Lansing Sun

Michigan State men's soccer team is set to face No. 15 UCLA on Friday, Sept. 27 at Wallis Anneberg Stadium. This marks the first meeting between the Spartans and the Bruins.

Michigan State currently holds a 2-4-2 overall record and a 1-1-0 mark in league play after a recent 2-1 loss to Penn State on Sept. 20. Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout scored for the second consecutive game.

The match will be broadcast on B1G+ with Nick Koop providing commentary.

Jonathan Stout leads Michigan State in scoring with three goals and one assist, totaling seven points. He shares the team lead in shots on goal with senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, both having eight shots each. Other goal scorers this season include sophomore forward Richie Ludwig, senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, and freshman forward Mohamed Saad.

UCLA comes into the match with a 4-2-3 record after defeating Westmont 5-1 on Sept. 24. The Bruins are in their first season in the Big Ten, holding a conference record of 1-1-1, including a win over Northwestern and a loss to Wisconsin. They also tied Michigan at home.

Edrey Caceres and Nikolai Rojel lead UCLA in scoring with six points each from three goals apiece. Sveinn Hauksson follows with two goals and one assist for five points. Goalkeepers Sam Joseph and Wyatt Nelson have split time in goal this season.

This match is notable as it is the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and UCLA.

In terms of individual performances within the Big Ten, Jonathan Stout is tied for eighth place in goals scored with three, while Wisconsin's Dean Boltz leads with eight goals. Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Zac Kelly is tied for second place in saves alongside Indiana's JT Harms and Penn State's Andrew Cooke, each having made 24 saves.

Freshman defender Brandon Munson has played all eight games this season, starting seven of them. His bicycle kick back save against Washington was featured as the No. 1 play on ESPN SportsCenter on Sept. 13. Freshman forward Mohamed Saad has also participated in all eight games, starting four and scoring one goal against Oregon State.

Michigan State ranks tenth nationally in attendance this season, averaging 1,808 fans per game, placing third within the Big Ten behind Indiana (3,177) and Maryland (2,214).

The Spartans have used six different starting lineups through their first eight games this season. Four players—Zac Kelly, Cristiano Bruletti, Jeremy Sharp, and Josh Adam—have started every game so far.

Five Big Ten teams are ranked either by United Soccer Coaches or Top Drawer Soccer Polls: Ohio State (No. 4), Wisconsin (No. 8), Maryland (No. 19), Michigan (No. 25), and UCLA (No. 15).

Michigan State began its Big Ten schedule against new member Washington on Sept. 13 and has maintained a strong record of seven wins, one loss, and two ties over their last ten conference openers.

This season introduces several rule changes regarding substitutions during matches to manage gameplay more effectively during critical moments.

Junior midfielder Jonathan Stout was named to the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List—the most prestigious individual award in college soccer—making him the first Spartan since Giuseppe Barone and Patrick Nielsen were listed in 2019.

Three Michigan State players—Jeremy Sharp, Jake Spadafora, and Jonathan Stout—were named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List ahead of this season by conference coaches.

After two road games within the Big Ten conference schedule, Michigan State will return home to face Northwestern on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at DeMartin Stadium at East Lansing.

Head coach Damon Rensing leads Michigan State into his sixteenth season along with assistant coaches T.J Kolba (sixth year) Nick Barry (fifth year), and Reid Friedrichs (second year).