Friday, August 29
Louisville, Ky.
12 PM
Michigan State University
at
Louisville
Photo by: Jim Pivarnik - MSU
Field Hockey Set to Begin 2025 Season
8/27/2025 3:47:00 PM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State field hockey gets its 2025 season underway this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky when it takes on Louisville at noon on Friday, August 29 and Ohio at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 30. Both games will take place at Trager Stadium.
Friday's game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra via the ESPN+ digital platform.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville
The Spartans are 9-7 all-time against Louisville. Last time out, Michigan State was defeated 4-1 on September 8th, 2019, at Ralph Young Field. MSU has compiled a series road record of 3-3 against the Cardinals. When the Spartans last traveled to Louisville on Oct. 7, 2018, MSU was handed a defeat by a score of 4-1.
Ohio
Michigan State compiled an impressive 17-3 series record over the Bobcats. Last time out, MSU suffered a setback in the form of a 3-2 overtime loss on September 8th, 2024. This will be the first neutral site game in the series history.
CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
Midfielder Maddie Lawlor returns to East Lansing for her fifth year after missing the 2023 season due to injury. Lawlor looks to improve upon a career-best 2024 season where she started all 18 games for the Spartans and set career highs in goals (5), assists (3), points (13), shots (42) and shots on goal (22).
Sophomore back Caro Schafer, looks to improve upon a strong freshman campaign in which she started all 18 games, recording her first career assist in her first collegiate game against UC Davis. Schafer scored her first career goal against Ball State, on September 29th, 2024. Redshirt junior back Alexa Shaffer brings veteran leadership to the squad entering her fourth season in East Lansing
B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH
Graduate student Tatum Johnson, sophomore Lilian Knorr and Lawlor were all named as B1G Players to Watch on Wednesday, August 27 ahead of the start of the regular season.
Johnson, a transfer from LaSalle, missed the entire 2024 season due to injury, but looks to re-capture the form that saw her become a three-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection where she was a first team selection in her final two seasons at LaSalle. Knorr started all 18 games in the midfield for MSU as a freshman in 2024 posting four goals, two assists and 10 points. She ranked second on the team in goals and was fourth in points.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE
Louisville went 6-11 in 2024, going 1-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action. The Cardinals key returners include junior forward Izzy Bianco, junior forward Rylie Wollerton and goalie Emily Young.
Bianco garnered NFHCA All-West Region Second Team honors in 2024, recording career highs in assists (3) and goals (5). Wollerton set career highs in goals scored (7) and points (16) last season. Young made eight starts in goal during the 2024 season making 37 saves. She compiled a 4-4 record splitting time in goal and posted a .698 save percentage on 2.10 goals against.
ABOUT OHIO
The Bobcats are coming off a 7-11 campaign, which included a 3-5 mark in MAC play in 2024. Ohio returns two key seniors from last season in forward Sasha Dikotla and back Anouk Plaehn.
Dikotla was Ohio's leading scorer last season tallying six goals, one assist and 13 points. She earned All-MAC honors during the 2024 season. Plaehn was the team's second-leading scorer last season with five goals, one assist and 11 points, while finishing second in the MAC with four defensive saves. Plaehn received First Team All-MAC honors in 2024.
Ohio graduated starting goalkeeper from last season Macy Lotze and will look to returners Ash Stephenson and Gwen Hershberger to fill that void.
UP NEXT
Michigan State returns to East Lansing for its home opener against the Bellarmine Knights on Friday, September 5th at 3:00 p.m. MSU is 2-0 all-time against Bellarmine including a 4-2 win over the Knights on the road last season.
Friday's game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra via the ESPN+ digital platform.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville
The Spartans are 9-7 all-time against Louisville. Last time out, Michigan State was defeated 4-1 on September 8th, 2019, at Ralph Young Field. MSU has compiled a series road record of 3-3 against the Cardinals. When the Spartans last traveled to Louisville on Oct. 7, 2018, MSU was handed a defeat by a score of 4-1.
Ohio
Michigan State compiled an impressive 17-3 series record over the Bobcats. Last time out, MSU suffered a setback in the form of a 3-2 overtime loss on September 8th, 2024. This will be the first neutral site game in the series history.
CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
Midfielder Maddie Lawlor returns to East Lansing for her fifth year after missing the 2023 season due to injury. Lawlor looks to improve upon a career-best 2024 season where she started all 18 games for the Spartans and set career highs in goals (5), assists (3), points (13), shots (42) and shots on goal (22).
Sophomore back Caro Schafer, looks to improve upon a strong freshman campaign in which she started all 18 games, recording her first career assist in her first collegiate game against UC Davis. Schafer scored her first career goal against Ball State, on September 29th, 2024. Redshirt junior back Alexa Shaffer brings veteran leadership to the squad entering her fourth season in East Lansing
B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH
Graduate student Tatum Johnson, sophomore Lilian Knorr and Lawlor were all named as B1G Players to Watch on Wednesday, August 27 ahead of the start of the regular season.
Johnson, a transfer from LaSalle, missed the entire 2024 season due to injury, but looks to re-capture the form that saw her become a three-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection where she was a first team selection in her final two seasons at LaSalle. Knorr started all 18 games in the midfield for MSU as a freshman in 2024 posting four goals, two assists and 10 points. She ranked second on the team in goals and was fourth in points.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE
Louisville went 6-11 in 2024, going 1-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action. The Cardinals key returners include junior forward Izzy Bianco, junior forward Rylie Wollerton and goalie Emily Young.
Bianco garnered NFHCA All-West Region Second Team honors in 2024, recording career highs in assists (3) and goals (5). Wollerton set career highs in goals scored (7) and points (16) last season. Young made eight starts in goal during the 2024 season making 37 saves. She compiled a 4-4 record splitting time in goal and posted a .698 save percentage on 2.10 goals against.
ABOUT OHIO
The Bobcats are coming off a 7-11 campaign, which included a 3-5 mark in MAC play in 2024. Ohio returns two key seniors from last season in forward Sasha Dikotla and back Anouk Plaehn.
Dikotla was Ohio's leading scorer last season tallying six goals, one assist and 13 points. She earned All-MAC honors during the 2024 season. Plaehn was the team's second-leading scorer last season with five goals, one assist and 11 points, while finishing second in the MAC with four defensive saves. Plaehn received First Team All-MAC honors in 2024.
Ohio graduated starting goalkeeper from last season Macy Lotze and will look to returners Ash Stephenson and Gwen Hershberger to fill that void.
UP NEXT
Michigan State returns to East Lansing for its home opener against the Bellarmine Knights on Friday, September 5th at 3:00 p.m. MSU is 2-0 all-time against Bellarmine including a 4-2 win over the Knights on the road last season.
Players Mentioned
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