The Spartans are currently fourth in the Big Ten standings.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer heads into the final week of the regular season with a pair of games to secure seeding for the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans will start the week on the road, taking on No. 1/2 Ohio State on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. MSU will then end the season celebrating Senior Day at home against Rutgers on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Last time out, Michigan State tied Michigan, 0-0, in the Battle for the Big Bear in East Lansing on Oct. 22, MSU stands 5-6-3 overall and 4-3-1 in Big Ten action.
Dean Linke and Patrick Doody are on the call for the Big Ten Network.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Buckeyes are the first No. 1 team that MSU has faced since falling to No. 1 Creighton on Sept. 13, 2015.
BRACING FOR OFFENSE
With his brace against No. 25 Wisconsin, senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan led the Spartans to a 2-0 win over the Badgers on Oct. 11. It was the first time this season that the Spartans had scored multiple goals in a game. Kerrigan is now second on the team in scoring with three goals. He is first on the team in shots on goal with 11.
LOOKING AT THE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes are No. 1 in the 16-team NCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer Rankings. It's the highest ranking in program history. OSU is also No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, also the highest ranking the Buckeyes have achieved.
Michael Adedokun leads the Big Ten in scoring with 25 points off of eight goals and nine assists. The nine assists is tied for the league lead with Michigan's Beto Soto. Patrick McLaughlin and Max Trejo have both started seven games this season in goal. McLaughlin has allowed seven goals for a 1.03 GAA, while Trejo has only allowed four goals for a 0.58 GAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State leads the overall series with Ohio State, 29-27-3, but the Buckeyes have taken control of the series of late. OSU has won the last four meetings. Last season, the Spartans only two losses came at the hands of the Buckeyes, including the Big Ten Tournament in East Lansing. At home, MSU leads the series 14-11-2. In Columbus, the Buckeyes are on top 13-8-1. On neutral ground, the Spartans lead 7-3-0.
Last season in the Big Ten Tournament, sixth-seeded OSU scored in the 54th minute and was able to hold of third-seeded MSU in the quarterfinals on Nov. 3.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State men's soccer retained the Big Bear Trophy by playing to a scoreless draw with Michigan Tuesday night in the 25th annual Battle for the Big Bear at a packed DeMartin Stadium.
Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Zac Kelly made four saves in registering his sixth clean sheet of the season, including his fifth in B1G play. Kelly made a highlight-reel leaping snag early in the second half.
TOURNEY TIME
This year's Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will be held in Bridgeview, Illinois, at SeatGeek Stadium. The quarterfinals will be held Nov. 7 (1/3:30/6 p.m.) between seeds 2-7. The No. 1 overall seed will get a bye to the semifinals. The semifinals will be held Nov. 10 (3/5:30 p.m.). The highest remaining seed will host the finals on Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. on BTN. The Spartans have secured a spot in this season's seven-team tournament.
LOOKING AT THE STANDINGS
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Spartans have secured a spot in the seven-team Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State currently stands fourth in the standings with 13 points. Indiana holds the top spot with 20 points with one game remaining. Ohio State second with 19 points, while Maryland is third with 17 points.
IN CONFERENCE ACTION
The Spartans may not be lighting up the scoreboard in Big Ten play, but they have allowed only seven goals in eight games. Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Zac Kelly has played all 720 minutes in league play for a 0.88 GAA. He has made 26 saves in B1G games. Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout is tied for 10th in the league in goals scored in B1G games with three.
BATTLE FOR THE BIG BEAR
This was the 25th anniversary for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy. The trophy originated in 2000. MSU leads the series 14-5-5 since 2000. The Spartans currently have possession of the trophy after the teams tied 0-0 in both 2023 and 2024. In 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan State came out on top with a 2-0 win behind goals from Greyson Mercer and Jonathan Stout. With the ties, Michigan State has held the trophy 18 years.
PACKING THE STANDS
Michigan State is 11th in the nation in attendance this season, averaging 1,905 fans per game this season. That stands third in the Big Ten behind Indiana (2,992), which is third, Maryland (2,230).
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
