EAST LANSING- After falling to unranked Xavier 2-5 on Sunday, the newly unranked Michigan State women’s soccer team returns to East Lansing to host No. 5 Notre Dame on Thursday. 

Junior defender Kennedy Bell, a transfer from Maryland, has now passed her three career goals from last season, netting her fourth at Xavier. Redshirt freshman forward Shelby Vaughn also scored at Xavier, marking her second goal of the season.  

Notable for the Spartans is junior midfielder Bella Najera, who is second on the team in both points with eight and goals with three. Named to the Big Ten Player to Watch and United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch lists during the pre-season, Najera will be key for the green and white to lean on.  

Notre Dame’s senior midfielder Laney Matriano has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Matriano recorded three assists in their Thursday match against Michigan and netted two goals Sunday against Oakland.  

Michigan State is now 3-1-2 heading into this match, while Notre Dame is 4-0-1.  

This will be the Spartans’ final non-conference game before they head off to face Rutgers next Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be aired nationally on Big Ten Network.