No. 24 Men’s Soccer Pounces Purple Eagles, 4-1

Sunday, August 30

East Lansing, Mich.

2 PM

Michigan State University

4-0-0, 0-0-0

Niagara

0-3-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Niagara	0	1	1
Michigan St.	3	1	4

8/30/2026 7:08:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score MSU 4, NU 1 MSU Statistics

Michigan State improves to 4-0 for the first time since 2017.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- No. 24 Michigan State men's soccer used four different goal scorers to capture a 4-1 dominating win over Niagara on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium at the conclusion of Red Cedar Rowdies weekend.

With the win, the Spartans improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2017, when MSU opened the year 7-0. Niagara falls to 0-3 with the loss.

Michigan State once again spread the scoring all around. With four goals scored, the Spartans used four different goal scorers. Four different MSU players earned assists.

"It feels great. I didn't like giving up that last goal, but I think on the weekend, to just give up one goal is good," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said. "I think last year in 16 games, we scored 19 goals. I think we've got 16 in the first four games. We've got a lot of good pieces, and it's a fun group to watch. I certainly encourage any soccer fan to come out to DeMartin and watch our guys because they're a very entertaining group."

In the 24th minute, sophomore defender Conner O'Keefe became the Spartans' leading scorer with his third of the season. Senior midfielder Richie Ludwig started the play with a free kick from the right side. It rattled to sophomore defender Charlie Norkett and then to the boot of O'Keefe for the goal to give Michigan State the 1-0 advantage.

MSU struck twice more before the first half ended. In the 31st minute, sophomore midfielder Peter Soudan struck from the right side and found the left corner for his second goal in as many games. The ball came from a fantastic pass from senior forward Andrew Darakdjian.

"Guys have just been clicking. It is great having Andrew (Darakdjian) and Mo (Mohamed Saad) back, since they were just injured," Soudan said. "Having Leo (Conneh) in. We just have a lot of new guys, and we are meshing well right now. The biggest thing is we're all unselfish and playing for each other. We want that extra pass to give the guy the best chance of scoring. You don't really care who scores. We're getting the goals in."

Before the first 45 minutes were up, MSU was at it again. Sophomore midfielder Luke Spadafora scored the first time this season. Once again, the play began with Ludwig for his team-leading fourth assist of the season. Spadafora took the ball in stride and his firecracker inched past Niagara goalkeeper Grant Wyles.

At the end of the half, MSU had out--shot Niagara 13-0.

In the 60th minute after four shots, senior midfielder Leo Conneh finally found the back of the net. Conneh's second Spartan goal came with a blast to the lower right corner with the assist going to Soudan.

In the 71st minute, the Purple Eagles got one back with the first goal of the season by Till Rauch.

The physical game ended with 34 total fouls - 20 for NU and 14 for MSU. The Spartans out-shot the Purple Eagles, 21-5.

"You just control what you can control," Rensing said of the physicality. "You can't control how they're going to play. It wasn't too bad. I don't think it was anything malicious. Obviously, Bill (Boyle) is an Okemos High graduate. I don't know if you guys knew that. Bill was on my staff. They do a good job. I think they were just a little late on some stuff. I thought our guys kept our composure well and did a good job."

The Spartans will close out their season-opening five game homestand against Pitt on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.

To purchase tickets for any Michigan State athletics event, visit the Spartan Ticket Office online at MSUSpartans.com; fans can also call the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610, or email tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.