Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Maryland
No. 19 MSU Men's Soccer Travels to No. 7 Maryland Friday
10/8/2026 2:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer
There are six ranked teams in the Big Ten this week.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 19/19 Michigan State men's soccer concludes its two-game road trip, heading to No. 7/12 Maryland on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Ludwig Field.
The Spartans are 7-2-1 overall and 3-1-0 overall in Big Ten play. Michigan State suffered its first B1G loss of the season on Oct. 3 at UCLA, 3-0.
Dash Tischler and Shane Donovan will be on the call for the B1G+.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
One more win would give the Spartans eight wins, which would be the most since winning 14 games in 2018. One more Big Ten win would give the Spartans four league wins, which would match the total from 2024.
LOOKING AT THE TERRAPINS
Maryland is 7-2-1 overall and 2-2-1 in Big Ten play. The Terrapins have already had a busy week, defeating Rutgers on the road 2-1 on Oct. 2. Last week, UMD fell to then-No. 2 Indiana 3-1 on the road. Outside of conference play, the two teams have one common opponent in Pitt. MSU tied the Panthers 0-0, while Maryland defeated Pitt 2-1 to open the season..
Rodrigo Neri is third in the Big Ten in goals scored with six. Henry Bernstein is tied for first in the Big Ten in assists with MSU's Richie Ludwig with seven. Maryland has the defending Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year in Laurin Mack. He has two shutouts this season and is first in the B1G in saves per game with 43.
Maryland is coached by the legendary Sasho Cirovski who is in his 34th season as a Terrapin. He has a 458-182-77 record with Maryland. Overall, he has a record of 484-194-83 in 36th years.
SERIES HISTORY
Maryland leads the overall series with Michigan State, 9-6-6. In College Park, UMD leads 5-3-1. In East Lansing, the Terps are on top 3-2-4. On neutral ground the series is tied 1-1-1.
Michigan State is looking for its first win against Maryland since a 2-0 win in 2018. Since then the Terps lead the series 0-6-2. Last season in East Lansing, Maryland jumped out to an early 3-0, before the Spartans battled back, falling 4-3.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
The Spartans are among the leaders in the NCAA in several categories. Michigan State is third in the country in assists per game and first in the Big Ten with 3.30 apg. MSU is also ninth in the NCAA and second in the B1G in points per game with 7.90 ppg. The Spartans are sixth in the nation in assists with 33.
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. Entering the game off the bench, Dano scored the second goal of the match in the 44th minute. This was Dono's first Freshman of the Week honor.
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 stand No. 19 in the United Soccer Poll and No. 19 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll. They are one of six Big Ten teams ranked this week. Indiana leads the way at No. 2. Maryland is ranked No. 7 followed by No. 14 Washington, No. 20 Wisconsin and No. 21 UCLA.
KEEPING UP WITH DARAKDJIAN
With two goals against Northwestern on Sept. 15, senior forward Andrew Darakdjian now has scored four goals this season. The two goals against the Wildcats 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 goals and one assist for nine points.
PLAYING THE BEST
Three of MSU's non-conference opponents are among the top 25 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Kansas City has risen to No. 4 this week, while Pitt is No. 10. This week, UAlbany has risen to No. 24.
GREK STEPPING UP
Junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz has had a strong start to the season. In his first season as the Spartans' starter, he has allowed only 10 goals for a 1.01 GAA. He also has earned five shutouts this season starting with SIUE and Pitt. MSU has started Big Ten play with three clean sheets against Northwestern, Penn State and Wisconsin. He is tied for first in the Big Ten in shutouts.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Heading into this weekend, Indiana stands first in the Big Ten standings with 13 points. Washington is second is second with 10 points, while the Spartans and Rutgers are tied for third with nine points. Penn State is the only team looking for at B1G win this season.
Senior forward Andrew Darakdjian is ninth in the Big Ten in points per game with 1.11 ppg (four goals and two assists for 11 points. Senior Richie Ludwig is tied for first in the conference in assists with seven with Maryland's Henry Bernstein. As a team, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in points with 79 points, behind Washington's 88 points.
RISING UP THE RPI
Michigan State stands No. 9 in the most recent RPI, which is third among Big Ten schools. Maryland is first and No. 3 and Indiana is No. 8. MSU opponents Pitt and Kansas City stand No. 6 and No. 7, respectively.
GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Eight Spartans have started all 10 games this season. There have been 25 different players that have seen action in the first nine games and among those 25 players 15 have earned a point. After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, junior forward Mohamed Saad saw his first action against Niagara on Aug. 30. Freshman Ezra Horlings made his collegiate debut in goal in the second half against the Purple Eagles on Aug. 30. The Spartans have used the same starting lineup for the last six games.
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.
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD
Fifteen different Spartans have earned a point in the first 10 games. Senior Andrew Darakdjian leads the way with four goals. Sophomore defender Conner O'Keefe is second with three goals. Six different players have two goals after Richie Ludwig's brace against Wisconsin on Sept. 25. Twelve different Spartans have found the back of the net. Last season, MSU scored 19 goals in 16 games. So far in nine games, MSU has netted 23 goals already this season.
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.
DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State has 79 points through 10 games with 23 goals and 33 assists. In 16 games last season, MSU had 57 points off of 19 goals and 19 assists.
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 6-0-1 this season at home.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION
The Spartans showed off their goal- scoring prowess with six goals in the season opener against UAlbany on Aug. 20. The six goals were the most since a 6-0 win against Western Michigan on Sept. 24, 2008. It was also the most goals scored in a season opener since a 6-1 win against UW-Milwaukee on Sept. 1, 2001.
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 seven 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
After taking on Maryland, the Spartans will prepare for the annual Battle for the Big Bear against Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. on BTN.
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.
