Sunday, August 10
East Lansing, Mich.
2 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Butler (Exhibition)
Photo by: Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins
MSU Men’s Soccer Opens Up Exhibition Action Against Butler Sunday
8/9/2025 12:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer opens the 2025 season with an exhibition at DeMartin Stadium against Butler on Sunday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m.
For changes to gameday policies please check out the Gameday Central link below.
Click Here for Gameday Central
The Spartans began practice on Tuesday on the DeMartin practice fields. The 2025 squad is a mix of experienced veterans along with new players. Michigan State returns 16 players from last year's team that went 5-7-5 overall and 4-4-2 in the newly expanded Big Ten Conference.
Michigan State welcomes 12 newcomers this season, including three transfers in Miles Merritt (Incarnate Word), Andrew Darakdjian (Oakland) and David Anderson (St. John's). MSU also welcomes nine freshmen, including Luke Spadafora, who is the brother of Spartan senior Jake Spadafora.
MSU will take on eight teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season, including Big Ten opponents Washington, Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan, UCLA and Maryland. Non-conference opponents Pitt and Kansas City also both reached the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State also reached the College Cup last season.
Two Spartans have already been honored with preseason accolades. Merritt was named to the United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch list. The junior is in his first season with the Spartans after playing two years at Incarnate Word. He played in 16 games in 2024, scoring one goal. The Albuquerque, New Mexico native was also a key part of the Cardinals defense.
Senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly was named a Top Drawer Soccer Big Ten Player to Watch. Kelly is the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. He was the first Spartan to earn B1G Goalkeeper of the Year honors since Jimmy Hague in 2017. The Holt, Michigan native Kelly started all 17 games for MSU last season, earning seven shutouts.
This is the first of two exhibitions for the Green and White. MSU will travel to UIC on Friday, Aug. 15 for its final exhibition. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Spartans will kick off the regular season hosting UC Riverside on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.
For changes to gameday policies please check out the Gameday Central link below.
Click Here for Gameday Central
The Spartans began practice on Tuesday on the DeMartin practice fields. The 2025 squad is a mix of experienced veterans along with new players. Michigan State returns 16 players from last year's team that went 5-7-5 overall and 4-4-2 in the newly expanded Big Ten Conference.
Michigan State welcomes 12 newcomers this season, including three transfers in Miles Merritt (Incarnate Word), Andrew Darakdjian (Oakland) and David Anderson (St. John's). MSU also welcomes nine freshmen, including Luke Spadafora, who is the brother of Spartan senior Jake Spadafora.
MSU will take on eight teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season, including Big Ten opponents Washington, Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan, UCLA and Maryland. Non-conference opponents Pitt and Kansas City also both reached the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State also reached the College Cup last season.
Two Spartans have already been honored with preseason accolades. Merritt was named to the United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch list. The junior is in his first season with the Spartans after playing two years at Incarnate Word. He played in 16 games in 2024, scoring one goal. The Albuquerque, New Mexico native was also a key part of the Cardinals defense.
Senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly was named a Top Drawer Soccer Big Ten Player to Watch. Kelly is the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. He was the first Spartan to earn B1G Goalkeeper of the Year honors since Jimmy Hague in 2017. The Holt, Michigan native Kelly started all 17 games for MSU last season, earning seven shutouts.
This is the first of two exhibitions for the Green and White. MSU will travel to UIC on Friday, Aug. 15 for its final exhibition. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Spartans will kick off the regular season hosting UC Riverside on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.
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