ROSEMONT, Ill. – Michigan State women’s soccer players Lauren Kozal and Courtney Koehler secured Big Ten Women’s Soccer Weekly Honors, with Kozal being named Goalkeeper of the Week while Koehler took home Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.
Kozal, a senior goalkeeper from Ada, Michigan, secured the third Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week award in her illustrious career with the Green & White. She stands in sole possession of eighth place in the Spartan record book for career wins, notching 21 over the past five seasons. Last week, Kozal earned the start and booked the winning decisions in both MSU contests against Central Michigan and Binghamton, bringing her season record in goals to 3-0-1.
Koehler, a freshman midfielder from The Woodlands, Texas, lands the first Big Ten Weekly Award of her collegiate career. She becomes the first Spartan since sophomore forward Jordyn Wickes to earn the Freshman of the Week accolade, which she earned on Oct. 5 of last year. Koehler stood out in her first two appearances for the Spartans, highlighted by Michigan State’s only multiple-goal outing by an individual this season. In her first career start against Central Michigan, Koehler notched a pair of scores with three shots on target. She followed that up with her second career start and saw 47 minutes against Binghamton.
The Spartans are off to a 3-0-1 start through this point in the 2022 season, matching the program’s opening ledger from a year ago. MSU has yet to allow a goal through four games and stands one game shy of the consecutive-shutout record of five. The Green & White maintain a dominant 83-16 edge in shots attempted over their opponents and own a 36-6 differential in shots on goal this season.
Michigan State women’s soccer returns to the pitch on Thursday, Sept. 1, as the Spartans welcome the Dartmouth Big Green to DeMartin Stadium for a 5 pm fixture. The game is the first leg of an MSU soccer doubleheader, with the men’s team set to square off against the Western Michigan Broncos at 7:30 pm following the conclusion of the women’s contest.
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