Field Hockey Opens 2026 Campaign at Ohio

Friday, August 28

Athens, Ohio

1 PM

Michigan State University

Ohio

Caro Schafer, field hockey, action, 2025

Photo by: Jim Pivarnik - MSU

8/27/2026 11:31:00 AM | Field Hockey

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State field hockey officially kicks off the 2026 regular season this weekend in Athens, Ohio where it'll meet Ohio University on Friday, August 28 before facing Saint Louis in a neutral-site contest on Saturday, August 29. Both games are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET at Pruitt Field, with only Friday's game being streamed live on the ESPN+.

A NEW ERA BEGINS
Friday afternoon marks the head coaching debut for Tamara Durante, who was named the 10th head coach in Michigan State field hockey program history in February 2026. Durante, who spent the previous 11 seasons on the Spartan sideline including eight as associate head coach, leads a new-look staff alongside assistant coaches Bridgette Street and Emma Hilton.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State enters the 2026 campaign with a balanced set of returners in all areas of the field.

Senior Bianca Pizano returns as the premier threat in the MSU offense, tallying a team-high five goals along with 11 points a season ago, tied for second on the team in scoring. Sophomore Caroline Horace is the second-highest returning scorer from a year ago after posting eight points as a freshman.

The defense will be anchored by junior Caro Schaefer, who has started in 30 games since stepping on campus, and recorded a team-leading 12 points (four goals, four assists) in 2025. She's joined in the back by senior Serena Mailhe who has made 50 starts for MSU, sophomore Rilyn Lehman who made 14 starts as a freshman in 2025 and transfer fifth year Natalie Arnold who made five starts at Rutgers last season.

Juniors Lilian Knorr and Mora Cavazza are the primary returners in the Michigan State midfield and look to replace the production of graduated midfielder Maddie Lawlor.

Ashley Herbert and Catherine Wolf return in goal for Michigan State, with Herbert going 2-0 in goal last season.

MSU welcomes a total of eight newcomers to the squad in 2026, which includes Lola Munoz de Verger, Arnold, Clare Arvai, Minke Klijn, Lizzie Segar, Aiden Weinmann, Scarlett Wood and Maria-Sophie Mueller.

SERIES HISTORY
Ohio
Michigan State has a commanding 18-3 series record over the Bobcats. Last time out, MSU cruised to a 5-0 shutout victory on August 30th, 2025. This will be the first game played between the two schools in Athens, Ohio since 2022, when the Spartans tallied a 2-1 victory.

Saint Louis
MSU holds 9-0-1 series record over the Billikens. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since August 28, 2021, where the Spartans earned a 4-0 shutout victory.

SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats host Friday's opener on their home turf at Pruitt Field under head coach Ali Johnstone in her ninth season.

Ohio is coming off a 5-13 campaign, posting a 3-6 mark in MAC play in 2025. The Bobcats return forward Tiana Nhamoinseu, who guided Ohio with a team-high six goals and 13 points. Nhamoinseu was named to the All-MAC Second Team and All-MAC Freshman Team, as well as being named to the NFHCA D1 All-West Region Second Team in her freshman campaign.

Graduate student Gwen Hershberger returns in goal for Ohio, coming off a 2.85 goals against average last season.

SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
The Billikens begin their 2026 campaign during Saturday's neutral-site clash. Laura Hurff enters her first season as the Billikens head coach, after serving as interim head coach in 2025.

Saint Louis compiled a 5-10 record in 2025, going 1-5 in A-10 play. The Billikens key returners include forward Sierra Larson and goalkeeper Abby Schalow.

Schalow returns as the Billiken netminder after starting every game a season ago, tallying a 2.07 goal against average, ranking fourth in the A-10 and earning three A-10 Defensive Player of the Week selections. Larson led the Billikens offense with six goals scored and 13 points accounted for in 2025.

UP NEXT
Following the two-game road swing in Athens, the Spartans travel to Oxford, Ohio, to take on Miami on Friday, September 4, followed by Michigan State's home opener in East Lansing on Sunday, September 6 against #18 Louisville.