Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, September 11
Kent, OH
2 PM
Michigan State University
at
Kent State
Photo by: Evan Peacock
Field Hockey Preps for Clash with Kent State, Cal
9/10/2026 2:05:00 PM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State Field Hockey continues its non-conference slate with a pair of contests this weekend. The Spartans will travel to Kent, Ohio, on Friday, September 11, to face off against Kent State at 2:00 PM, before returning to Ralph Young Field on Sunday, September 13 to conclude the weekend against Cal at noon.
Sunday's home contest will be broadcast live on B1G+.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State
Michigan State holds the all-time series advantage with a 26-10-1 lead. The two teams last met in October 2024 in East Lansing, when the Golden Flashes earned a 4-3 victory.
Cal
Cal holds a narrow 5-4-1 advantage over Michigan State in the all-time series. The programs last met in 2024 where the Golden Bears claimed a 2-1 overtime victory in Berkely, California. Sunday will mark the first time the Spartans have hosted Cal in nearly 20 years, when the Spartans conquered a 3-2 overtime win in September 2008 at Ralph Young Field.
ABOUT KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes enter Friday's contest with an 0-4 record. Kent State is coached by Heather Hefner, who is entering her third season at the helm of the Kent State field hockey program.
Kent State's offense is spearheaded by senior midfielder Sophia Livingston and Junior midfielder Mary Kate Finnan, who have each scored a goal this season.
Michaela Skinner is the primary netminder in the cage for Kent State, totaling 24 total saves this season, including a season-high of 12 saves made against Michigan. Skinner ranks top five the MAC in saves made (24), saves per game (6.00), and goals against average (2.66).
ABOUT CALIFORNIA
The Golden Bears visit Ralph Young Field sporting a 3-0 record after defending their home turf through the first two weeks of the season. Cal defeated American and Central Michigan in their first two games of the season, before tallying a 4-0 shutout-victory over Columbia last weekend. Before visiting the Spartans in East Lansing on Sunday, Cal will square-off against MSU's intrastate rival, Michigan on Friday.
Cal's offense is charged by junior forward Liz Klompmaker, who has notched five goals and three assists through three games this season. Klompmaker leads the ACC in shots on goal (10) and points (13), and ranks second in goals (5), shots (15), and tied for second in assists (3).
Graduate goalkeeper Carie Van Wiechan has made eight saves on the season and boasts a 1.73 goals-against average through three games.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will open conference play against Michigan on Friday, September 18 at 2 PM, before traveling to Ball State on Sunday, September 20 for a matinee non-conference showdown. Friday's game against Michigan will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Sunday's home contest will be broadcast live on B1G+.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State
Michigan State holds the all-time series advantage with a 26-10-1 lead. The two teams last met in October 2024 in East Lansing, when the Golden Flashes earned a 4-3 victory.
Cal
Cal holds a narrow 5-4-1 advantage over Michigan State in the all-time series. The programs last met in 2024 where the Golden Bears claimed a 2-1 overtime victory in Berkely, California. Sunday will mark the first time the Spartans have hosted Cal in nearly 20 years, when the Spartans conquered a 3-2 overtime win in September 2008 at Ralph Young Field.
ABOUT KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes enter Friday's contest with an 0-4 record. Kent State is coached by Heather Hefner, who is entering her third season at the helm of the Kent State field hockey program.
Kent State's offense is spearheaded by senior midfielder Sophia Livingston and Junior midfielder Mary Kate Finnan, who have each scored a goal this season.
Michaela Skinner is the primary netminder in the cage for Kent State, totaling 24 total saves this season, including a season-high of 12 saves made against Michigan. Skinner ranks top five the MAC in saves made (24), saves per game (6.00), and goals against average (2.66).
ABOUT CALIFORNIA
The Golden Bears visit Ralph Young Field sporting a 3-0 record after defending their home turf through the first two weeks of the season. Cal defeated American and Central Michigan in their first two games of the season, before tallying a 4-0 shutout-victory over Columbia last weekend. Before visiting the Spartans in East Lansing on Sunday, Cal will square-off against MSU's intrastate rival, Michigan on Friday.
Cal's offense is charged by junior forward Liz Klompmaker, who has notched five goals and three assists through three games this season. Klompmaker leads the ACC in shots on goal (10) and points (13), and ranks second in goals (5), shots (15), and tied for second in assists (3).
Graduate goalkeeper Carie Van Wiechan has made eight saves on the season and boasts a 1.73 goals-against average through three games.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will open conference play against Michigan on Friday, September 18 at 2 PM, before traveling to Ball State on Sunday, September 20 for a matinee non-conference showdown. Friday's game against Michigan will be televised on Big Ten Network.
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