Sunday, August 10
East Lansing, Mich.
2 PM
Michigan State University
2
vs
0
Butler (Exhibition)
Photo by: Hannah Garver
Spartan Men’s Soccer Blanks Butler Sunday In Exhibition
8/10/2025 5:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Michigan State's final exhibition will be at UIC on Friday.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer scored two goals off set pieces on the way to a 2-0 exhibition Victory for MSU over Butler Sunday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium.
"I thought we had a really good mentality today," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "I think we showed some depth, created good chances, and scored a couple of restart goals, which rewards you for good soccer. We played some really good soccer today, and I thought we played together as a group, both with the ball and without. So, it's just an exhibition, but definitely happy with where we're at. No injuries, a lot of guys got some good minutes, so all in all, it went pretty solid."
MSU split its scoring with a goal in each half, as junior defender Will Eby headed in a goal in the first half. Eby's goal came off a corner kick by junior midfielder and United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch, Miles Merritt, and senior defender Josh Adam headed it into the face of the goal where Eby deposited the ball in the back of the next, past Butler goalkeeper Aurie Briscoe.
The Spartans scored off a free kick in the second half. Freshman midfielder Kayden Hudson got his head on the ball and put it in the net off the free kick from junior defender Aidan Phelan.
MSU's resolute defense held strong throughout to post the clean sheet, anchored by senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly, who was named a Top Drawer Soccer Big Ten Player to Watch. Kelly is also the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year.
"I would love to get a goal in the run of play, but we'll take goals however we can get them. I thought we created some good chances and just continue to fine tune things," Rensing said.
Sunday was the first of two exhibitions for the Green and White. MSU will wrap up exhibition action by traveling to Chicago to face UIC on Friday, Aug. 15 for the Spartans' final exhibition. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Michigan State will kick off the regular season hosting UC Riverside on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
"I thought we had a really good mentality today," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "I think we showed some depth, created good chances, and scored a couple of restart goals, which rewards you for good soccer. We played some really good soccer today, and I thought we played together as a group, both with the ball and without. So, it's just an exhibition, but definitely happy with where we're at. No injuries, a lot of guys got some good minutes, so all in all, it went pretty solid."
MSU split its scoring with a goal in each half, as junior defender Will Eby headed in a goal in the first half. Eby's goal came off a corner kick by junior midfielder and United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch, Miles Merritt, and senior defender Josh Adam headed it into the face of the goal where Eby deposited the ball in the back of the next, past Butler goalkeeper Aurie Briscoe.
The Spartans scored off a free kick in the second half. Freshman midfielder Kayden Hudson got his head on the ball and put it in the net off the free kick from junior defender Aidan Phelan.
MSU's resolute defense held strong throughout to post the clean sheet, anchored by senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly, who was named a Top Drawer Soccer Big Ten Player to Watch. Kelly is also the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year.
"I would love to get a goal in the run of play, but we'll take goals however we can get them. I thought we created some good chances and just continue to fine tune things," Rensing said.
Sunday was the first of two exhibitions for the Green and White. MSU will wrap up exhibition action by traveling to Chicago to face UIC on Friday, Aug. 15 for the Spartans' final exhibition. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Michigan State will kick off the regular season hosting UC Riverside on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
Players Mentioned
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