Fifth-Seeded Spartans Set to Face Top-Seeded BYU in NCAA Third Round

PROVO, Utah – 20th-ranked and fifth-seeded Michigan State women’s soccer takes on top-seeded and region host BYU on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT in the NCAA Third Round at BYU’s South Field in Provo.

Saturday’s match will stream on ESPN+ with live stats available at MSUSpartans.com.

FIRST TOUCH

The Spartans enter Saturday’s match at 14-4-3 (7-1-2 B1G) after earning the program’s first-ever second round victory in a 1-0 defeat of fourth-seeded Harvard on Nov. 16. In a defensive battle, a 50th-minute penalty kick from senior midfielder Justina Gaynor proved to be the game-winner in the Spartans’ second round win. The goal was Gaynor’s sixth of the season. With Thursday’s win, the Spartans are now 5-5 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and in the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. The winner of Saturday’s match will play No. 3 North Carolina/No. 6 Alabama or No. 2 Texas Tech/No. 7 Princeton in the quarterfinals at the highest remaining seed of the region on Nov. 24 or 25.

SCOUTING BYU

BYU is led by 29th-year head coach Jennifer Rockwood, who holds a 453-128-57 record during her time with the Cougars. BYU enters Saturday’s match at 18-2-3 (7-0-3 Big 12) after knocking off No. 8 seed USC, 1-0, in its second round match on Nov. 16. Senior forward/midfielder Bella Folino  scored the game-winning goal in the 58th minute off assists from Brecken Mozingo and Kendell Petersen. Mozingo, a 2023 First-Team All-Big 12 selection, leads the Cougars in scoring (35 points), goals (11) and assists (13). Her point total ranks ninth in the NCAA this season. The Cougars went undefeated in their inaugural Big 12 season and fell to Texas in the tournament championship match. BYU has scored an NCAA-leading 72 goals this season and ranks third in the NCAA in goals per game (3.13).

STORY OF THE SERIES

Saturday’s third round match will be the fifth meeting all-time between the two schools. BYU is 4-0 all-time in the series and 2-0 in Provo. The Cougars won the last meeting, 2-0, on Sept. 19, 2008, in Provo. Prior to that match, BYU and MSU met in 1997 (6-1 BYU), 1998 (2-0 BYU) and 2007 (1-0 BYU).

UP NEXT

The winner of Saturday’s third round match will advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals on Nov. 24 and 25, to be hosted by the highest remaining seed in the region. Quarterfinal matches will stream on ESPN+.

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