Kozal Named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week
9/21/2021 4:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State goalkeeper Lauren Kozal was named Big Ten Women's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week, as announced by the conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Kozal, a keeper from Ada, Mich., earned the Spartans' first Player of the Week honor this year for her performance in Sunday's game at Indiana, helping secure a conference-opening win for the team and her fifth shutout of the season as Michigan State defeated the Hoosiers 1-0.
The Spartans stand atop the rankings in several Big Ten categories thanks in large part to Kozal anchoring the defense at the net. Her save percentage of .900 is the second-highest in the league and she has totaled 27 saves so far this season. Second in the conference in shutouts, she has recorded five on the season for a shutout percentage of .625. She has the third-lowest goals against average at .355.
Michigan state is fifth in the NCAA in goals allowed, having scored 16 as at team and allowing just three to score from opponents.
"Lauren has been consistently solid for us all year, and her performance at Indiana fell right in line with that," head coach Jeff Hosler said. "She has been great in shot-stopping and dealing with aerial balls. She has a close partnership with [defender] Sam White in organizing our backline and making assignments."
This is Kozal's first Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week honor. It was Michigan State's first Goalkeeper of the Week honor since Reilley Ott was named on Sept. 4, 2018.
The women's soccer team is back at DeMartin Stadium this Thursday, September 23 for a game under the lights against Wisconsin at 7 p.m.
Kozal, a keeper from Ada, Mich., earned the Spartans' first Player of the Week honor this year for her performance in Sunday's game at Indiana, helping secure a conference-opening win for the team and her fifth shutout of the season as Michigan State defeated the Hoosiers 1-0.
The Spartans stand atop the rankings in several Big Ten categories thanks in large part to Kozal anchoring the defense at the net. Her save percentage of .900 is the second-highest in the league and she has totaled 27 saves so far this season. Second in the conference in shutouts, she has recorded five on the season for a shutout percentage of .625. She has the third-lowest goals against average at .355.
Michigan state is fifth in the NCAA in goals allowed, having scored 16 as at team and allowing just three to score from opponents.
"Lauren has been consistently solid for us all year, and her performance at Indiana fell right in line with that," head coach Jeff Hosler said. "She has been great in shot-stopping and dealing with aerial balls. She has a close partnership with [defender] Sam White in organizing our backline and making assignments."
This is Kozal's first Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week honor. It was Michigan State's first Goalkeeper of the Week honor since Reilley Ott was named on Sept. 4, 2018.
The women's soccer team is back at DeMartin Stadium this Thursday, September 23 for a game under the lights against Wisconsin at 7 p.m.
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