Spartans Fourth in B1G Preseason Poll

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State has been selected fourth in the Big Ten preseason coaches poll, as announced on Monday by the Conference office. In addition, the league has revealed its Players to Watch, with senior defender Maggie Illig, junior midfielder Bella Najera, and sophomore centerback Julia Belli all earning the recognition.

The Spartans are coming off a 2024 season in which they compiled a 14-3-5 overall record and went 7-1-3 in Big Ten games. MSU finished fourth (25 points), one point out of third place and two out of second.

The Green & White is the only team to finish in the top four of the Big Ten regular-season standings in each of the last four seasons, with B1G titles in both 2022 and 2023. MSU is also coming off back-to-back appearances in the round of 16 of the NCAA Championship.

B1G WSOC PTW

Illig, Najera, and Belli are all returning starters for the Spartans. Illig and Najera each earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches (USC) 2025 Preseason Players to Watch list at their positions. Illig earned USC Second Team All-North Region a year ago as well as Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Najera was a Third Team All-Big Ten pick and is MSU's leading returner in both goals (8) and points (19). Belli earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2024 and started each of MSU's 22 games.

Michigan State officially begins the season on Thursday evening (Aug. 14) in Boulder against the Colorado Buffaloes (9 pm ET), a team which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago. The Spartans open the season at home on Sunday (Aug. 17) against Dayton at 7 pm.

2025 Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Penn State
4. Michigan State
5. Ohio State
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Rutgers
9. Washington
10. Minnesota
11. Purdue
12. Nebraska
13. Michigan
14. Northwestern
15. Illinois
16. Oregon
17. Indiana
18. Maryland

2025 Big Ten Women's Soccer Players to Watch
ILLINOIS: Izzy Lee, Sr., Keeper; Sarah Foley, Sr., Forward; Emma Yee, So., Forward
INDIANA: Kennedy Neighbors, Jr., Forward; Aleyna Quinn, So., Forward; Haden Vlcek, So., Defender
IOWA: Millie Greer, Jr., Defender; Sofia Bush, Jr., Midfielder; Liana Tarasco, Fr., Midfielder
MARYLAND: Kelsey Smith, Sr., Forward; Tahirah Turnage-Morales, Sr., Defender; Emily Lenhard, So., Midfielder
MICHIGAN: Ellie Fife, So., Defender; Gabrielle Prych, Jr, Forward; Sophie Homan, Sr., Keeper
MICHIGAN STATE: Maggie Illig, Sr., Defender; Bella Najera, Jr., Midfielder; Julia Belli, So., Defender
MINNESOTA: Paige Kalal, Jr., Midfielder; Tatianna Cunningham, Sr., Midfielder; Ashley Thurk, So., Defender
NEBRASKA: Reagan Raabe, Gr., Forward/Midfielder; Sadie Waite, Sr., Midfielder; Lauryn Anglim, Sr., Defender
NORTHWESTERN: Caterina Regazzoni, Sr., Midfielder; Kennedy Roesch, So., Forward; Alex Fallon, So., Forward/Midfielder
OHIO STATE: Amanda Schlueter, Jr., Forward; Ava Bramblett, Jr., Defender; Molly Pritchard, Sr., Keeper
OREGON: Sydney Chura, Sr., Forward; Carly Cormack, So., Midfielder; Jayde Holley, Sr., Defender
PENN STATE: Kaitlyn MacBean, Gr., Forward; Molly Martin, R-Jr., Midfielder; Amelia White, Sr., Forward
PURDUE: Megan Santa Cruz, Jr., Midfielder; Zoe Cuneio, Jr., Defender; Emily Edwards, Jr., Keeper
RUTGERS: Olivia Bodmer, R-Jr., Keeper; Ashley Baran, Jr., Forward; Natalia Ramirez, Gr., Forward
UCLA: Emma Egizii, R-Sr., Midfielder; Lexi Wright, R-Sr., Forward; Jennie Immuthen, Sr., Midfielder/Defender
USC: Maribel Flores, Jr., Forward; Ines Derrien, So., Midfielder; Faith George, So., Forward
WASHINGTON: Kolo Suliafu, Sr., Defender; Samiah Shell, Jr., Forward; Laura Cetina, Sr., Midfielder
WISCONSIN: Hailey Baumann, Jr., Defender; Madison Ishaug, Gr., Midfielder; Ashley Martinez, Gr., Midfielder/Defender

Players Mentioned

Julia Belli

Maggie Illig

Bella Najera

Related Videos