EAST LANSING, Mich. – Sixth-ranked and fourth-seeded Michigan State women’s soccer prepares for its first NCAA Tournament contest since 2009, and the first NCAA Tournament game at home in program history, as the Spartans welcome the Milwaukee Panthers to DeMartin Stadium for a 6 p.m. kick on Friday, Nov. 11.
HEAD COACH JEFF HOSLER SAID…
“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament and host a first-round game at DeMartin for the first time in program history. I’m so glad that we get to share this moment with our fans. This team has accomplished a lot through this point in the season, but I know they are hungry to go out and continue to give their best effort and play with a chip on their shoulder. We’re up against a talented Milwaukee side that has been in the NCAA Tournament multiple times over the past few seasons, so we will have to remain focused and disciplined if we want to advance.”
KICKIN’ IT
The Green & White are fresh off the deepest Big Ten Tournament run in school annals, reaching the tournament championship game and coming up just short in a 3-2 contest against nine-time tournament champion Penn State on Sunday, Nov. 6. MSU was selected as the No. 4 seed in the South Bend region, marking the first time in program history that the Spartans earned a national seed. The Green & White own a 2-4 overall record in the Big Dance and have published program-best finishes in the second round during the 2005 and 2008 campaigns. MSU’s other appearances came in 2002 and 2009.
PREPPING FOR THE PANTHERS
One of the most tradition-rich programs in the history of the Horizon League, first-year head coach Kevin Boyd has led the Panthers to a 12-3-3 overall record, bolstered by a fourth-straight conference tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance. Milwaukee reached the NCAA Tournament following wins over IUPUI and Youngstown State in the Horizon League Tournament, garnering the conference’s automatic bid. Senior forward Haley Johnson and sophomore forward Kayla Rollins pace the team with eight goals apiece, while sophomore forward Lainey Higgins published eight assists. Freshman goalkeeper Kendall Edwards took up the job halfway through the season and leads the Panthers with a .838 save…
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