Michigan State University Athletics
Wednesday, November 4
Bloomington, Ind.
8 PM
Michigan State University
10-4-3, 5-3-2
2
at
3
No. 4 Indiana
14-1-3, 7-1-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan St. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Indiana | 2 | 1 | 3 |
11/4/2026 11:29:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Spartans net two second-half goals, as IU claims the Big Ten title.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Michigan State's second half comeback fell just short as the Spartans' lost to No. 4 Indiana in the regular-season finale, 3-2, Wednesday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
The Spartans do earn a spot in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, beginning Sunday, Nov. 8 on campus sites. Michigan State will be the No. 4 seed, facing No. 5 Maryland in Bloomington at 1 p.m. MSU defeated the Terrapins, 2-1 in College Park on Oct. 9.
"I was disappointed with how we started the game. I thought we gave Indiana too much respect. We didn't play forward; we weren't on the front foot. They are a good team," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "I thought that we came out bright in the second half. I think that the third goal hurt us. What a goal from Leo (Conneh) and Andrew Darakdjian. Obviously, this is a high character team. Their keeper made an unbelievable save to keep it at 3-2. We were just a little short, but I am obviously proud of the guys."
Michigan State falls to 10-4-3 overall and 5-3-2 in Big Ten action. Indiana improves to 14-1-3 overall and 7-1-2 in league contests.
The Spartans are the only team to score two goals against the Hoosiers all season.
Indiana threatened early on including hitting the post once, but the Spartan defense stood tall through the first 25 minutes.
In the 28th minute, the Hoosiers finally broke through. Easton Boogard scored with a blast to the lower left corner. The play started up the left side with assists from Alex Barger and Charlie Heuer. Indiana struck again less than three minutes later with another goal from Boogard.
The Spartans got their first shot on goal in the ninth minute with a blast from sophomore defender Charlie Norkett that was corralled by IU goalkeeper Michal Mroz.
Indiana took the 2-0 lead into the half time.
Michigan State came out fast in the second half to cut the deficit to 2-1. Senior midfielder Leo Conneh started the play up the right side. His cross found the head of senior forward Andrew Darakdjian for his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Indiana made it a 3-1 game in the 49th minute. Heuer found the back of the net to add a goal to his two assists in the game.
In the 55th minute, the Spartans once again cut into the Indiana lead. Darakdjian's blast from the left side just found the foot of senior midfielder Richie Ludwig, who flicked the ball past Mroz. The goal was Ludwig's fourth of the season and Darakdjian's fourth assist of the year.
MSU is on the road for its next two matches, playing at UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, and at Maryland on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Spartans return home to DeMartin Field on Tuesday, Oct. 13 for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy with in-state foe Michigan in a 7 p.m. match
Big Ten Men's Soccer Tournament Bracket
Quarterfinals – Sunday, Nov. 8
Match #1: No. 4 seed Michigan State vs. No. 5 seed Maryland, 1 p.m.
Match #2: No. 3 seed Rutgers vs. No. 6 seed UCLA, 3 p.m.
Semifinals – Wednesday, Nov. 11
Match #3: No. 1 seed Indiana vs. Match #1 winner, 6 p.m.
Match #4: No. 2 seed Washington vs. Match #2 winner 9 p.m.
Championship – Sunday, Nov. 15
Match #5: Match #3 Winner vs. Match #4 Winner, 3 p.m.
The Spartans do earn a spot in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, beginning Sunday, Nov. 8 on campus sites. Michigan State will be the No. 4 seed, facing No. 5 Maryland in Bloomington at 1 p.m. MSU defeated the Terrapins, 2-1 in College Park on Oct. 9.
"I was disappointed with how we started the game. I thought we gave Indiana too much respect. We didn't play forward; we weren't on the front foot. They are a good team," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "I thought that we came out bright in the second half. I think that the third goal hurt us. What a goal from Leo (Conneh) and Andrew Darakdjian. Obviously, this is a high character team. Their keeper made an unbelievable save to keep it at 3-2. We were just a little short, but I am obviously proud of the guys."
Michigan State falls to 10-4-3 overall and 5-3-2 in Big Ten action. Indiana improves to 14-1-3 overall and 7-1-2 in league contests.
The Spartans are the only team to score two goals against the Hoosiers all season.
Indiana threatened early on including hitting the post once, but the Spartan defense stood tall through the first 25 minutes.
In the 28th minute, the Hoosiers finally broke through. Easton Boogard scored with a blast to the lower left corner. The play started up the left side with assists from Alex Barger and Charlie Heuer. Indiana struck again less than three minutes later with another goal from Boogard.
The Spartans got their first shot on goal in the ninth minute with a blast from sophomore defender Charlie Norkett that was corralled by IU goalkeeper Michal Mroz.
Indiana took the 2-0 lead into the half time.
Michigan State came out fast in the second half to cut the deficit to 2-1. Senior midfielder Leo Conneh started the play up the right side. His cross found the head of senior forward Andrew Darakdjian for his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Indiana made it a 3-1 game in the 49th minute. Heuer found the back of the net to add a goal to his two assists in the game.
In the 55th minute, the Spartans once again cut into the Indiana lead. Darakdjian's blast from the left side just found the foot of senior midfielder Richie Ludwig, who flicked the ball past Mroz. The goal was Ludwig's fourth of the season and Darakdjian's fourth assist of the year.
MSU is on the road for its next two matches, playing at UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, and at Maryland on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Spartans return home to DeMartin Field on Tuesday, Oct. 13 for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy with in-state foe Michigan in a 7 p.m. match
Big Ten Men's Soccer Tournament Bracket
Quarterfinals – Sunday, Nov. 8
Match #1: No. 4 seed Michigan State vs. No. 5 seed Maryland, 1 p.m.
Match #2: No. 3 seed Rutgers vs. No. 6 seed UCLA, 3 p.m.
Semifinals – Wednesday, Nov. 11
Match #3: No. 1 seed Indiana vs. Match #1 winner, 6 p.m.
Match #4: No. 2 seed Washington vs. Match #2 winner 9 p.m.
Championship – Sunday, Nov. 15
Match #5: Match #3 Winner vs. Match #4 Winner, 3 p.m.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerTeam Stats
MSU
IU
Goals
2
3
Shots
10
19
Shots on Goal
6
7
Saves
4
4
Corners
7
6
Fouls
7
7
Scoring Plays
Easton Bogard (8)
Assisted By: Alex Barger , Charlie Heuer
GOAL by IU Bogard, Easton Assist by Barger, Alex and Heuer, Charlie.
27:49
Easton Bogard (8)
Assisted By: Charlie Heuer
GOAL by IU Bogard, Easton Assist by Heuer, Charlie.
30:11
Andrew Darakdjian (8)
Assisted By: Miles Merritt , Leo Conneh
GOAL by MSU Darakdjian, Andrew Assist by Merritt, Miles and Conneh, Leo.
46:47
Charlie Heuer (4)
Assisted By: Michael Adu-Gyamfi
GOAL by IU Heuer, Charlie Assist by Adu-Gyamfi, Michael.
48:51
Richie Ludwig (4)
Assisted By: Andrew Darakdjian
GOAL by MSU Ludwig, Richie Assist by Darakdjian, Andrew.
54:26
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Friday, October 30
Monday, October 19
Monday, October 12
Monday, September 14