No. 3 Michigan State gets back to DeMartin Stadium on Thursday with a matchup against Eastern Michigan, opening a home doubleheader for the Spartans’ women’s and men’s teams.
The women’s side enters at 3-0 and has already stacked up a resume that stands out early. Michigan State is one of just 30 Division I teams - and one of only two in the Big Ten - without a loss or a tie through the first two weeks of the season.
The Spartans have opened with a pair of shutout wins, 2-0 over [RV] Xavier and 1-0 over Loyola, before taking down No. 7/8 North Carolina, 3-2, on Sunday.
That win in Chapel Hill helped push MSU to No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 4 in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings. It’s the Spartans’ highest spot during the season since Sept. 24, 2024, when they spent a week at No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Michigan State began the year ranked No. 7 in both preseason polls and was picked as the Big Ten preseason favorite.
Thursday’s game also brings a familiar opponent to East Lansing. This will be the 20th meeting between Michigan State and Eastern Michigan, and the first since 2023. The Spartans own a 15-1-3 edge all-time and have won seven straight in the series.
Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium, with the men following later in the night against SIUE at 7:30 p.m.
Kennedy Bell earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors Tuesday after scoring twice at North Carolina. Playing in her home state for the first time in college, Bell has quickly climbed the league scoring charts, tying for fourth in the Big Ten with three goals and sitting tied for seventh with six points.
Bella Najera delivered the decisive strike at UNC, burying a free kick from 19 yards out for her first goal of the season and the 26th of her career. That moved her into a tie for 11th on MSU’s all-time scoring list. Najera now has 66 career points, which ranks 12th in program history, along with 14 assists, tied for 22nd, and nine career game-winners, good for eighth all-time.
Kayla Briggs also continues to be a steady source of production. She scored the lone goal against Loyola and played the full 90 minutes in each of the Spartans’ last two games. Briggs also netted the winner against [RV] Xavier in the opener and led Michigan State with five game-winning goals last season, a total that ranked fourth in a single season in program history.
Emerson Sargeant set up Bell’s second goal at North Carolina with a clever over-the-head flip to a charging Bell after the play began with Mackenzie Kruer. It was Sargeant’s first assist of the season and gave her 17 for her career, tying her for 14th all-time at Michigan State.
Ella Janz has already matched a career breakthrough early in the season. After posting two assists across her first three collegiate years combined, she has dished out two in Michigan State’s first three games, and both have gone to Bell.
On the back line, Belli has already logged 222 of a possible 270 minutes after missing all of 2025. The Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection from 2024 started all 22 games that season and has returned to help stabilize a young defense. She played all 90 minutes against North Carolina.
In goal, sophomore Noelle Henning has allowed only one goal in the run of play through three matches, plus one penalty-kick goal, both coming at UNC. Her numbers sit at a 0.67 goals-against average and an .818 save percentage.
Henning will step away from the team to play for Canada at the 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup from Sept. 5-27 in Poland. She was named Best Goalkeeper last summer after helping Canada win gold at the 2025 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in Costa Rica.
In Other News...
Michigan State Gets A Defensive Leader Back At The Perfect Time
After missing most of last season because of injuries, Nikai Martinez is back in position to matter in a big way for Michigan States defense. The senior safety is getting ready for his final college football season, and all signs point to him stepping into a starting role for a unit that is still finding its footing under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald. His return gives the Spartans something they badly needed: experience, communication, and a steady presence in the back end.
Martinezs value goes beyond the depth chart. Even while he was recovering, he stayed involved with the team, and that presence helped keep him connected to the defense he is expected to help lead. The Spartans voted him one of their six captains, a clear sign of how much respect he has in the locker room. For a team trying to build a new identity, getting a veteran voice like Martinez back now feels especially important. [Read more 🡒]
Carlos Medlock Jr. Is Pushing For An Immediate Michigan State Role
Carlos Medlock Jr. is already drawing attention as a freshman who could carve out a real spot in Tom Izzos rotation before long. The guard is expected to be a significant part of Michigan States 2026-27 plans, and the early buzz around him centers on how naturally his game fits Izzos system, especially with the staff looking for steadier ball handling and fewer turnovers.
With Jeremy Fears also part of that backcourt picture, Medlock gives the Spartans another option who could ease pressure on the offense right away. Divine Ugochukwus transfer opens the door for Medlock to become the primary backup point guard, and the early expectation is that he could settle into a meaningful role rather quickly, with minutes there for the taking if he adjusts the way Michigan State hopes. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Gonzaga Test Just Got Even More Demanding
Michigan States December trip to face Gonzaga was already shaping up as one of the tougher non-conference games on the calendar, and the Bulldogs just added another experienced name to the mix. Gonzaga landed a commitment from guard Xaivian Lee, a former Florida and Princeton player who is hoping to keep his fifth-year eligibility intact, giving the Bulldogs another proven backcourt option as they continue building for the upcoming season.
Lee also spent time in the NBA Summer League, a sign that Gonzaga views him as more than a depth piece heading into a season with big expectations. For the Spartans, the matchup on Dec. 19 now looks even more demanding, with the Bulldogs bringing in a guard who adds both experience and another layer of talent to a roster already built to test anyone they face. [Read more 🡒]