Elliott Daniels Senior Associate AD/Student-Athlete Engagement | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website
Elliott Daniels Senior Associate AD/Student-Athlete Engagement | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Fifth-ranked Michigan State women's soccer concludes its non-conference schedule this week at DeMartin Stadium. The Spartans will face Queens on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m., followed by Loyola Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be available for streaming on B1G+.
MSU (3-0-2) remains undefeated after a successful week at DeMartin, securing a 1-0 victory over Ole Miss on Aug. 29 and a 2-2 draw with then-No. 15 Xavier on Sept. 1. Graduate midfielder Emily Mathews scored the game-winning goal against Ole Miss, her first of the season. Against Xavier, sophomore midfielder Bella Najera and junior defender Maggie Illig found the net, with graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor assisting both goals. MSU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks recorded a season-high eight saves in the match against Xavier.
The Spartans are ranked in the top five of the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the second consecutive week after achieving a program-high ranking of No. 4 last week. MSU has faced three top-15 opponents in its first five games.
This weekend, MSU aims to complete an undefeated non-conference schedule for the second time under head coach Jeff Hosler, who first achieved this feat in his inaugural season in 2021. Since Big Ten women's soccer began in 1994, MSU has remained unbeaten against non-league opponents four times: in 2009, 2013, 2014, and 2021.
Queens University of Charlotte is led by head coach Shannon Neely Noel, who holds a record of 10-17-13 over three seasons with the Royals. The team stands at 3-2-0 this season following a recent home victory over Winthrop on Sept. 1. This will be the first meeting between Michigan State and Queens.
Loyola Chicago is coached by interim head coach Angela Staveskie in her debut season leading the Ramblers (3-1-1). The team recently won against Bowling Green on Sept. 1 with a score of 1-0. Sophomore forward/midfielder Zoe Hevey leads Loyola Chicago's scoring efforts with five points from one goal and three assists this season.
Historically, Michigan State holds a perfect record of seven wins out of seven matches against Loyola Chicago and has outscored them significantly across these encounters.
Following these matches, Michigan State will begin Big Ten play at Maryland on Thursday, Sept. 12 at College Park with coverage available on B1G+.
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