Spartans Fourth in B1G Preseason Poll

East Lansing, Mich. — Michigan State has been chosen fourth within the Big Ten preseason coaches ballot, as introduced on Monday by the Conference workplace.  In addition, the league has revealed its Players to Watch, with senior defender Maggie Illig, junior midfielder Bella Najera, and sophomore centerback Julia Belli all incomes the popularity.

The Spartans are coming off a 2024 season wherein they compiled a 14-3-5 total document and went 7-1-3 in Big Ten video games.  MSU completed fourth (25 factors), one level out of third place and two out of second.

The Green & White is the one crew to complete within the prime 4 of the Big Ten regular-season standings in every of the final 4 seasons, with B1G titles in each 2022 and 2023.  MSU can be coming off back-to-back appearances within the spherical of 16 of the NCAA Championship. 

 

Illig, Najera, and Belli are all returning starters for the Spartans.  Illig and Najera every earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches (USC) 2025 Preseason Players to Watch record at their positions.  Illig earned USC Second Team All-North Region a yr in the past in addition to Second Team All-Big Ten honors.  Najera was a Third Team All-Big Ten choose and is MSU’s main returner in each objectives (8) and factors (19).    Belli earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman crew in 2024 and began every of MSU’s 22 video games. 

 

Michigan State formally begins the season on Thursday night (Aug. 14) in Boulder towards the Colorado Buffaloes (9 pm ET), a crew which superior to the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament a yr in the past.   The Spartans open the season at dwelling on Sunday (Aug. 17) towards Dayton at 7 pm.

 

2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. USC             

2. UCLA

3. Penn State

4. Michigan State

5. Ohio State

6. Iowa

7. Wisconsin

8. Rutgers

9. Washington

10. Minnesota

11. Purdue

12. Nebraska

13. Michigan

14. Northwestern

15. Illinois

16. Oregon

17. Indiana

18. Maryland

 

2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch

ILLINOIS:  Izzy Lee, Sr., Keeper; Sarah Foley, Sr., Forward; Emma Yee, So., Forward

INDIANA:  Kennedy Neighbors, Jr., Forward; Aleyna Quinn, So., Forward; Haden Vlcek, So., Defender

IOWA:  Millie Greer, Jr., Defender; Sofia Bush, Jr., Midfielder; Liana Tarasco, Fr., Midfielder

MARYLAND:  Kelsey Smith, Sr., Forward; Tahirah Turnage-Morales, Sr., Defender; Emily Lenhard, So., Midfielder

MICHIGAN: Ellie Fife, So., Defender; Gabrielle Prych, Jr, Forward; Sophie Homan, Sr., Keeper

MICHIGAN STATE:  Maggie Illig, Sr., Defender; Bella Najera, Jr., Midfielder; Julia Belli, So., Defender

MINNESOTA: Paige Kalal, Jr., Midfielder; Tatianna Cunningham, Sr., Midfielder; Ashley Thurk, So., Defender

NEBRASKA:  Reagan Raabe, Gr., Forward/Midfielder; Sadie Waite, Sr., Midfielder; Lauryn Anglim, Sr., Defender

NORTHWESTERN:  Caterina Regazzoni, Sr., Midfielder; Kennedy Roesch, So., Forward; Alex Fallon, So., Forward/Midfielder

OHIO STATE:  Amanda Schlueter, Jr., Forward; Ava Bramblett, Jr., Defender; Molly Pritchard, Sr., Keeper

OREGON:  Sydney Chura, Sr., Forward; Carly Cormack, So., Midfielder; Jayde Holley, Sr., Defender

PENN STATE:  Kaitlyn MacBean, Gr., Forward; Molly Martin, R-Jr., Midfielder; Amelia White, Sr., Forward

PURDUE:  Megan Santa Cruz, Jr., Midfielder; Zoe Cuneio, Jr., Defender; Emily Edwards, Jr., Keeper

RUTGERS:  Olivia Bodmer, R-Jr., Keeper; Ashley Baran, Jr., Forward; Natalia Ramirez, Gr., Forward

UCLA:  Emma Egizii, R-Sr., Midfielder; Lexi Wright, R-Sr., Forward; Jennie Immuthen, Sr., Midfielder/Defender

USC:  Maribel Flores, Jr., Forward; Ines Derrien, So., Midfielder; Faith George, So., Forward

WASHINGTON:  Kolo Suliafu, Sr., Defender; Samiah Shell, Jr., Forward; Laura Cetina, Sr., Midfielder

WISCONSIN:  Hailey Baumann, Jr., Defender; Madison Ishaug, Gr., Midfielder; Ashley Martinez, Gr., Midfielder/Defender