Spartan Men's Soccer Closes Out Non-Conference Action Against Green Bay Tuesday

Tuesday, October 27

East Lansing, Mich.

6 PM

Michigan State University

Green Bay

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Miles Merritt handles the ball vs. Michigan

10/26/2026 7:11:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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The two teams have not met since 2000

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 6/12 Michigan State men's soccer will conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule hosting Green Bay on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.

The Spartans are 9-2-3 overall and 5-1-2 overall in Big Ten play after a 1-1 tie against No. 7 Washington at home on Oct. 23.

Matt Guziewicz and Ximena Herraro will be on the call for the B1G+.

WHAT'S AT STAKE
One more win would give the Spartans a 5-1-1 record in non-conference action this season. MSU's only non-conference loss this came against Kansas City, which is now ranked No. 6. Michigan State is one overall win away from reaching double figures in wins for the first time since 2018, when the Spartans were 14-5-4 en route to the College Cup.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
The regular season is coming down to the final three games of the season. After taking on Green Bay, the Spartans will host Rutgers in home regular-season finale on Oct. 30. The regular-season comes to an end against Indiana in Bloomington on Nov. 4.

ROAD WARRIORS
With a win against Ohio State in Columbus on Oct. 16, the Spartans improved to 3-1 on the road in league contests. Michigan State defeated Maryland in College Park, 2-1, on Oct. 9. The victory against the Terps was the first win for MSU against Maryland since 2018. It also marked the first win in College Park since 2014. Michigan State also defeated Penn State on Sept. 18.

SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State and Green Bay have a brief series history with the Spartans leading 4-1-2. The two teams have not met since Sept. 1, 2000 when MSU came out on top with a 6-1 win in East Lansing. At home, the Spartans are 3-0-1 against the Phoenix. On the road, the series is tied 1-1-1. Michigan State has won the last three meetings.

LOOKING AT THE PHOENIX
After a 2-1 win against IU Indy on Oct. 24, Green Bay stands 4-7-4 overall and 3-3-3 in the Horizon League. The win on Saturday snapped a two-game losing streak for the Phoenix. Green Bay has played two teams from the Mitten State with a win over Detroit Mercy and a tie against Oakland.

Noah Lechelt leads the team in scoring with five goals for 10 points. Noah Radeke is second with three goals and one assist for seven points.

Drew Swancutt has played every minute in goal this season for the Phoenix. He has allowed 24 goals for a 1.60 GAA. He has also added 43 saves for Green Bay.

John O'Reilly is in his third season with the Phoenix. He has an overall record of 24-21-8.

DID YOU KNOW?
The seven goals by Andrew Darakdjian are the most in a season since Farai Mutatu scored seven in 2021. The Spartans have three players in double figures in scoring for the first time since the 2021 season. Darakdjian leads the way with 17 points followed by Leo Conneh (13) and Richie Ludwig (13). In 2021, Jonathan Stout had 12 points followed by 10 points each from Greyson Mercer and Will Perkins.

PLAYING THE BEST
Two of MSU's non-conference opponents are among the top 25 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Kansas City stands No. 5 this week, while Pitt is No. 17.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
The Spartans are among the leaders in the NCAA in several categories. Michigan State is sixth in the country in assists per game and first in the Big Ten with 3.00 apg. MSU is also 14th in the NCAA and second in the B1G in points per game with 7.29 ppg. The Spartans are ninth in the nation in assists with 42.

Andrew Darakdjian is 18th in the nation in game-winning goals with four, while Richie Ludwig is 22nd in total assists with seven.

MERRITT NAMED TO HERMANN WATCH LIST
Miles Merritt was named to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List. Merritt is the first Spartan to be named to the Watch List since Jonathan Stout was named to the preseason Watch List in 2024. Giuseppe Barone and Patrick Nielsen were named to the Hermann Watch List in 2019. Prior to that, Ryan Sierakowski was honored in 2017. Goalkeeper Avery Steinlage was named to the watch list in 2010. In 2014, midfielder Jay Chapman was named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, becoming the first Spartan in school history to achieve the feat.

DONO CAPTURES B1G HONOR
Dom Dono was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week by the league on Sept. 30. Dono, a native of Plymouth, Michigan, scored his first collegiate goal in the Spartan's 3-0 win over No. 13 Wisconsin at home on Sept. 25. Dono is the third Spartan to earn B1G Freshman of the Week honors. Midfielder Peter Soudan earned the accolade on Sept. 30, 2025 and went on to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year 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.

CLIMBING UP THE POLLS
This week, the Spartans climbed to No. 6 in the United Soccer Poll and remained No. 15 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll. They are one of six Big Ten teams ranked this week. Indiana leads the way at No. 2. Washington is ranked No. 7 followed by No. 11 Maryland, No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 19 UCLA.

KEEPING UP WITH DARAKDJIAN
Senior forward Andrew Darakdjian leads the team in scoring with seven goals and two assists for 17 points. It is the most points from a Spartans since Farai Mutatu had 17 in 2021. The two goals against Northwestern on Sept. 15 were his first two Big Ten goals after missing last season with an injury. The transfer from Oakland University has started all nine games this season. He has four game-winning goals this season. He added another goal in the Spartans' 1-1 tie against No. 7 Washington on Oct.23.

GREK THE GREAT
Junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz has had a strong season. In his first season as the Spartans' starter, he has allowed only 15 goals for a 1.08 GAA. He also has earned five shutouts this season starting with SIUE and Pitt. MSU started Big Ten play with three clean sheets against Northwestern, Penn State and Wisconsin. He is tied for second in the Big Ten in shutouts.

AROUND THE BIG TEN
Heading into this week, Michigan State and Indiana are tied for first in the B1G standings with 17 points. Rutgers is third with 16 points, while Washington is fourth with 14. Michigan and Penn State are the final two teams looking for their first conference wins. The Spartans only have three games remaining in the regular season.

Senior forward Andrew Darakdjian is tied for third in the Big Ten in points with 17 points (seven goals and two assists). Senior Richie Ludwig is tied for second in the conference in assists with seven with Rutger's Amer Lukovic. As a team, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in points with 102 points, behind Washington's 104 points.

RISING UP THE RPI
Michigan State moved up No. 7 in the most recent RPI, which is second among Big Ten schools. Maryland is first at No. 4 and Indiana is No. 10. MSU opponents Pitt and Kansas City stand No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.

GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Seven Spartans have started all 14 games this season, as Brandon Munson missed his first game of the season due to card accumulations against Maryland on Oct. 9. There have been 25 different players that have seen action in the first 14 games and among those 25 players 15 have earned a point. Freshman Ezra Horlings made his collegiate debut in goal in the second half against the Purple Eagles on Aug. 30. Richie Ludwig, Miles Merritt, Luke Spadafora, Conner O'Keefe, Charlie Norkett and Jake Grekowicz have started all 14 games this season.

HUERTA IS CLUTCH
MSU earned a hard fought 1-0 road victory against Penn State on Sept. 18. In the 85th minute, junior forward Oscar Huerta's diving header would be all the offense that the Spartans needed. The play started with a corner kick from Miles Merritt. The goal was the first of the season for Huerta, while Merritt has two assists.

FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
Fifteen different Spartans have earned a point in the first 14 games. Senior Andrew Darakdjian leads the way with seven goals, including four game winners. Senior midfielder Leo Conneh is second in goals scored with four. Senior midfielder Richie Ludwig is third with three goals after the game winner against Ohio State on Oct. 16. Twelve different Spartans have found the back of the net. Overall, Darakdjian leads the team in scoring with 17 points, while Ludwig and Conneh are tied for second with 13 points.

THE BICYCLE HEARD AROUND THE NCAA
Junior forward Oscar Huerta caught a lot of attention with an assist against SIUE on Aug. 27. In the 47th minute, MSU scored a SportsCenter worthy goal started by Huerta's bicycle kick pass. Huerta's kick perfectly found the head of sophomore defender Conner O'Keefe for his second goal of the year.

HOME SWEET HOME
This was the first time that Michigan State has started the season with five-straight home games. After home wins against UAlbany, Seattle, SIUE, and Niagara, MSU closed out the homestand with a 0-0 tie against Pitt. The Spartans are 6-0-2 this season at home.

FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
Freshman midfielder Drew Rensing is following in his father's footsteps in becoming a Spartan. MSU head coach Damon Rensing played at Michigan State from 1993-1996. The younger Rensing has seen action in 11 games this season.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THEM
Michigan State men's soccer team had three players named to the 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch List. Senior midfielder Miles Merritt, junior defender Brandon Munson and sophomore midfielder Peter Soudan were all honored by the league.

Merritt, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is in his second season at Michigan State after transferring from Incarnate Word. Munson, a junior who hails from Spring Hill, Florida, started 11 games for the Spartans. He scored one goal with one assist for three points. Soudan, a sophomore from Western Springs, Illinois, was named to the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He also earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team last season.

'O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Ahead of the start of practice on Aug. 14, Michigan State head men's soccer coach Damon Rensing announced the three captains for the 2026 season in Richie Ludwig, Miles Merritt and Will Eby.

DID YOU ALSO KNOW?
The Spartans added a new member on Aug. 18. Assistant coach Nick Barry and his wife, Maddy, welcomed a Spartan, Charlotte.

UP NEXT
The Spartans will now prepare for its regular-season home finale against Rutgers on Oct. 30. Michigan State will celebrate its seven seniors against Rutgers as well.

THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his 18th season at the helm of the Spartans. Nick Barry enters his seventh year at MSU. Reid Friedrichs, who enters his fourth 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.

Former Spartan Zach Carroll enters his second season as an assistant coach. He 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 senior 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.