Michigan State University Athletics
Wahlberg Tabbed as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after Four-Goal Outing
8/27/2019 3:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The sophomore scored four first-half goals in the team’s 5-1 victory over Marshall.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State sophomore women's soccer player Gia Wahlberg has been named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, as announced by the conference on Tuesday.
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The South Elgin, Ill. native achieved the rare haul on a record-setting day, scoring four goals in the first-half of the team's 5-1 victory over Marshall on Sunday, Aug. 25 at DeMartin Stadium.
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The forward scored her first career goal in the second minute of play, out-running the Marshall defense and goalkeeper. She tallied her second goal less than three minutes later off a rebounded shot by sophomore forward Camryn Evans. Wahlberg finished out the half with two more goals, one goal from the top of the box and another off a loose ball in front, giving the Spartans a 4-0 advantage through the first 45 minutes of play.
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Her four goals set a record for the most goals in a first-half at DeMartin Stadium, while the five total Spartan goals ties a record for most goals in a game and the most goals scored at DeMartin Stadium.
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Wahlberg also tied the Big Ten record for most goals in a game, which only 12 other Big Ten players have achieved, including former Spartan Lauren Hill.
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Wahlberg is the first Spartan to record four goals in a game since Hill scored four goals in the first-half versus Western Michigan during the 2006 season, a 4-2 Spartan victory.
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This is the 15th time a Michigan State women's soccer player has won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week since the conference split offensive and defensive weekly honors in 2001. The last Spartan to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week was Sadie Misiewicz on Aug. 21, 2018.
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Hannah Drkulec (Iowa) was named defensive player of the week, while Marisa Bova (Purdue) earned goalkeeper of the week honors. Eileen Murphy of Illinois was tabbed as freshman of the week.
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UP NEXT:Â The Spartans conclude their three-match home stretch at the start of the 2019 season as the team plays host to Eastern Michigan on Thursday, Aug. 29. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. under the lights at DeMartin Stadium.
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The South Elgin, Ill. native achieved the rare haul on a record-setting day, scoring four goals in the first-half of the team's 5-1 victory over Marshall on Sunday, Aug. 25 at DeMartin Stadium.
Â
The forward scored her first career goal in the second minute of play, out-running the Marshall defense and goalkeeper. She tallied her second goal less than three minutes later off a rebounded shot by sophomore forward Camryn Evans. Wahlberg finished out the half with two more goals, one goal from the top of the box and another off a loose ball in front, giving the Spartans a 4-0 advantage through the first 45 minutes of play.
Â
Her four goals set a record for the most goals in a first-half at DeMartin Stadium, while the five total Spartan goals ties a record for most goals in a game and the most goals scored at DeMartin Stadium.
Â
Wahlberg also tied the Big Ten record for most goals in a game, which only 12 other Big Ten players have achieved, including former Spartan Lauren Hill.
Â
Wahlberg is the first Spartan to record four goals in a game since Hill scored four goals in the first-half versus Western Michigan during the 2006 season, a 4-2 Spartan victory.
Â
This is the 15th time a Michigan State women's soccer player has won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week since the conference split offensive and defensive weekly honors in 2001. The last Spartan to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week was Sadie Misiewicz on Aug. 21, 2018.
Â
Hannah Drkulec (Iowa) was named defensive player of the week, while Marisa Bova (Purdue) earned goalkeeper of the week honors. Eileen Murphy of Illinois was tabbed as freshman of the week.
Â
UP NEXT:Â The Spartans conclude their three-match home stretch at the start of the 2019 season as the team plays host to Eastern Michigan on Thursday, Aug. 29. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. under the lights at DeMartin Stadium.
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