Michigan State heads into Sunday’s Big Ten matchup at No. 16 UCLA riding a strong start and carrying plenty of momentum from Thursday’s 5-0 win at USC.
The Spartans and Bruins will meet at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in Los Angeles at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m.
PT as Michigan State closes out the opening weekend of conference play. UCLA comes in at 4-2-1 after beating Purdue 2-1 in its Big Ten opener, and it will be the third ranked opponent Michigan State has faced this season, with two more teams that were receiving votes when the Spartans played them.
This is the second time the programs have met in 2025, and both previous meetings came in landmark fashion. The first was a 1-1 draw in East Lansing in the first-ever women’s soccer meeting between the schools. The second came in the Big Ten semifinals, when Michigan State advanced with an overtime win powered by a brace from Emerson Sargeant.
Michigan State opened Big Ten play in emphatic style on the road against USC. Kennedy Bell scored twice, Kayla Briggs added a goal and two assists, and Bella Najera delivered assists on both of Bell’s goals. Renee Watson and Shelby Vaughn also scored in the second half, while Bella Schopp earned her second clean sheet of the season with two saves.
The result added to what has already been a standout non-conference resume. Michigan State finished that stretch 3-0-1 against teams in the Top 25 or receiving votes at the time, a mark that gives the Spartans what the source describes as the most and best non-conference wins in the nation. The team also went unbeaten in non-conference play for the second time in three years and the third time under Jeff Hosler.
Hosler’s conference record speaks for itself: 36-7-10 in Big Ten games. Michigan State went 5-4-1 in conference play in his first season and has gone 31-3-9 since. Overall, he is 75-20-22 at MSU and 308-87-40 in 21 years as a head coach.
Bell continues to be a major force for the Spartans. The reigning Big Ten Forward of the Year recorded her second brace of the season at USC and the third of her career.
She is tied for second in the Big Ten in points with 13 and goals with five, and she ranks fifth in assists with three. In 32 games at Michigan State, Bell has posted 16 goals, 10 assists and 42 points, leaving her three points shy of the program’s all-time top 25 and two goals from the top 20.
Briggs is heating up as well. She scored in a second straight game and finished with two assists against USC, bringing her season total to 11 points on four goals and three assists. She has the game-winner in three of Michigan State’s five wins this season, which leads the Big Ten and is tied for the national lead.
Najera’s day at USC pushed her career totals to 68 points, placing her 11th on Michigan State’s all-time scoring list. She also sits 11th in career goals with 26 and 16th all-time in assists after setting up both of Bell’s scores.
Another key number for the Spartans comes in goal. Schopp has started each of the last four games, going 2-0-2 with two shutouts. After making two saves at USC, she is at a .667 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average.
Michigan State’s trip to UCLA closes out the first weekend of league play with another ranked test, and the Spartans arrive with both results and numbers backing up their start.
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Michigan State Just Made An Early Big Ten Statement At USC
Michigan State wasted little time making its presence felt in Big Ten play at USC, turning in a one-sided road performance that looked every bit like a team intent on setting an early tone. Kennedy Bell led the charge with two goals, while Kayla Briggs added a goal and two assists as the Spartans kept the pressure on from start to finish and never let the Trojans settle in.
The result gave Michigan State its fourth shutout of the season and another strong sign that the defense is backing up the attack. Bella Schopp needed only two saves to secure her second clean sheet of the year, and with the Spartans already looking sharp on both ends, the bigger question now is how far this early Big Ten statement can carry them as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
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The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Sept. 11, 2026, with a special recognition planned during the Michigan State-Eastern Michigan football game the following day. Hell be honored alongside six other athletes, giving Spartans fans another chance to salute one of the people who helped raise the standard across the department, even if the spotlight usually falls elsewhere on fall Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]