Lansing Sun

EAST LANSING, Mich. - After completing a four-game homestand, Michigan State men's soccer will travel to face in-state rival Oakland on Monday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.

The Spartans currently hold a record of 1-2-2 this season after tying Air Force 1-1 on Friday. Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout scored his first goal of the season in the tie.

Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout leads the team in scoring with one goal and one assist for three points. Senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, sophomore forward Richie Ludwig, and freshman forward Mohamed Saad have also scored this season.

Oakland is seeking its first win of the season after starting 0-4. The Grizzlies opened with a 2-1 loss against Nebraska Omaha and subsequently lost road games at Michigan (2-1) and Butler (2-1). On Friday, Oakland was narrowly defeated at home by UIC, 1-0.

Jack Klomparens leads Oakland in scoring with one goal and one assist for three points. Andriy Bilous and Francesco Mazzei have each scored once for OU this season. Alex Flowers has played every minute in goal, allowing seven goals for a 1.75 GAA.

Oakland leads the overall series with Michigan State 22-14-4. MSU has a slight edge at home with a record of 10-8-4, while the Golden Grizzlies lead at home 14-4.

Last year in East Lansing, No. 12 Michigan State tied Oakland 2-2. A Jonathan Stout header in the 88th minute drew the Spartans even. Jake Spadafora also scored for MSU in that game. Current Spartan goalkeeper Michael Sly Jr. was Oakland's netminder during that match.

Through five games this season, MSU has used four different starting lineups. Six Spartans—Zac Kelly, Shion Soga, Cristiano Bruletti, Jeremy Sharp, Will Eby, and Josh Adam—have started all five games so far. Adam and Kelly have played every minute this season.

Seven teams from the Big Ten are ranked in either the United Soccer Coaches Poll or the Top Drawer Soccer Poll. In the USC poll, UCLA is No. 6, while Northwestern and Wisconsin stand ninth and tenth respectively. In the Top Drawer Poll, UCLA stands No. 4 while Indiana is No. 9; Oregon State (No. 23), Washington (No.24), and Wisconsin (No.24) round out the poll.

This season introduces rule changes where the clock will stop on substitutions with less than fifteen minutes left if the game is tied or if the winning team makes a substitution. Substitutions can be made during any stoppage of time with teams allowed six moments to make substitutions per game under certain exceptions.

Senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan continues to excel from the penalty spot; he led Michigan State last season with twelve points on six goals—five of which were penalty kicks.

Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout was named to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List—the most prestigious individual award in college soccer presented annually to outstanding male and female players of the year.

Michigan State had three players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List: juniors Jeremy Sharp, Jake Spadafora, and Jonathan Stout were honored by the league.

The Spartans welcome eight new players to their roster: four freshmen and four transfers including senior midfielders Levin Gerhardt from CSUN and Shion Soga from South Florida; redshirt-junior goalkeeper Michael Sly Jr., who transferred from Oakland; redshirt-sophomore defender Ryan Van De Winkle from Loyola Chicago; as well as freshmen goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz, forward Oscar Huerta, defender Brandon Munson and midfielder Jared Smid.

Michigan State returns its top eight scorers from last season including leading scorer senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan who led with six goals for twelve points; junior midfielder Jonathan Stout was second with ten points on five goals; juniors Jake Spadafora and Jeremy Sharp were tied for third with seven points each.

The Spartans will return home to take on Washington on Friday, Sept.13 at 7 p.m.

MSU head coach Damon Rensing enters his sixteenth season leading the Spartans alongside assistant coaches T.J Kolba entering his sixth year; Nick Barry entering his fifth year; Reid Friedrichs entering his second year having been honored as Big Ten Player of Year back in1996.