Exciting Homecoming: MSU Takes on UCLA in a Monday Night Showdown!

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State men’s soccer team is back home after two tough road matches. They’re eager to secure their first win of October when they face UCLA on Monday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. Currently, the Spartans have an overall record of 5-6-1 and 2-4-1 in the Big Ten.

About UCLA
UCLA enters the match with a record of 3-6-3 overall and 3-3-1 in conference play. The Bruins have recently struggled, losing their last match to No. 16 Michigan, with a score of 3-0. In their last five games, UCLA has managed just one win against Penn State.

Sergi Solans Ormo leads the Bruins in scoring with four goals and two assists. Another key player, Francis Bonsu, has contributed one goal and three assists.

Series History
The Spartans and Bruins have faced off just once before, with Michigan State winning 1-0 back on Sept. 28, 2024.

Stadium Attendance
This season, Michigan State has drawn an impressive average of 2,592 fans per game, ranking 11th nationally. Indiana leads the pack with an average of 3,525.

Fresh Talent
In light of injuries, the Spartans have relied heavily on freshmen this season. Notably, Luke Spadafora has started all 12 games. Seven freshmen have actively participated this season, showcasing the team’s young talent.

Big Ten Standings
As the regular season progresses, Maryland currently leads with 17 points, closely followed by Washington with 15. Michigan is in third place with 13 points. The Spartans are in seventh with seven points.

History-Making Week
Three weeks ago, the Spartans made headlines by defeating both No. 3 Indiana and No. 5 Michigan in the same week, marking a historic achievement for the program.

Player Highlights
Two freshmen share the top scorer spot for Michigan State. Peter Soudan and transfer Miles Merritt have both recorded three goals and two assists. Freshman Chim Okeke also made a mark by scoring his first collegiate goal against Ohio State.

Coaching Milestone
Coach Damon Rensing recently hit a milestone, earning his 150th career win. He is the second-winningest coach in Spartan history.

Goalkeeper Stats
Zac Kelly has played every minute of the season in goal, boasting four shutouts and moving up the rankings in career clean sheets for MSU.

Social Media Buzz
Following the Spartans’ success against ranked teams, fans have taken to social media to celebrate the achievements, showing strong support for the team’s youthful energy and resilience.

For more insights on collegiate soccer and statistics, check out NCAA’s official stats page.

Upcoming Schedule
Next Sunday, on Oct. 26, the Spartans will honor their seniors, including Zac Kelly and Josh Adam, during their match against UMKC at 1 p.m.

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