EAST LANSING, Mich. – 12th-ranked and top-seeded Michigan State women’s soccer hosts No. 8 seed Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
Sunday’s quarterfinal will stream on B1G+ with live stats available on MSUSpartans.com.
FIRST TOUCH
The Spartans enter Sunday’s match at 12-3-3 (7-1-2 B1G) after a 3-0 win against Iowa on Oct. 22 in the regular-season finale to secure their second-straight Big Ten title. Sophomore defender Maggie Illig scored the opening goal of the game off a corner kick with assists from Justina Gaynor and Emerson Sargeant, while freshman midfielder Bella Najera and graduate defender added second-half goals to complete the shutout against the Hawkeyes.
MSU earned nine postseason honors from the Big Ten this week, highlighted by Justina Gaynor’s Midfielder of the Year and Najera’s Freshman of the Year nods. The pair joined Raegan Cox, Celia Gaynor and Emerson Sargeant on All-Big Ten teams. Junior forward Jordyn Wickes received MSU’s selection for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa is led by 10th-year head coach Dave DiIanni, who holds a 94-73-22 record during his time with the Hawkeyes. DiIanni preceded Jeff Hosler at Grand Valley State (2003-13), where he won three Division II national championships and posted a record of 221-18-18. The Hawkeyes enter Sunday’s match at 9-4-4 (3-4-3 B1G) the 3-0 loss to the Spartans on Oct. 22.
Redshirt senior midfielder Josie Durr and junior forward Elle Otto lead Iowa in points (12) and goals (5), while fifth-year defender Samantha Cary earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors from the league this week. Midfielder Sofia Bush was named to the All-Freshman Team. Senior goalkeeper Macy Enneking ranks fourth in the league in goals-against average (.771).
STORY OF THE SERIES
Sunday’s match marks the 29th all-time between the Spartans and Hawkeyes. MSU holds a 13-9-6 edge in the series, including an 8-4-4 record in East Lansing. The Spartans and Hawkeyes have faced each other twice in tournament history, both in quarterfinal matches. MSU advanced on PKs (4-3) after a 0-0 draw on Nov. 6, 2011 and fell at home, 1-0, on Oct. 31, 2021.
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