Michigan State field hockey stays put at Ralph Young Field this weekend, with two more home games on deck: a Big Ten meeting with Penn State on Friday, Oct. 9, followed by a non-conference date with Longwood on Sunday, Oct. 11.
The Spartans and Nittany Lions will get things started at 3 p.m. Friday, while Sunday’s matchup against the Lancers is set for 11 a.m. Both games will be streamed live on B1G+.
Friday brings a familiar opponent for Michigan State. Penn State and the Spartans will meet for the 51st time on the turf, and Michigan State is still chasing its first win in the series since Oct. 31, 2009, when it rolled to a 5-1 victory in Happy Valley. Overall, the Spartans trail the all-time matchup 10-40.
Penn State arrives in East Lansing at 6-4 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play under first-year head coach Hannah Prince. The Nittany Lions are coming off a strong weekend that included a shutout of Rutgers and an overtime win over No. 19 Lafayette.
The Penn State attack runs through junior forward Ella Gaitan, who leads the team with seven goals. She’s put together braces against Delaware and Bucknell, and her production has also landed her among the Big Ten leaders in shots, shots on goal, points and goals. Graduate midfielder Sienna Dunn has been the engine in the circle, piling up a nation-leading nine assists.
Penn State also has a steady presence in goal in junior Aby Deverka. A former Big Ten and NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week, Deverka has recorded multiple shutouts this season and sits among the conference’s best in goals-against average and saves.
Sunday’s opponent is new territory for Michigan State. Longwood and the Spartans have never faced each other before, making this the first all-time meeting between the programs.
The Lancers come into the weekend at 0-9 overall and 0-4 in the Mid-American Conference under fifth-year head coach Miranda Rigg. They’re coming off losses to Ball State and James Madison last weekend.
Longwood’s offense is led by senior forward Channy Johnson, who tops the team in assists and points. In goal, junior Sophie Mooldijk has been busy all season, leading the NCAA in saves per game and ranking among the top five in program history with more than 400 career saves.
After this homestand, Michigan State heads back on the road for a pair of conference games, visiting No. 2 Maryland on Friday, Oct. 16, before traveling to Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 18.
In Other News...
Michigan State Faces New Lineup Uncertainty In Critical Illinois Week
Michigan States prep for a pivotal Big Ten matchup against Illinois got a little clearer, and a little more complicated, when the schools released their initial player availability reports ahead of the game. The Spartans already know they will be without linebacker Caleb Wheatland because of injury, while Cam Fancher, Tre Bell and Jordan Hall all landed in the questionable category as the week heads toward kickoff.
Illinois, meanwhile, has its own availability questions to sort through, with running back Ca'Lil Valentine ruled out, defensive back Tywan Cox listed as doubtful and guard Champ Smith tagged questionable. For Michigan State, the report adds another layer of uncertainty in a game where depth and availability could matter just as much as game plan, especially with both sides still awaiting final word on a few key names. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Gets A Revealing Look At Illinois Before Homecoming
Michigan States upcoming homecoming opponent comes into the matchup carrying plenty of conversation points, and a fresh look at Illinois makes clear why the Spartans cannot treat this as a routine conference week. An interview with Isaac Ambrose of The Champaign Room painted the Fighting Illini as a team still working through the pressure of heightened expectations, with questions around quarterback Katin Housers play and a supporting cast that has had to shoulder different kinds of responsibility as the season has unfolded.
The more revealing part for Michigan State is on the other side of the ball, where Illinois has had to navigate both injuries and changes in how the defense is being run. Ambrose touched on those complications, along with the recent coaching turnover that has altered the backdrop for the Illini heading into East Lansing. For a Spartan team trying to get a read on what kind of test it will face, the interview offered a useful snapshot, but also left enough uncertainty to make Saturdays matchup worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Is Sending A Clearer Message About Football Money
Michigan State athletic director Dan Bartholomew is making the case that football funding needs to be a more visible priority, and he did it in a letter aimed directly at fans. In it, he laid out why the program needs stronger backing, pointing to the dollars required for roster development and stadium renovations while tying those needs to the departments broader push through Spartan Ventures and the For Sparta campaign.
The message also comes with a bigger-picture legislative angle, as Bartholomew noted the possible effect of the Protect College Sports Act on athletics revenue-sharing rules. For a program trying to keep pace in a changing model, the issue is not just how much money can be raised, but how clearly the department communicates where it is going and why it matters. [Read more 🡒]