No. 19 MSU Soccer Travels to Penn State Friday

Friday, September 18

University Park, Pa.

7 PM

Michigan State University

Penn State

9/17/2026 3:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer

MSU Notes Live Stats Watch Live

Michigan State opens road B1G play.

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 19 Michigan State men's soccer hits the road to take on Penn State on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.

The Spartans rebounded from their first loss of the season with a 2-0 win against Northwestern on Sept. 15. MSU earned its third shutout of the season against the Wildcats.

Edison Pelumbi and Owen Cameros will be on the call for the B1G+.

BIG TEN OPENER
With the 2-0 win over Northwestern on Sept. 15, the Spartans are 8-2-3 in their last 13 Big Ten openers. Last season, MSU fell to Washington, 2-1, in Seattle. In 2024, MSU picked up a 1-0 win against the Huskies in East Lansing. The Spartans tied Rutgers on the road 1-1 in the league opener in 2023. In 2022, MSU tied No. 16 Indiana to open league play. In 2021, MSU tied Wisconsin 1-1 in Madison.

LOOKING AT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State holds a 2-3 record so far this season and stands 0-1 in the Big Ten after a 4-2 loss to Washington in Seattle on Sept. 11. The Spartans and the Nittany Lions share one common opponent in Pitt. MSU tied Pitt 0-0 on Sept. 3, while PSU lost to the Panthers on Aug. 28.

Armadou Kone leads the team in scoring with three goals and one assist for seven points. Joseph Sheridan is second with one goal and one assist for three points. Daniel Peluffo-Wiesehas started all five matches in net for Penn State. He has allowed 11 goals for a 2.20 GAA.

Penn State head coach Rob Dow is in his first season with the Nittany Lions after nine seasons at Vermont.

SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads the overall series with Michigan State 28-17-3. PSU leads at home 11-7-0. In East Lansing, the Nittany Lions are on top 11-7-3. On neutral ground, PSU leads the series 6-3-0.

Michigan State is 0-5-1 in the last six meetings with Penn State. The Spartans are looking for its first win since a road victory since a 1-0 win on Feb. 27, 2021.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
The Spartans are among the leaders in the NCAA in several categories. Michigan State is second in the country in assists per game and first in the Big Ten with 3.57 apg. MSU is also eighth in the NCAA and second in the B1G in points per game with 9.0 ppg. The Spartans are second in the nation in assists with 25.

PACKING THE STANDS
Michigan State is seventh in the nation in attendance, averaging 1,666 fans packing DeMartin Stadium. MSU is third in the Big Ten behind Indiana (3,864) and Maryland (3,832).

KEEPING UP WITH DARAKDJIAN
With two goals against Northwestern on Sept. 15, senior forward Andrew Darakdjian now has scored four goals this season. The two goals against the Wildcats were his first two Big Ten goals after missing last season with an injury. The transfer from Oakland University has started all six games this season. He has four goals and one assist for nine points.

GREK STEPPING UP
Junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz has had a strong start to the season. In his first season as the Spartans' starter, he has allowed only seven goals for a 1.01 GAA. He also has earned three shutouts this season against SIUE, Pitt and Northwestern. He is tied for third in the Big Ten in shutouts.

AROUND THE BIG TEN
After the second week of the Big Ten season, Michigan State, Indiana, Rutgers, Washington and Northwestern all have three points. Maryland, Michigan, Penn State and UCLA are looking for their first conference points.

Senior forward Andrew Darakdjian is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in scoring with four goals and on assist for nine points. Senior midfielder Leo Conneh, senior forward Richie Ludwig and sophomore midfielder Luke Spadafora are tied for seventh in the Big Ten in points with seven. Ludwig is first in the Big Ten in assists with seven.

CLIMBING UP THE POLLS
This week, the Spartans stand No. 19 in the United Soccer Poll. They are one of five Big Ten teams ranked this week. Indiana leads the way at No. 2. Ohio State is ranked No. 3 followed by No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 8 Maryland.

Michigan State is one four Big Ten teams that have both its men and women's teams ranked, along with Ohio State, UCLA and Wisconsin. The Spartan women are currently No. 1.

GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Eight Spartans have started all seven games this season. There have been 25 different players that have seen action in the first seven games and among those 25 players 13 have earned a point. After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, junior forward Mohamed Saad saw his first action against Niagara on Aug. 30. Freshman Ezra Horlings made his collegiate debut in goal in the second half against the Purple Eagles on Aug. 30. Newcomers Leo Conneh and Conner O'Keefe have both started all seven games this season.

LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD
Thirteen different Spartans have earned a point in the first seven games. Senior Andrew Darakdjian leads the way with four goals. Sophomore defender Conner O'Keefe is second with three goals. Five different players have two goals. Nine different Spartans have found the back of the net.

Last season, MSU scored 19 goals in 16 games. So far in seven games, MSU has netted 19 goals already this season.

THE BICYCLE HEARD AROUND THE NCAA
Junior forward Oscar Huerta caught a lot of attention with an assist against SIUE on Aug. 27. In the 47th minute, MSU scored a SportsCenter worthy goal started by Huerta's bicycle kick pass. Huerta's kick perfectly found the head of sophomore defender Conner O'Keefe for his second goal of the year.

DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State has 63 points through seven games with 19 goals and 25 assists. In 16 games last season, MSU had 57 points off of 19 goals and 19 assists.

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, Seattle, SIUE, and Niagara, MSU closed out the homestand with a 0-0 tie against Pitt. The Spartans are 5-0-1 this season at home.

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.

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 six games this season.
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.

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.

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.

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 ALSO KNOW?
The Spartans added a new member on Aug. 18. Assistant coach Nick Barry and his wife, Maddy, welcomed a Spartan, Charlotte.

UP NEXT
After facing Penn State, Michigan State returns home to take on No. 7 Wisconsin on Alumni Day on B1G+. MSU will be honoring 70 years of Spartan soccer.
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.