EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 5 Michigan State women’s soccer hosts rival-Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
The game will stream on B1G+.
FIRST TOUCH
MSU extended its program-record unbeaten streak to begin the season to 12 games last week with a 2-2 draw at then-No. 11 Ohio State on Sept. 26 before a home 1-1 draw with Rutgers on Sept. 29. The Spartans are 8-0-4 this season and sit in a tie for second in the league standings with 11 points and a 3-0-2 record. The Spartans’ 12-game unbeaten streak is tied for the second-longest in the NCAA in 2024. MSU shares the streak with 9-0-3 Iowa, while Utah State leads with an 11-0-2 record. The Spartans are also one of four teams in the NCAA without a loss this season, joined by Iowa, Utah State, and Arkansas.
Graduate forward Meg Hughes scored a goal against the Buckeyes to bring her team-leading point total to 16 this season, while graduate goalkeeper netted a second-half penalty kick to register the first goal of her career. Graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony scored the lone Spartan goal against Rutgers, her third of the season and first since Aug. 25. Graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor ranks first on the team in assists with six.
The Spartans are ranked fifth in the United Soccer Coaches Poll this week for the fourth time this season. MSU has earned a top-five ranking in the poll for six-straight weeks.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan is led by ninth-year head coach Jennifer Klein, who holds a 65-46-16 record during her time in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are 2-9-1 overall and 1-4-0 in the conference, most recently falling to Rutgers (1-0) and Ohio State (2-1) last week. Michigan’s lone wins this season have come in a 1-0 home victory over then-No. 24 Alabama on Sept. 8 and a 3-2 home win against Nebraska on Sept. 22.
Junior midfielder Jenna Lang leads Michigan in scoring (8 points) and goals (4) this season. Junior forward Kali Burrell and sophomore Campbell Jewell lead in assists with two each. Graduate goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski has made 45 saves this season.
Michigan holds a 16-9-7 edge in the series since 1994, which is the first year both teams were under varsity status. MSU became a varsity team in 1986 and earned six-straight wins over the Wolverines from 1986-94, giving the Wolverines a narrow 16-15-7 advantage in the all-time series…
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