EAST LANSING, Mich. – 16th-ranked and fifth-seeded Michigan State women’s soccer makes its third-straight appearance in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament this weekend, taking on in-state foe Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 16 at noon in the first round at DeMartin Stadium.
All NCAA First Round games will stream on ESPN+.
Fans are encouraged to park in Lot 62 (IM West) and the Kellogg Center ramp.
FIRST TOUCH
Saturday’s game is the first for MSU (12-2-5, 7-1-3 B1G) since dropping its Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal match to Rutgers on Nov. 2. After the Spartans took a 1-0 lead 37 seconds into the game thanks to a Rutgers own goal, the Scarlet Knights scored late in the first half and the golden goal in overtime to secure a 2-1 win. Rutgers eventually advanced to the championship game, falling to UCLA.
Graduate forward and Second Team All-Big Ten selection Meg Hughes leads the Spartans in points (19) and goals (7) this season. Graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor, a three-time All-Big Ten selection, leads in assists with six, while graduate goalkeeper and Third Team All-Big Ten selection Kaitlyn Parks holds a 0.82 goals-against average.
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan is 13-1-6 (8-0-3) this season, its only loss coming in a 3-0 loss at Creighton on Aug. 29. The Broncos won the outright Mid-American Conference regular season title this season and defeated Buffalo, 5-0, in the MAC Tournament Championship to secure the tournament title.
The Broncos are making their fourth overall NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2015. WMU is 2-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round in its first two appearances in 2003 and 2013. The Broncos’ first round win in 2013, a 1-0 result over No. 2 seed Marquette, is the last NCAA Tournament victory by a MAC team.
Graduate forward and MAC Offensive Player of the Year Jen Blitchok leads WMU’s blistering offense this season with 45 points from a team-leading 17 goals and 11 assists. Her 45 points rank first in the NCAA this season, while her 17 goals sit in a tie for fourth in the country. Senior forward Abby Werthman has scored 33 points this season from 12 goals and nine assists. Senior goalkeeper Lauren Boafo holds a 0.67 goals-against average and 0.792 save percentage this season.
The Spartans are 11-2 all-time against the Broncos, including a…
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