No. 24 Men's Soccer Hosts SIUE in Doubleheader Action Thursday

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 24 Michigan State men's soccer continues its five-game homestand, taking on SIUE on Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. It is the second half of a doubleheader with the Spartan women's team, who will be in action at 5 p.m. It is Red Cedar Rowdies Weekend on both Thursday and Sunday.

Michigan State began the season 2-0 for the first time since 2023.

Joshua Lee and Shin Nakamura will be on the call for the B1G+.

LOOKING AT THE COUGARS
SIUE lost its season opener to No. 25 Kansas City on Aug. 20. Kansas City out-shot SIUE 23-8 in the game including 12 shots on goal. Junior goalkeeper Louis Krueger made seven saves for the Cougars.

The Cougars were picked to finish tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference with Lindenwood voted to pick first. SIUE Mathias Clausen was selected as SIUE's player to watch and the Cougars. Claussen appeared in 11 games as a freshman in 2025, starting nine.

SERIES HISTORY
The series between the Spartans and the Cougars is tied 2-2-3. The last time the teams met was in 2024 in Edwardsville ending in a 1-1 draw. The 2019 matchup was the first season for Cale Wassermann, who was an assistant coach under head coach Damon Rensing for four seasons. In 2019, the teams battled to a 0-0 tie. The last time the Spartans defeated the Cougars was in 2017 with a 1-0 win.

CLIMBING THE POLLS
This week, the Spartans entered the United Soccer Poll at No. 24. They are one of seven Big Ten teams ranked this week. Maryland leads the way at No. 4. Washington is ranked No. 11 followed by No. 14 Indiana, No. 17 UCLA, No. 22 Ohio State and No. 23 Wisconsin.
Michigan State is one five Big Ten teams in that have both its men and women's teams ranked, along with Ohio State, UCLA, Washington and Wisconsin. This is the first time that MSU has been ranked since the 2023 season.

GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Eight Spartans have started both games this season. Their have been 22 different players that have seen action in the first two games.

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.

Against Seattle U, Munson added another goal for six total points to lead the team.

GETTING ON THE SCOREBOARD
Ten different Spartans have earned a point in the first two games. Junior defender Brandon Munson and senior midfielder Miles Merritt lead the way with two goals apiece.

Munson, senior forward Richie Ludwig and sophomore midfielder Luke Spadafora all have two assists. Six different Spartans have found the back of the net.

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.

SUPER SUB TO THE RESCUE
With the game tied 1-1 in the first half against UAlbany on Aug. 20, 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 home wins against 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.

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 both of the first two games.

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 Niagara on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. It is the second game of a doubleheader with the MSU women's team.

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.

No. 24 Men's Soccer Hosts SIUE in Doubleheader Action Thursday

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Players Mentioned

Colin Arce

Will Eby

Kayden Hudson

Oscar Huerta

Richie Ludwig

Miles Merritt

Brandon Munson

Drew Rensing

Peter Soudan

Luke Spadafora

Michigan State University Athletics