Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, October 9
East Lansing, Mich.
3 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Penn State
Photo by: Maya Kolton
Spartans Continue Homestand Against Penn State, Longwood
10/7/2026 3:43:00 PM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State field hockey continues its home stand at Ralph Young Field this weekend, hosting Big Ten Conference foe Penn State on Friday, Oct. 9, before wrapping up the weekend with a non-conference matchup against Longwood on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Friday's conference tilt against the Nittany Lions is slated for a 3 p.m. start, while Sunday's matinee against the Lancers will begin at 11 a.m. Both contests will be streamed live on B1G+.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State
Friday's contest marks the 51st all-time meeting between Michigan State and Penn State on the turf. The Spartans trail the series 10-40 and are looking to snap a multi-game skid against the Nittany Lions. Michigan State will search for its first victory over Penn State since Oct. 31, 2009, when the Spartans cruised to a 5-1 victory in Happy Valley.
Longwood
Sunday's matchup between Michigan State and Longwood marks the first meeting in program history. The non-conference contest represents the inaugural clash on the turf between the Spartans and the Lancers.
ABOUT PENN STATE
Penn State enters Friday's clash boasting a 6-4 record (1-1 B1G) under the direction of first-year head coach Hannah Prince. The Nittany Lions travel to Ralph Young Field following a sweep last weekend with a shutout win over Rutgers and an overtime victory No. 19-ranked Lafayette.
Offensively, the Nittany Lions are spearheaded by junior forward Ella Gaitan, who leads the attack with seven goals on the campaign after recording braces against Delaware and Bucknell. Gaitan ranks fifth in shots (37), seventh in shots on goal (18), seventh in points (15) and eighth in goals scored (7) in the Big Ten this fall. Alongside Gaitan, graduate midfielder Sienna Dunn provides veteran playmaking inside the circle, having registered a nation-leading nine assists this season.
Between the posts, junior goalkeeper Aby Deverka anchors the Nittany Lion backline. A former Big Ten and NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week selection, Deverka has posted multiple shutouts this fall and ranks among the conference's elite, sitting top five in the Big Ten in both goals-against average (2.04) and saves (40).
ABOUT LONGWOOD
Longwood travels to East Lansing guided by fifth-year head coach Miranda Rigg. Competing out of the Mid-American Conference, the Lancers enter town with a 0-9 record (0-4 MAC) following setbacks last weekend against Ball State and James Madison.
Offensively, the Lancers look to senior forward Channy Johnson to generate scoring opportunities inside the circle. Johnson has served as a primary playmaker in the attacking third, leading the team in assists (3) and points (5).
Between the pipes, junior goalkeeper Sophie Mooldijk anchors the Lancer defense. A former MAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Mooldijk leads the NCAA in saves per game (12.62 per contest) and sits top-five in program history with over 400 career saves.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's action at Ralph Young Field, Michigan State hits the road for a pair of conference battles, traveling to College Park to face No. 2 ranked Maryland on Friday, Oct. 16, before heading to Piscataway, New Jersey, to challenge Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Friday's conference tilt against the Nittany Lions is slated for a 3 p.m. start, while Sunday's matinee against the Lancers will begin at 11 a.m. Both contests will be streamed live on B1G+.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State
Friday's contest marks the 51st all-time meeting between Michigan State and Penn State on the turf. The Spartans trail the series 10-40 and are looking to snap a multi-game skid against the Nittany Lions. Michigan State will search for its first victory over Penn State since Oct. 31, 2009, when the Spartans cruised to a 5-1 victory in Happy Valley.
Longwood
Sunday's matchup between Michigan State and Longwood marks the first meeting in program history. The non-conference contest represents the inaugural clash on the turf between the Spartans and the Lancers.
ABOUT PENN STATE
Penn State enters Friday's clash boasting a 6-4 record (1-1 B1G) under the direction of first-year head coach Hannah Prince. The Nittany Lions travel to Ralph Young Field following a sweep last weekend with a shutout win over Rutgers and an overtime victory No. 19-ranked Lafayette.
Offensively, the Nittany Lions are spearheaded by junior forward Ella Gaitan, who leads the attack with seven goals on the campaign after recording braces against Delaware and Bucknell. Gaitan ranks fifth in shots (37), seventh in shots on goal (18), seventh in points (15) and eighth in goals scored (7) in the Big Ten this fall. Alongside Gaitan, graduate midfielder Sienna Dunn provides veteran playmaking inside the circle, having registered a nation-leading nine assists this season.
Between the posts, junior goalkeeper Aby Deverka anchors the Nittany Lion backline. A former Big Ten and NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week selection, Deverka has posted multiple shutouts this fall and ranks among the conference's elite, sitting top five in the Big Ten in both goals-against average (2.04) and saves (40).
ABOUT LONGWOOD
Longwood travels to East Lansing guided by fifth-year head coach Miranda Rigg. Competing out of the Mid-American Conference, the Lancers enter town with a 0-9 record (0-4 MAC) following setbacks last weekend against Ball State and James Madison.
Offensively, the Lancers look to senior forward Channy Johnson to generate scoring opportunities inside the circle. Johnson has served as a primary playmaker in the attacking third, leading the team in assists (3) and points (5).
Between the pipes, junior goalkeeper Sophie Mooldijk anchors the Lancer defense. A former MAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Mooldijk leads the NCAA in saves per game (12.62 per contest) and sits top-five in program history with over 400 career saves.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's action at Ralph Young Field, Michigan State hits the road for a pair of conference battles, traveling to College Park to face No. 2 ranked Maryland on Friday, Oct. 16, before heading to Piscataway, New Jersey, to challenge Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Tuesday, November 12
Wednesday, September 18
Wednesday, August 21
Thursday, November 02