Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Seattle
MSU Men's Soccer Continues Homestand against Seattle U Sunday
8/22/2026 1:07:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Spartans will sign autographs after the game.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer continues its five-game homestand against Seattle on Sunday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans will be signing autographs following the match.
Michigan State started the season with a bang with a 6-2 win over UAlbany on Aug. 20. MSU had five different players find the back of the net.
Myles Welch and Matt Guziewicz will be on the call for the B1G+.
LOOKING AT THE REDHAWKS
Seattle U lost its season opener on Aug. 20 at No. 4 Saint Louis, 4-0. The Redhawks were held to just four shots, in the season opener. In goal, Levi Beiber faced eight shots on target and made four saves in his first start in a Seattle uniform.
SERIES HISTORY
For the second-straight game, the Spartans are taking on a team for the first time, as this is the first meeting between Michigan State and Seattle U.
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 saw action in the season opener, playing 10 minutes.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION
The Spartans showed off their goal- scoring prowess with six goals in the season opener against UAlbany. 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.
MIGHTY MUNSON
Junior defender Brandon Munson made his name known in the season opener against UAlbany on Aug. 20. He scored two goals and added an assist for five points. He has already passed last year's point total of three. He scored two headers off of corner kick's from junior forward Richie Ludwig less than two minutes apart. He also added an assist in sophomore forward Kayden Hudson's goal.
Nine different Spartans earned a point in the victory with newcomers Conner O'Keefe and Leo Conneh also scoring goals.
SUPER SUB TO THE RESCUE
With the game tied 1-1 in the first half, sophomore forward Kayden Hudson entered the game at 28:07. Less than a minute later at 28:37, Hudson scored his first collegiate goal to put MSU up 2-1 off of assists from junior defender Brandon Munson and Luke Spadafora.
HOME SWEET HOME
This is the first time that Michigan State has started the season with five-straight home games. After hosting UAlbany and Seattle, MSU will take on SIUE (Aug. 27), Niagara (Aug. 30), and Pitt (Sept. 3). The Spartans first road game will be at Kansas City on Sept. 11.
PACKING THE STANDS
Michigan State looks to continue to fill the stands this season. Last year, the Spartans finished the season eighth in the nation in average attendance, averaging 2,236 fans. They stood third in the Big Ten behind Maryland (3,313) and Indiana (3,061).
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.
The Big Ten preseason poll was also released Tuesday, as voted on by the 11 conference coaches. Defending national champion Washington was picked first, while Maryland and Indiana were voted second and third, respectively. Michigan State was picked to finish to finish 10th.
Merritt, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is in his second season at Michigan State after transferring from Incarnate Word. In 2025, he ended the season tied for the team lead with 10 points. He tied Richie Ludwig for the team lead in goals scored with four. Merritt was also named one of MSU's three captains.
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. He has been slowed down by injuries his first two seasons.
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. Soudan tied for the team lead in points scored with Merritt with 10 points. Last season, he led the team with four assists and added three goals.
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 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 continue their season-long five-game homestand against SIUE on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. It is the second game of a doubleheader with the MSU women's team. SIUE is coached by former MSU assistant coach Cale Wassermann.
PRESEASON PLAY
The Spartans played two exhibition games in preparation for the 2026 season. On Aug. 8, Michigan State tied Loyola Chicago, 1-1, in East Lansing. In that outing, junior Oscar Huerta scored the first goal of the exhibition slate. On Aug. 14, MSU earned a draw at Notre Dame, 2-2. Richie Ludwig and Brandon Munson were the goal scorers in that outing.
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.
BRINGING BACK THE FIREPOWER
Michigan State brings back five of its top scorers from last season. Top point scorers Miles Merritt (10 points - 4 goals, 2 assists) and Peter Soudan (10 points - three goals, four assists) will be back to lead the Spartans. Captain Richie Ludwig was third in scoring with nine points off of four goals and one assist.
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.
