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EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Ohio soccer team is set to make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. The Bobcats (9-7-5) will take on Michigan State (12-4-3) in the first round matchup. The win-or-go-home game is a battle between the MAC Tournament Champions and the Big Ten Regular Season Champions. 

Head coach Aaron Rodgers has continued to speak about "creating a memory" with his team. The Bobcats have certainly proved capable of doing so, ending Mid-American Conference play with a five-game winning streak. The fifth being the MAC Championship in which they came back to defeat Kent State 2-1 to win the first conference title in program history. 

Ohio's season can be largely told with two words: resilience and perseverance. The Bobcats struggled to start the season, compiling a 4-7-5 record prior to the current winning streak. While Ohio dominated the majority of the games, they continually failed to find the back of the net. With two separate stretches of six games without a win and a couple of season-ending injuries, postseason contention appeared to be out the window for Ohio.

Yet the Bobcats kept pushing. A late goal from senior Shae Robertson to tie Central Michigan, a clutch save by sophomore goalkeeper Celeste Sloma, and two second half goals in the regular season finale propelled Ohio into the MAC Tournament as the 6th-seed. 

Sometimes, all you have to do is get in. That's exactly what the Bobcats have done. The ball started to bounce the right way for Ohio as the season progressed. The chances earlier in the season that failed to find the back of the net were now being finished. The ten goals in their last five matches were the most of any five-game stretch for Ohio this season. Ultimately, it helped the Bobcats win the MAC Championship and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

STORYLINES

• Ohio enters the matchup with the 5th-seeded, 20th ranked Spartans in what is the program's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. 

• The Bobcats are currently on a five game winning streak, outscoring their opponents 10-2 during the stretch. 

• Friday's match will be the first time Ohio and Michigan State have met.  

• Ohio's MAC Tournament title marked the first time a 6th-seed had won the conference tournament. 

• Four Bobcats were named to the All-MAC Tournament Team: Senior Carsyn Prigge and sophomores Eve Berish, Celeste Sloma, and Scout Murray. 

• Murray was named the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. She scored the game-winning goals in the semifinal and championship. 

• Ohio came from behind to win in both the MAC semifinal and championship. On both occasions, the Bobcats trailed 1-0 at the half. 

• Junior defender Kali Stock scored the equalizer in the MAC Championship against Kent State. It was the first goal of her collegiate career. 

• Sophomore defender Rayann Pruss scored the tying-goal against Bowling Green in the MAC Semifinal match. Like Stock, it was her first career goal. 

• Senior forward Shae Robertson, junior defender Quintin Tostevin, and sophomore goalkeeper Celeste Sloma were named to the All-MAC Second Team. 

• Freshman midfielder/forward Jaimason Brooker was selected to the All-MAC Freshman Team. 

• Ohio was the last team to qualify for the MAC Tournament. The Bobcats snuck in by way of goal difference over Miami (OH) and Buffalo. 

• Ohio faced one Big Ten opponent this season, Ohio State, in a 4-1 loss. 

• Sloma was first in the MAC in save percentage, 0.90, and second in GAA, 0.90. She also led the conference in minutes, playing all 90-minutes in all 21 games. 

• Robertson's 19 career goals rank eighth in program history. 

• The MAC has an overall record of 6-21 in the NCAA Tournament. Western Michigan was the last team to win in the tournament, beating Michigan 1-0 in 2013. 

ALL TIME VS. MICHIGAN STATE 

This will be the first meeting between Ohio and Michigan State. 

Ohio has compiled a record of 3-15-0 (0.168) against Big Ten opponents with wins over Ohio State, Minnesota, and Illinois. Michigan State is 72-7-7 (0.911) against teams from the MAC. 

ALL TIME IN NCAA TOURNAMENT 

Friday's match against Michigan State will be Ohio's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. 

Michigan State has qualified for the NCAA Tournament six times (2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2022, and 2023). The Spartans hold an all-time record of 3-5 in NCAA Postseason play. 

SCOUTING NO. 5 MICHIGAN STATE

The 5th-seeded Michigan State Spartans head into the first round of the NCAA Tournament after winning their second consecutive Big Ten Regular Season Title. This is the Spartans' second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Michigan State lost in the second round to #17 TCU. 

Michigan State compiled a record of 12-4-3 (7-1-2 B1G). The Spartans played two MAC teams on the year, defeating both: Bowling Green, 3-1, and Eastern Michigan, 6-0. Additionally, Michigan State has a record of 4-3-2 against teams ranked in the top 50 of the NCAA's current RPI. In the nine matches, they have outscored opponents 14-11. 

As a team, the Spartans have outscored their opponents 45-19 during the season. Their average of 2.37 goals per game is tied for 18th in the country and is more than any team the Bobcats have faced this season. The Spartans have had 14 different goalscorers on the year. 

Bella Najera and Jordyn Wickes are the leading goal scorers for Michigan State. Each of them have seven goals on the season. Najera, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, has scored two in the last four games. She is tied with the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, Justina Gaynor, for the team-lead in points with 19. On top of Najera's seven goals, she added five assists. Gaynor found the back of the net four times and provided the Spartans with an impressive 11 assists, tied for ninth most in the country. 

Gaynor was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team alongside defenders Celia Gaynor, her sister, and Raegan Cox. The defensive pairing helped Michigan State record seven clean sheets on the season, a number equivalent to that of Ohio's. 

Two other Spartans to watch on Friday are Emerson Sargeant and Gabby Mueller. Sargeant, an All-Big Ten Second Team Selection, has four goals and six assists on the year. She scored the Spartan's lone goal in the Big Ten Quarterfinal loss to Iowa, the eventual champions. Mueller has five goals and two assists on the season, leading the team in game-winning goals with three. 

Kaitlyn Parks will be in goal for the Spartans. The graduate student has started all 19 games for Michigan State this year, recording a GAA of 0.99. She has made 44 saves on the season, with a save percentage of 0.710. 

Michigan State is one of the most threatening teams off of set pieces. The Spartans average 7.11 corner kicks per game, the eighth most in the country. Western Michigan is the only Ohio opponent who averaged more, with 7.16. 

The Bobcats will be tested on the defensive end with this high-scoring Spartans team. Michigan State hasn't played since Oct. 29, compared to the Bobcats' last match on Nov. 5. 

SCOUTING OHIO 

Ohio enters their first NCAA Tournament with a 9-7-5 (4-4-3 MAC) record. On the heels of five straight wins, the Bobcats caught fire to end the season and have earned an automatic bid after winning their first MAC Championship. 

The Bobcats enter the game with 24 goals scored and 19 allowed. Defensively, Ohio has recorded seven shutouts including three in their last five matches. In the last five games, the Bobcats have scored ten goals compared to their opponents' two. 

Ohio is led up front by Shae Robertson, Izzi Boyd, and Scout Murray. Murray's goals against Bowling Green in the semifinals and Kent State in the Championship were both game-winners, helping her be named the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Her goal in the semifinals was No. 7 in SportsCenter's top plays on Nov. 3. Robertson, an All-MAC Second Team selection, is the team leader with eight goals, while Boyd added five of her own. 

Carsyn Prigge, Aubrey Rea, and Eve Berish hold down in the midfield for Ohio. The trio have proven to be the driving force of Rodgers' team with excellent defensive support and transitions to create offensive opportunities. Prigge, Rea, and Berish have picked up seven points combined. Prigge and Berish were also named to the All-MAC Tournament Team. Jaimason Brooker is also one to watch in the midfield. An All-MAC Freshman team selection, Brooker has shown great versatility in her play moving forward. 

Wingback Rayann Pruss scored the first goal of her collegiate career against Bowling Green in the semifinal. A cross from fellow wingback Ella Deevers provided the assist to tie the game less than a minute into the half. Kali Stock, Maia Kaufman, and Rylee Mensel also are in the wingback rotation. Stock scored her first career goal in the championship. A shot from the right-wing floated over Kent State's goalkeeper to tie the game early into the second half. 

Ohio's back line consists of Ella Bianco, Quintin Tostevin, and Maia Soulis. The group has allowed just two goals in the five previous games, the second time the Bobcats have done this season. Tostevin was named to the All-MAC Second Team alongside Robertson and Sloma. 

Goalkeeper Celeste Sloma has been a revelation for Ohio throughout the year. A Second Team All-MAC Selection, Sloma has made critical saves game-after-game. With a goal against average of 0.905, a save percentage of 0.821 and 87 saves on the season, she is towards the top of every statistic in the MAC. Sloma made a key save for Ohio in the first half of the MAC Championship. A breakaway save denied Kent State of a two-goal lead in the first half. She is also seventh in the country in minutes played with 1,890 after starting and playing all 90 minutes in all 21 games. 

ADDITIONAL STORYLINES OF NOTE 

Sophomore Maia Soulis is set to return to East Lansing after being a member of the Spartans a season ago. The defender is playing her first season for the Bobcats after transferring from Michigan State. Soulis has had a strong season, helping the Bobcats limit opponents to less than a goal a game. Individually, she earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors in the first week of the season. 

Senior Izzi Boyd will be facing off with her sister, Ava, who is a freshman forward on the Spartans. Boyd has been a key contributor for Ohio this season, scoring five goals including two game-winners. The senior has a tremendous impact for Ohio. In games that Boyd has scored, the Bobcats have a 4-0-0 record. She has earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week two times this season. The first was after scoring her two game-winning goals. The second came in the final week of the regulars season when she scored twice in Ohio's 3-0 win over Akron. Her two goals helped Ohio surpass Miami and Buffalo on goal difference and secure the sixth and final tournament spot. 

This is Aaron Rodgers' first appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach. Rodgers became the Bobcat head coach in 2013 and has compiled an 83-99-23 record. Prior to Ohio, Rodgers was an assistant coach at Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky where he helped guide each program to NCAA Tournament appearances. 

NCAA TOURNAMENT

This will be the 42nd NCAA Tournament in history with the first in 1982. North Carolina holds the record for the most championships with 21. The Tar Heels won 16 of the first 19 championships. Florida State, Notre Dame, and Stanford are tied for the second most with three. 

UCLA returns to the tournament as a one-seed and the reigning champions. The Bruins knocked off the Tar Heels in extra-time in last year's championship match. Last year's championship was the fourth in a row to not be concluded in the regulation period. 

For the fourth time in the last six years, Cary, N.C. will host the Women's College Cup. The final four teams will head to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary to play for the National Championship.