No. 4 Women’s Soccer Continues Homestand Against Ole Miss, No. 15 Xavier

EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 4 Michigan State women’s soccer continues its six-game homestand on Thursday, Aug. 29 against Ole Miss (2-1) at 7 p.m. and against No. 15 Xavier (4-0) on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m at DeMartin Stadium.

Both games will stream on B1G+.

FIRST TOUCH

The Spartans (2-0-1) are coming off a 1-0-1 showing last week, earning a 2-2 draw at DeMartin Stadium with then-No. 8 Arkansas on Aug. 22 before a 3-0 shutout over Ohio on Aug. 25. Graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony and sophomore midfielder Bella Najera notched goals against the Razorbacks, while Meg Hughes had a brace against Ohio and Anthony scored her second goal of the weekend in the final 40 seconds against the Bobcats. Junior midfielder Emerson Sargeant assisted on three of MSU’s five goals last week, earning a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week on Aug. 27.

MSU’s No. 4 ranking by the United Soccer Coaches is its best ranking in program history, topping its previous best of No. 6 from 2022.

SCOUTING OLE MISS

Ole Miss is led by second-year head coach Molly Rouse, who holds a 9-8-3 record with the Rebels. The Rebels are 2-1-0 this season, most recently falling to then-No. 10 Memphis, 2-1, on Aug. 25. Freshman Kayla Keefer leads the Rebels in scoring with seven points from a trio of goals and an assist in 2024.

Ole Miss is the second of two SEC opponents MSU will play this season. The Spartans have not won a match against an SEC opponent since a 5-1 win over Kentucky in East Lansing on Sep. 5, 2004.

Thursday’s match will be the first all-time between the Spartans and Rebels.

SCOUTING XAVIER

Xavier is led by first-year head coach Dean Ward. The Musketeers sit at a perfect 4-0-0 through the first two weeks of the season, most recently earning a 3-0 win over Dayton on the road on Aug. 25. Emma Flick and Olivia Lawson lead the Xavier in scoring with seven points each.

The Musketeers will be the third ranked opponent in the first five games of 2024 for the Spartans. 

Despite playing each other for the first seven varsity seasons of MSU soccer, the Spartans and Musketeers have not met since Sept. 10, 1992, which was a 2-1 win for MSU on the road. The series, which dates back to 1986, is tied at 3-3-1. MSU is 2-1-0 in East Lansing against Xavier.

UP NEXT

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