 2-0 victory in East Lansing in 2018.
At home, the series is even 2-2-4. In College Park, Â Maryland leads the series 5-3-1. On neutral ground, Â the series is tied 1-1-1.
FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
After going over four games without scoring, the Spartans finally found the back of the net. Richie Ludwig goal scored the last goal before the streak started on Oct. 3 and broke the streak against Rutgers in the 81st minute.
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 (3,115).Â
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 15 and Peter Soudan who has started 14. Overall, seven Michigan State freshmen have seen action this season.Â
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
With the regular season coming to a close on Friday, Maryland is on top of the standings with 22 points. Washington stands second with 21. Michigan is in third with 19 points, UCLA holds the final spot with 14 points. The Spartans are tied for eighth with nine 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 and five overall Spartan opponents ranked in the United Soccer Coaches poll. MSU is 2-2-0 against those teams, not yet having played No. No. 1 Maryland. Michigan State has wins over No. 25 Indiana and No. 10 Michigan. The Spartans suffered a 1-0 road loss to No. 15 Washington and a home defeat to No. 25 Â Kansas City.
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 second for  lead with three goals. He is first in points with nine off of three goals and three assists for nine points. Transfer Miles Merritt is tied for the sec;md lead in points with eight points on three goals and two assists with Richie Ludwig. Freshman Luke Spadafora is third in scoring with six points. Freshman Chim Okeke, who has served as a spark plug off the bench or as a starter, scored his first collegiate goal against Ohio State on Sept. 19.Â
WHAT A WEEK!
Five 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 153-119-52 in 17 seasons in the Green and White.
GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Only four players have started all 15 games in Zac Kelly, Luke Spadafora, Colin Arce and Josh Adam. Richie Ludwig, Peter Soudan, Will Eby and Miles Merritt have also started in 14 games. Chim Okeke has played in all 15 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).
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PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List.Â
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.Â
Munson, a sophomore who hails from Spring Hill, Florida, was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season.Â
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
A late second-half goal, led the Spartan men's soccer team to a 1-1 draw at Yurcak Field in Piscataway N.J. on a cold and windy Halloween Friday night.Â
The Spartans finally found the equalizer in the 81st minute. The play started with a shot by sophomore forward Oscar Huerta that was saved by Dalton. Freshman midfielder Peter Soudan collected the rebound and got it to Ludwig for his team-leading fourth goal of the season.
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.
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State ends the season, taking on No. 1 Maryland on Friday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. All the Big Ten games to end the season will start at the same time.
The Spartans are in search of their first win since September, going 0-3-3 in the month of October. Michigan State holds a 5-7-3 overall record and a 2-4-3 mark in Big Ten action. No. 1 Â Maryland is 11-0-3 overall and 7-0-2 in league play.
Adam Nothstine and Shin Nakamura will be on the call on B1G+.
TOP OF THE PILE
The last time the Spartans faced the No. 1 team in the nation was Oct. 24, 2024, when MSU tied Ohio State, 2-2 in Columbus. Prior to playing OSU, MSU last faced No. 1 Creighton on Sept. 13, 2015.
LOOKING AT THE TERRAPINS
No. 1 Maryland is undefeated this season with a 11-0-3 record overall and 7-0-2 mark in Big Ten action. Â The Terrapins have won five-straight games, leading up to the season finale. With a win, Maryland would capture its seventh Big Ten title. They last won the regular-season title in 2022.
The Terrapins have three players in double figures in points scored, led by Stephanie Njike who leads the team with 17 points off of six goals and five assists. Sadam Masereka is second with 14 points (six goals, two assists), while Albi Ndrenika is thirs with 13 points (three goals, seven assists).
Goalkeeper Laurin Mack has played every minute this season for the Terps. He leads the Big Ten in shutouts with eight, allowing only nine goals for a 0.64 GAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Maryland holds an 8-6-6 overall series over Michigan State. The Spartans are 0-4-1 in the last five contests. Michigan State's last win in the series was a 2-0 victory in East Lansing in 2018.
At home, the series is even 2-2-4. In College Park, Â Maryland leads the series 5-3-1. On neutral ground, Â the series is tied 1-1-1.
FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
After going over four games without scoring, the Spartans finally found the back of the net. Richie Ludwig goal scored the last goal before the streak started on Oct. 3 and broke the streak against Rutgers in the 81st minute.
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 (3,115).Â
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 15 and Peter Soudan who has started 14. Overall, seven Michigan State freshmen have seen action this season.Â
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
With the regular season coming to a close on Friday, Maryland is on top of the standings with 22 points. Washington stands second with 21. Michigan is in third with 19 points, UCLA holds the final spot with 14 points. The Spartans are tied for eighth with nine 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 and five overall Spartan opponents ranked in the United Soccer Coaches poll. MSU is 2-2-0 against those teams, not yet having played No. No. 1 Maryland. Michigan State has wins over No. 25 Indiana and No. 10 Michigan. The Spartans suffered a 1-0 road loss to No. 15 Washington and a home defeat to No. 25 Â Kansas City.
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 second for  lead with three goals. He is first in points with nine off of three goals and three assists for nine points. Transfer Miles Merritt is tied for the sec;md lead in points with eight points on three goals and two assists with Richie Ludwig. Freshman Luke Spadafora is third in scoring with six points. Freshman Chim Okeke, who has served as a spark plug off the bench or as a starter, scored his first collegiate goal against Ohio State on Sept. 19.Â
WHAT A WEEK!
Five 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 153-119-52 in 17 seasons in the Green and White.
GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Only four players have started all 15 games in Zac Kelly, Luke Spadafora, Colin Arce and Josh Adam. Richie Ludwig, Peter Soudan, Will Eby and Miles Merritt have also started in 14 games. Chim Okeke has played in all 15 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).
Â
PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List.Â
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.Â
Munson, a sophomore who hails from Spring Hill, Florida, was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season.Â
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
A late second-half goal, led the Spartan men's soccer team to a 1-1 draw at Yurcak Field in Piscataway N.J. on a cold and windy Halloween Friday night.Â
The Spartans finally found the equalizer in the 81st minute. The play started with a shot by sophomore forward Oscar Huerta that was saved by Dalton. Freshman midfielder Peter Soudan collected the rebound and got it to Ludwig for his team-leading fourth goal of the season.
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.
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