Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
Spartans Garner 11 B1G Postseason Awards, Program-Record Four Individual Accolades
10/27/2022 2:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Champion Michigan State women's soccer team garnered 11 different B1G Yearly Accolades as announced by the league office on Thursday, marking a program record for annual awards in a single season.
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The Spartans earned four individual accolades as voted on by the league's 14 coaches, with senior Lauren DeBeau named Forward of the Year, graduate Ruby Diodati chosen as Defender of the Year, senior Lauren Kozal announced as Goalkeeper of the Year and head coach Jeff Hosler voted as the conference's Coach of the Year.
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Hosler led MSU to its best regular-season finish in program history in 2022, booking a 14-1-3 overall record with an unblemished 9-0-1 mark in the Big Ten Conference. Hosler won the third Big Ten Coach of the Year award in program history and first since the 2000 campaign. Previous Spartan skipper Tom Saxton took home both of MSU's prior awards in 1994, the league's first women's soccer season, and 2000.
"It's great to be recognized for the work that our staff has done," Hosler said. "I'm very, very blessed to have an incredible staff. They work incredibly hard, and they do a good job in all aspects of helping to build this program. They have developed incredibly special relationships with our players, and continue to build on those relationships. This award, to me, really signifies a great team season and the work that this group has put in. To see this award, it's really a reflection of what our players have accomplished this season."
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Kozal booked her second-straight Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year honor and became Michigan State's first unanimous selection for the award, earning a spot as an All-Big Ten First Team representative in the process. Kozal has stood watch over the best defensive unit in NCAA Division I, allowing a goals-against average of 0.41 while leading the Big Ten in shutouts (10), shutouts per game (0.56) and save percentage (0.877). She becomes the conference's third two-time recipient of the award, and just the second student-athlete to earn the accolade in consecutive seasons.
"Obviously it's super exciting to receive this kind of recognition, not only for me, but for the team as well," Kozal said. "I owe it all to the back line, and to the whole team really. We just continue to give our best every single day, and giving our best is what leads to this kind of recognition. It's super exciting for all of our players, but mainly our team as a whole. We are blessed and excited to be having the success that we are this season. Hopefully, we can continue to get the results we work for every day."
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DeBeau became Michigan State's first Forward of the Year since the award's inception in 2011. The only previous Spartan to earn the conference's Offensive Player of the Year award was MSU Athletics Hall-of-Famer Laura (Heyboer) Heethuis, who earned the accolade by unanimous vote of the league's coaches. DeBeau stands tied atop the Big Ten leaderboard in goals scored with 10, ranking second in goals per game (0.59), points (23) and points per game (1.35). In the last week alone, the Shelby Township, Michigan, native logged the only MSU goals in a pair of 1-0 results over then-No. 17 Ohio State and then-No. 14 Rutgers to clinch MSU's first official Big Ten title. DeBeau also earned a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team.
"This is definitely a confidence boost for me," DeBeau stated. "When I think about all of the situations my teammates have put me in to succeed, I'm extremely grateful to them. Without the success that our team has experienced this season, none of us would be in position to receive any awards or accolades. This 9-0-1 season in the Big Ten is the real reason why I've been given this opportunity. Without my teammates, I would never have been in position to be named Big Ten Forward of the Year, so I truly owe it all to them."
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Diodati stood out as one of the most impressive graduate transfers in program history during the 2022 season, making history as the first Spartan to chronicle the Big Ten's highest defensive honor. A four-year standout at Colgate and All-Patriot League player, Diodati has anchored the best scoring defense in the nation. With Diodati in the back line, MSU has allowed just seven goals in 18 games played, an average of less than 0.4 goals per game. Â Michigan State has compiled a league-best 12 shutouts, including seven of the 10 B1G battles. Diodati stands tied for third in the Big Ten with seven assists, garnering an All-Big Ten First Team nod in the process.
"I think that this is a testament to all of our players, and my teammates," Diodati said. "No matter how long we have been here together, it's such an honor to be at a school like Michigan State and have an opportunity to play in the Big Ten. I'm so grateful for that opportunity, and the chance to play with such amazing people each and every day. I can't stress enough the fact that this award would not have been possible without the support of my teammates both here and at Colgate. I'm so grateful to this coaching staff. This is an accumulation of all the support I've received over the years."
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The Green & White also landed a quartet of additional All-B1G honors, highlighted by junior midfielder Justina Gaynor's selection to the All-Big Ten First Team. Senior defender Raegan Cox earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team, while freshman midfielder Emerson Sargeant landed Michigan State's first placement on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team since Bria Schrotenboer took home the same accolade in 2019.
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The Big Ten also recognized 14 Sportsmanship Award honorees, with one representative from each institution. Each student-athlete chosen has distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Each student-athlete must also be in good academic standing and demonstrate good citizenship outside of the competition field. Michigan State selected fifth-year defender Abby Gardiner for the award. Gardiner has started all 18 games this season and boasts the team's highest GPA.
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Sixth-ranked and top-seeded Michigan State women's soccer returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 30, as the Green & White welcome the eighth-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers to DeMartin Stadium in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament.
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FOLLOW THE SPARTANS
Visit MSUSpartans.com for more information on Michigan State women's soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan women's soccer team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by following @MSU_WSoccer.
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The Spartans earned four individual accolades as voted on by the league's 14 coaches, with senior Lauren DeBeau named Forward of the Year, graduate Ruby Diodati chosen as Defender of the Year, senior Lauren Kozal announced as Goalkeeper of the Year and head coach Jeff Hosler voted as the conference's Coach of the Year.
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Hosler led MSU to its best regular-season finish in program history in 2022, booking a 14-1-3 overall record with an unblemished 9-0-1 mark in the Big Ten Conference. Hosler won the third Big Ten Coach of the Year award in program history and first since the 2000 campaign. Previous Spartan skipper Tom Saxton took home both of MSU's prior awards in 1994, the league's first women's soccer season, and 2000.
"It's great to be recognized for the work that our staff has done," Hosler said. "I'm very, very blessed to have an incredible staff. They work incredibly hard, and they do a good job in all aspects of helping to build this program. They have developed incredibly special relationships with our players, and continue to build on those relationships. This award, to me, really signifies a great team season and the work that this group has put in. To see this award, it's really a reflection of what our players have accomplished this season."
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Kozal booked her second-straight Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year honor and became Michigan State's first unanimous selection for the award, earning a spot as an All-Big Ten First Team representative in the process. Kozal has stood watch over the best defensive unit in NCAA Division I, allowing a goals-against average of 0.41 while leading the Big Ten in shutouts (10), shutouts per game (0.56) and save percentage (0.877). She becomes the conference's third two-time recipient of the award, and just the second student-athlete to earn the accolade in consecutive seasons.
"Obviously it's super exciting to receive this kind of recognition, not only for me, but for the team as well," Kozal said. "I owe it all to the back line, and to the whole team really. We just continue to give our best every single day, and giving our best is what leads to this kind of recognition. It's super exciting for all of our players, but mainly our team as a whole. We are blessed and excited to be having the success that we are this season. Hopefully, we can continue to get the results we work for every day."
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DeBeau became Michigan State's first Forward of the Year since the award's inception in 2011. The only previous Spartan to earn the conference's Offensive Player of the Year award was MSU Athletics Hall-of-Famer Laura (Heyboer) Heethuis, who earned the accolade by unanimous vote of the league's coaches. DeBeau stands tied atop the Big Ten leaderboard in goals scored with 10, ranking second in goals per game (0.59), points (23) and points per game (1.35). In the last week alone, the Shelby Township, Michigan, native logged the only MSU goals in a pair of 1-0 results over then-No. 17 Ohio State and then-No. 14 Rutgers to clinch MSU's first official Big Ten title. DeBeau also earned a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team.
"This is definitely a confidence boost for me," DeBeau stated. "When I think about all of the situations my teammates have put me in to succeed, I'm extremely grateful to them. Without the success that our team has experienced this season, none of us would be in position to receive any awards or accolades. This 9-0-1 season in the Big Ten is the real reason why I've been given this opportunity. Without my teammates, I would never have been in position to be named Big Ten Forward of the Year, so I truly owe it all to them."
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Diodati stood out as one of the most impressive graduate transfers in program history during the 2022 season, making history as the first Spartan to chronicle the Big Ten's highest defensive honor. A four-year standout at Colgate and All-Patriot League player, Diodati has anchored the best scoring defense in the nation. With Diodati in the back line, MSU has allowed just seven goals in 18 games played, an average of less than 0.4 goals per game. Â Michigan State has compiled a league-best 12 shutouts, including seven of the 10 B1G battles. Diodati stands tied for third in the Big Ten with seven assists, garnering an All-Big Ten First Team nod in the process.
"I think that this is a testament to all of our players, and my teammates," Diodati said. "No matter how long we have been here together, it's such an honor to be at a school like Michigan State and have an opportunity to play in the Big Ten. I'm so grateful for that opportunity, and the chance to play with such amazing people each and every day. I can't stress enough the fact that this award would not have been possible without the support of my teammates both here and at Colgate. I'm so grateful to this coaching staff. This is an accumulation of all the support I've received over the years."
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The Green & White also landed a quartet of additional All-B1G honors, highlighted by junior midfielder Justina Gaynor's selection to the All-Big Ten First Team. Senior defender Raegan Cox earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team, while freshman midfielder Emerson Sargeant landed Michigan State's first placement on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team since Bria Schrotenboer took home the same accolade in 2019.
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The Big Ten also recognized 14 Sportsmanship Award honorees, with one representative from each institution. Each student-athlete chosen has distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Each student-athlete must also be in good academic standing and demonstrate good citizenship outside of the competition field. Michigan State selected fifth-year defender Abby Gardiner for the award. Gardiner has started all 18 games this season and boasts the team's highest GPA.
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Sixth-ranked and top-seeded Michigan State women's soccer returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 30, as the Green & White welcome the eighth-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers to DeMartin Stadium in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament.
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FOLLOW THE SPARTANS
Visit MSUSpartans.com for more information on Michigan State women's soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan women's soccer team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by following @MSU_WSoccer.
Players Mentioned
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M/D
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
D
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