MINNEAPOLIS - Michigan State women's soccer (5-2-2, 0-0-1 B1G) hits the road for the first time in Big Ten play on Thursday, Sept. 21, facing Minnesota (4-2-2, 0-1-0 B1G) at 7 p.m. ET at Minnesota's Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
Thursday's match will stream on B1G+ with live stats available on MSUSpartans.com.
FIRST TOUCH
The Spartans enter Thursday's match at 5-2-2 (0-0-1 B1G) after battling to a 1-1 draw with Ohio State at home in the Spartans' Big Ten opener. Freshman forward/midfielder Bella Najera scored the lone goal for the Spartans against Ohio State, marking her third-straight game with a goal and her fourth goal in five games. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 19, earning her first career Big Ten weekly accolade. Najera is tied for first on the team this season in total points (9) and goals (4).
The Spartans are 99-183-34 all-time in Big Ten play and will look to secure the program's 100th conference win on Thursday.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
The Golden Gophers are led by third-year head coach Erin Chastain, who holds a 20-16-8 record during her time at Minnesota. Minnesota enters Thursday's match at 4-2-2 (0-1-0) after dropping a 1-0 contest to Michigan in its Big Ten opener on Sept. 15. Senior midfielder Sophia Boman leads the Gophers in scoring (12) and goals (5) this season. She was a Second-Team All-B1G selection in 2022. Minnesota goalkeeper Megan Plaschko has allowed only three goals in eight games this season and posts a .388 goals-against average. She was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week on Sept. 5 this season.
STORY OF THE SERIES
Sunday's match will be the 33rd all-time between the two squads. The all-time series sits at 14-14-4, while MSU holds a 4-7-3 record against the Gophers on the road. MSU and Minnesota last met on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. After conceding a goal early in the first half, current Spartan junior forward Jordyn Wickes scored back-to-back second-half goals to secure a 2-1 win for MSU. The Spartans last fell to the Gophers on the road in a 1-0 overtime loss on March 25, 2021.
UP NEXT
MSU stays on the road to take on Wisconsin on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.
Game preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
Thursday's match will stream on B1G+ with live stats available on MSUSpartans.com.
FIRST TOUCH
The Spartans enter Thursday's match at 5-2-2 (0-0-1 B1G) after battling to a 1-1 draw with Ohio State at home in the Spartans' Big Ten opener. Freshman forward/midfielder Bella Najera scored the lone goal for the Spartans against Ohio State, marking her third-straight game with a goal and her fourth goal in five games. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 19, earning her first career Big Ten weekly accolade. Najera is tied for first on the team this season in total points (9) and goals (4).
The Spartans are 99-183-34 all-time in Big Ten play and will look to secure the program's 100th conference win on Thursday.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
The Golden Gophers are led by third-year head coach Erin Chastain, who holds a 20-16-8 record during her time at Minnesota. Minnesota enters Thursday's match at 4-2-2 (0-1-0) after dropping a 1-0 contest to Michigan in its Big Ten opener on Sept. 15. Senior midfielder Sophia Boman leads the Gophers in scoring (12) and goals (5) this season. She was a Second-Team All-B1G selection in 2022. Minnesota goalkeeper Megan Plaschko has allowed only three goals in eight games this season and posts a .388 goals-against average. She was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week on Sept. 5 this season.
STORY OF THE SERIES
Sunday's match will be the 33rd all-time between the two squads. The all-time series sits at 14-14-4, while MSU holds a 4-7-3 record against the Gophers on the road. MSU and Minnesota last met on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. After conceding a goal early in the first half, current Spartan junior forward Jordyn Wickes scored back-to-back second-half goals to secure a 2-1 win for MSU. The Spartans last fell to the Gophers on the road in a 1-0 overtime loss on March 25, 2021.
UP NEXT
MSU stays on the road to take on Wisconsin on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.
Game preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
