Weekend Games Preview
No. 5 Spartans Host Queens, Loyola Chicago to Wrap Up Non-Conference Play
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Fifth-ranked Michigan State women's soccer wraps up non-conference action this week at DeMartin Stadium, beginning Thursday, Sept. 5 vs. Queens at 7 p.m. before hosting Loyola Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
Both games will stream on B1G+.
FIRST TOUCH
MSU (3-0-2) is still undefeated after a 1-0-1 showing at DeMartin last week, earning 1-0 win over Ole Miss on Aug. 29 and 2-2 draw with then-No. 15 Xavier on Sept. 1. Graduate midfielder Emily Mathews recorded the second-half game-winner for the Spartans against Ole Miss for her first goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Bella Najera and junior defender Maggie Illig notched goals against the Musketeers, with graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor adding assists on both goals. MSU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks made a season-high eight saves in the draw with Xavier.
The Spartans sit in the top five of the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the second-straight week after earning a program-high ranking at No. 4 last week. MSU has played three top-15 opponents in its first five games.
MSU will look to go undefeated in the non-conference portion of its schedule for the second time in the Jeff Hosler era this weekend, last doing so in Hosler's first season in 2021. Since the inception of Big Ten women's soccer in 1994, MSU has gone unbeaten against non-league opponents four times - 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2021.
SCOUTING THE ROYALS
Queens University of Charlotte is led by head coach Shannon Neely Noel, who is 10-17-13 in three seasons with the Royals. The Royals are 3-2-0 this season after most recently defeating Winthrop, 2-0, at home on Sept. 1. Neely Noel served as an assistant coach at Grand Valley State University from 2009-11. Hosler was the head coach of the Lakers from 2014-21, where he captured three Division II national titles.
Thursday's meeting will be the first all-time between the Spartans and Royals.
SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS
Interim head coach Angela Staveskie is in her first season leading the Ramblers, who sit at 3-1-1 this season after a 1-0 home win over Bowling Green on Sept. 1. Sophomore forward/midfielder and 2023 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Zoe Hevey leads Loyola Chicago in scoring with five points from one goal and a trio of assists this season.
The Spartans are a perfect 7-0-0 against the Ramblers all time, including a 3-0 record in East Lansing. The two teams last met on Sept. 12, 2010, with MSU securing a 3-0 win at DeMartin Stadium. In the seven-game series, Loyola Chicago has only scored one goal, which came in a 10-1 win for the Spartans in Chicago on Oct. 22, 1993. MSU holds a 32-1 advantage in goals in the series, which dates back to 1986.
UP NEXT
The Spartans begin Big Ten play at Maryland on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. in College Park. The game will stream on B1G+.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
