Michigan State University Athletics
MSU’s Kozal, White and Diodati Named Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players Watch
8/15/2022 9:35:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Spartans were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's soccer players Lauren Kozal, Sam White and Ruby Diodati were named Big Ten Players to Watch by the league on Monday.
The conference office also announced the preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches with MSU tabbed sixth.
Kozal, a senior goalkeeper, earned United Soccer Coaches third-team All-American honors at the conclusion of last season. She is also the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. She recently was named a Division I Goalkeeper to Watch by the United Soccer Coaches. Last season, Kozal held the highest save percentage of any goalkeeper in the Big Ten (.862).
White, a graduate senior defender, earned second-team region honors as a defender last season for MSU. She was named a Division I defender to watch by the United Soccer Coaches. Having started every game in 2021, White continued her streak of making a start in every game of her Spartan career, totaling 67 so far. White recorded 1,540 minutes on the field last season, the most minutes of any field player.
"I think with the years that Lauren Kozal and Sam White had here last fall, those two are household names around the league and region," MSU head coach Jeff Hosler said. "They're clearly cornerstones for us. They play on the spine as goalkeeper and center back as key positions. They were a big reason why we had success last year, not just in their performance, but also their leadership.
Diodati, a graduate senior defender, comes to Michigan State from Colgate, where she earned first-team All-Patriot League honors. Last season the defender ranked fourth in the league in assists with six. She also added three goals, starting all 17 games for the Raiders.
"Ruby is an incredibly mature player. She trains and approaches things like a pro," Hosler said. "She checked pretty much every box of things you can do with a mid-major level between being all conference every year and being a United Soccer Coaches All-Region player of multiple times. She brings out an incredible mentality, and she works really hard. She gives us another weapon, not just offensively with things that she does, but the way we want to play with our build out is a pretty lethal option on set pieces as well."
After ending last season with a 10-4-3 overall record and 5-4-1 mark in B1G play, Michigan State was picked to finish sixth in the conference this season. Penn State and Rutgers were tied to finish first. Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State were voted third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Spartans open the 2022 regular season on Thursday, Aug. 18 at Bowling Green at 7 p.m.
2022 BIG TEN WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1.(tie) Penn State
(tie) Rutgers
3. Michigan
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio State
6. Michigan State
7. Purdue
8. Iowa
9. Minnesota
10. Indiana
11. Northwestern
12. Nebraska
13. Maryland
14. Illinois
The conference office also announced the preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches with MSU tabbed sixth.
Kozal, a senior goalkeeper, earned United Soccer Coaches third-team All-American honors at the conclusion of last season. She is also the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. She recently was named a Division I Goalkeeper to Watch by the United Soccer Coaches. Last season, Kozal held the highest save percentage of any goalkeeper in the Big Ten (.862).
White, a graduate senior defender, earned second-team region honors as a defender last season for MSU. She was named a Division I defender to watch by the United Soccer Coaches. Having started every game in 2021, White continued her streak of making a start in every game of her Spartan career, totaling 67 so far. White recorded 1,540 minutes on the field last season, the most minutes of any field player.
"I think with the years that Lauren Kozal and Sam White had here last fall, those two are household names around the league and region," MSU head coach Jeff Hosler said. "They're clearly cornerstones for us. They play on the spine as goalkeeper and center back as key positions. They were a big reason why we had success last year, not just in their performance, but also their leadership.
Diodati, a graduate senior defender, comes to Michigan State from Colgate, where she earned first-team All-Patriot League honors. Last season the defender ranked fourth in the league in assists with six. She also added three goals, starting all 17 games for the Raiders.
"Ruby is an incredibly mature player. She trains and approaches things like a pro," Hosler said. "She checked pretty much every box of things you can do with a mid-major level between being all conference every year and being a United Soccer Coaches All-Region player of multiple times. She brings out an incredible mentality, and she works really hard. She gives us another weapon, not just offensively with things that she does, but the way we want to play with our build out is a pretty lethal option on set pieces as well."
After ending last season with a 10-4-3 overall record and 5-4-1 mark in B1G play, Michigan State was picked to finish sixth in the conference this season. Penn State and Rutgers were tied to finish first. Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State were voted third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Spartans open the 2022 regular season on Thursday, Aug. 18 at Bowling Green at 7 p.m.
2022 BIG TEN WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1.(tie) Penn State
(tie) Rutgers
3. Michigan
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio State
6. Michigan State
7. Purdue
8. Iowa
9. Minnesota
10. Indiana
11. Northwestern
12. Nebraska
13. Maryland
14. Illinois
Players Mentioned
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