DeBeau, Kozal Selected by Portland Thorns FC in 2023 NWSL Draft
2023 NWSL Draft Night Central
1/12/2023
PHILADELPHIA – Michigan State women’s soccer saw two players drafted in the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Draft presented by Ally, marking the first time multiple Spartans had been selected in program history.
Senior forward Lauren DeBeau was the first Spartan off the board, taken with the 12th pick in the second round by Portland Thorns FC. The Pacific Northwest came calling once again, as the Thorns took graduate goalkeeper Lauren Kozal with the eighth pick of the third round.
MICHIGAN STATE'S 2023 NWSL DRAFT SELECTIONS
RD 2 | PK 12 | LAUREN DEBEAU | PORTLAND THORNS FC
RD 3 | PK 8 | LAUREN KOZAL | PORTLAND THORNS FC
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE WOMEN'S SOCCER
The 2022 Michigan State women's soccer team cemented its place in history as the first officially recognized Big Ten regular season champion in school history, publishing a single-season program record 17-3-3 overall mark coupled with an untouched 9-0-1 ledger in B1G action. MSU advanced to the championship match of the Big Ten Tournament for the first time in school history, and battled to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in program history.
In the 50th Anniversary season of Title IX, Michigan State officially became the second Big Ten Champion in the 2022-23 academic year. The league title marked the first championship for Michigan State Athletics under the direction of second-year Director of Athletics Alan Haller, who was hired officially on Sept. 1, 2021. The women's soccer program took home the first outright Big Ten Championship for any Spartan Athletics program since women's golf earned the 2020-21 league title.
The Green & White saw Kozal earn United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America accolades, while DeBeau took home Second Team All-America distinction. The Spartans garnered 11 different B1G Yearly Accolades, marking a program record for annual awards in a single season. The Spartans earned four individual accolades as voted on by the league's 14 coaches, with DeBeau named Forward of the Year, Diodati chosen as Defender of the Year, Kozal announced as Goalkeeper of the Year and head coach Jeff Hosler voted as the conference's Coach of the Year. Hosler, in addition to the entire MSU women's soccer staff, took home United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year accolades. In the classroom, four Spartans were named United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Americans. MSU also saw a total of six student-athletes garner College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, in addition to Diodati being named a CSC First Team Academic All-American.
I’m so blessed for the opportunity to not only work with such talented players, but ones that truly believed in our team-first process that still has a focus on individual player development. This whole group was instrumental in not only starting to build out a culture, but laying a very solid foundation for which it will stand and thrive on for many years to comeHead Coach Jeff Hosler
ROUND 2 | PICK 12 | PORTLAND THORNS FC
LAUREN DEBEAU
#2 | Forward | 5'4 | Shelby Township, Mich.
ABOUT LAUREN DEBEAU
One of the most dynamic individual athletes in college soccer, DeBeau capped off a stellar two years in East Lansing with recognition by United Soccer Coaches as a Second Team All-American. The Shelby Township, Michigan, native became the first student-athlete in MSU history to take home the Big Ten Forward of the Year Award, simultaneously landing a placement on the All-Big Ten First Team by unanimous vote of the league's coaches. DeBeau started and played in 22 games this season, leading the Spartans in goals scored with 11 in addition to overall scoring, tallying 26 points. The versatile playmaker led the Big Ten Conference with five game-winning goals in 2022. She took home CSC Academic All-District honors, as well as First Team United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America and Academic All-Big Ten designations for her work in the classroom.
A 2021 transfer to Michigan State following two seasons at Central Michigan, DeBeau burst onto the scene in East Lansing during MSU's resurgent 2021 campaign that saw the Spartans improve from 1-10-1 the year prior to 10-5-3 overall. She was one of seven Spartan fielders to start all 18 matches for the Green & White, totaling over 1,000 minutes of work in the process. She sent in a pair of goals and two assists on the season in her junior campaign.
DeBeau was drafted 24th overall by the 2022 NWSL Champion Portland Thorns FC. The Thorns published a 10-3-9 overall record last season and led the league in scoring with 49 goals a year ago. DeBeau will continue her soccer career under the tutelage of newly-appointed head coach Mike Norris, who served as an assistant with the organization last season. The Thorns are led on the field by team captain and longtime NWSL veteran Christine Sinclair.
Lauren made a huge statement in the way she performed this season. She embraced a new role in going from playmaker to goal scorer and was every bit the difference-maker in the attack for us. The big plays she made in key moments attribute to her competitive nature and mentality.Head Coach Jeff Hosler
The BEST forward in the Big Ten has a new home. Lauren DeBeau is about to be a force to be reckoned with at the next level.@ThornsFC, you’re getting a beast.#GoGreen | #NWSLDraft2023 pic.twitter.com/yLCj4jNai8
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) January 13, 2023
DEBEAU'S ATHLETE BIO
2022: One of the most dynamic individual athletes in college soccer, she garnered Second Team All-America laurels according to United Soccer Coaches… Became the first student-athlete in MSU history to take home the Big Ten Forward of the Year Award... Was unanimously named to the All-Big Ten First Team by the league’s coaches... Played and started in 22 games, leading Michigan State in total goals (11) and overall scoring (26)… Scored a Big Ten-best five game-winning goals in 2022… Booked a goal in one shot attempt at Bowling Green and saw 68 minutes of action (8/18)… Went 58 minutes in the home opener against Central Michigan, chronicling a goal and five shots in the 7-0 rout (8/25)… Booked her third goal in four games with 71 minutes against Binghamton (8/28)… Dished out her first assist of the year in the upset of No. 19 Colorado, adding five shots of her own with three on target (9/11)… Saw the first hat trick of her collegiate career in the Big Ten-opening win over Illinois on the road (9/18)… Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 20 following her first three-goal effort... Hit the game winning goal in the first half at Maryland, paving the way for the 4-0 shutout (10/2)… Logged her eighth goal of the season in a win over Michigan (10/9)… Assisted on the only goal in a 1-0 victory against Indiana (10/13)… Tallied the only goals in two 1-0 wins against Ohio State and Rutgers to end the regular season (10/20, 10/23)… Named both the TopDrawerSoccer and College Soccer News National Player of the Week following her historic performances against the Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights... Scored a banger from over 20-yards out in the Big Ten Championship match against Penn State (11/6)… Helped guide Michigan State to the B1G Tournament Title game for the first time in program history... Assisted on Camryn Evans’ game-winning goal against Milwaukee that propelled the Spartans to the second round of the NCAA Championships for just the third time in school history... Named a CSC Academic All-District selection and First Team United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American, as well as an Academic All-Big Ten designee.
Fall 2021: Was one of seven Spartans to start all 18 matches this season, totaling over 1,000 minutes of field time … Recorded two goals and two assists on the season … Scored the game-winning goal against Eastern Michigan (8/22) … Again had the game-winner, and sole goal scored, in a 1-0 decision over Ohio State (10/10) … Tallied assists in back-to-back games at Central Michigan (8/26) and against Florida Atlantic (8/30) … Recorded a season-high four shot attempts in five different matches.
Spring 2021 (at Central Michigan): Selected to the Academic All-MAC Team … appeared in seven games, all starts … recorded an assist in win over Ball State (3/7) … totaled 21 shots (9 on goal).
2019 (at Central Michigan): Named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team … played in 17 games, making 16 starts … finished second on the team in goals (4) and points (9) … led CMU in shots (52) and shots on goal (26) … ranked sixth in the MAC in shots per game (3.06) … recorded a team season-high eight shots vs. Buffalo (10/24) … scored the game-winning goal in 2-1 victory at Kentucky (9/22) … also netted the game winner in 3-0 victory vs. Toledo (10/13) … scored goals at Ohio (10/18) and vs. Eastern Michigan (10/31).
Prior to MSU: Spent two years at CMU ... two-year varsity letterwinner at Eisenhower… three-time team captain … scored 63 goals and tallied 41 assists freshman-junior seasons … named All-M.A.C., all-county, all-region and all-state (2017-18) … member of the Michigan ODP team … played club soccer with Vardar ECNL for two years and the Carpathian Kickers (Sterling Heights) for eight years.
She’s a walking highlight reel… say hello to the BIG TEN FORWARD OF THE YEAR, Lauren DeBeau??#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/ARBNKNxTU0
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 27, 2022
Being drafted by Portland Thorns FC absolutely means the world to me. If I could tell my 7-year-old self that I would get the opportunity to play professional soccer, she would be screaming with joy. I also think about my parents and all that they have done for me. They used to drive me hours and hours across the country to different soccer tournaments. They watched me grow up and become the soccer player that I am today, and I am truly grateful for all that they sacrificed. Dreams truly can become reality through hard work. I am forever grateful to my teammates, coaches, friends and family that helped me make this dream come true.Lauren DeBeau
ROUND 3 | PICK 8 | PORTLAND THORNS FC
LAUREN KOZAL
#00 | Goalkeeper | 5'10 | Ada, Mich.
ABOUT LAUREN KOZAL
The premier goalkeeper in college soccer over the past two seasons, Kozal has developed a reputation as one of the elite leaders and shot-stoppers in women's soccer. During the 2022 campaign, she became the second MSU women's soccer player to be named a repeat All-American by United Soccer Coaches, garnering First Team laurels. The Ada, Michigan, native was the first Spartan in program history to be named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the highest award in collegiate soccer, after earning a place on the award's watch list in the preseason. Kozal bagged 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. In addition to her on-field accolades, Kozal logged a single-season MSU record for goalkeeper wins with 17. In the classroom, she was a CSC Academic All-District selection and First Team United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American, as well as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Kozal quickly made a name for herself as one of the best keepers in the league and was honored as Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year in her junior season. Kozal also took home All-Big Ten First Team recognition after notching a then-career best seven shutouts in 2021. Her efforts between the posts were instrumental in Michigan State's meteoric rise from a preseason No. 13 selection in B1G play, to a top-four placement in the final standings of the year. After redshirting her first year in East Lansing, Kozal started every remaining game of her Spartan career.
Kozal was drafted 32nd overall by Portland Thorns FC, joining DeBeau in the Pacific Northwest. The Thorns finished with the third-most effective defense in the NWSL, allowing only 24 goals last season while publishing the league's best goal differential at plus-25. Kozal begins her professional soccer career under Director of Goalkeeping, Nadine Angerer.
It's been such a pleasure watching the way Lauren has grown under Megan Link’s leadership into the nation’s very best player at her position. Lauren has not only embraced every challenge given to her, but excelled and done it in very big championship moments. She is a shining example of leaving a place better than the way she found it.Head Coach Jeff Hosler
Since she first took the field in 2019, she guarded DeMartin Stadium with her life. Now, Lauren Kozal is ready to do the same in Portland@ThornsFC, not only have you drafted two Spartans… you just drafted the best keeper in America??#GoGreen | #NWSLDraft2023 pic.twitter.com/yrYVFVaG7e
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) January 13, 2023
KOZAL'S ATHLETE BIO
2022: Became the second Michigan State women’s soccer player to be named a repeat All-American by United Soccer Coaches, garnering First Team laurels… Was the first Spartan in program history to be named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the highest award in collegiate soccer… 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... Logged a single-season MSU record for goalkeeper wins with 17... Started in goal in all 23 games for the Green & White, notching 63 saves against only 15 goals allowed for an astronomical goals-against average of 0.808… Notched 10 shutouts on the season in addition to two more combined shutouts… Made her season debut and started at Bowling Green, notching a shutout with three saves (8/18)… Earned her second-consecutive complete-game shutout at Cincinnati (8/21)… Named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week on 8/30 following her wins over CMU and Binghamton... Published a season-high eight saves in 90 minutes against Arkansas (9/4)... Put up a four-save shutout in the 3-0 rout of Illinois to open Big Ten play (9/18)... Pitched a five-save shutout in the scoreless draw against Iowa (9/22)… Had a historic seven-save outing that was highlighted by the NCAA Soccer social media channels in a 2-1 upset of then-No. 6 Penn State on the road (9/29)… Earned another complete game shutout against Maryland on the road (10/2)… Garnered her second Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week award of the season following her performances against the Nittany Lions and Terrapins... Logged shutouts seven and eight on the season against Michigan and Indiana (10/9, 10/13)… Finished the regular season with two more shutouts at Ohio State and at home against Rutgers (10/20, 10/23), garnering a league record in both single-season and career B1G Player of the Week Awards in the process… Steered the top-seeded Spartans to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game for the first time in program history... Stood watch between the posts as MSU set a single-season program win record (17) which saw the Green & White reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in school history... Became the second Spartan named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List in program history prior to the season… Named a United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper to Watch and Big Ten Player to Watch… Earned recognition as a CSC Academic All-District selection and First Team United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American, as well as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Fall 2021: Quickly made a name for herself as one of the best keepers in the league and was honored as Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year in her junior season … After redshirting her first year, has started every game of her Spartan career so far (49 gp/gs) … Spent every minute of every game in goal for the Spartans, totaling 1,680 minutes of play … Earned seven shutout wins for the Green and White, the sixth-most in Spartan history … Had a career-low 13 goals allowed for a goals-against average of .70 … Totaled a career-high 81 saves, averaging 4.5 saves per game … Led the Big Ten in save percentage with 86.2 percent accuracy in goal … Was second in the league in goals-against average and saves per game with 4.41, and third in shutouts recorded … Twice named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week (9/21 and 10/12) after shutout performances ... Earned Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch honors … Named the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year and to the All-Big Ten First Team … Earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region and All-America honors … CoSIDA Academic All-District ... United Soccer Coaches First Team Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten selection.
2020-21: Started in all 12 games, with one shutout … Finished the season with 54 total saves and a 1.85 GAA … Had a season-high seven saves (.500 save%) vs. Michigan (3/13) … had six saves in a 2-0 shutout win over Nebraska (2/25) … Also had six saves in the next game, vs. Minnesota (3/1) … Totaled five saves at Purdue (3/31) and vs. Ohio State (4/3) … Tied her season-high with seven saves in the season finale vs. Rutgers (4/8) ... Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
2019: Started in all 19 games, with five shutouts ... Finished the season with 79 total saves and a 1.52 GAA … Made three saves vs. Utah Valley (8/22) and three saves vs. Marshall (8/25) ... Earned her first career shutout vs. Eastern Michigan (8/29) ... Had a then career-high five saves vs. Butler (9/5) ... Earned her second career shutout vs. Detroit Mercy (9/8) ... Made four saves in the team’s 3-2 overtime victory vs. Bowling Green (9/12) ... Earned her third shutout of the season on the road at Oakland (9/15) ... Had a new career-high six saves in the first half vs. No. 23 Penn State (9/22) ... Earned her fourth shutout in the team’s first conference win of the season against Purdue (9/29) ... Earned her fifth shutout in a draw with Minnesota, making a new then career-high nine saves (10/3) ... Had a new career-high 11 saves against No. 16 Michigan (10/19) … Had three saves in the season finale vs. Indiana (10/30) ... Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten.
2018: Did not compete.
Prior to MSU: Three-year letter winner in soccer and basketball ... Three-time All-District, two-time All-Conference and All-Region selection, and All-State honorable mention one year ... Helped Forest Hills to a co-conference championship, district championship, regional championship, and was a state runner-up in her junior year ... District and regional championship in her sophomore year as well as state runner-up ... Conference champion in her freshman year ... Elected captain of the soccer team in her junior year and was a two-year captain of the basketball team ... State Cup champion in three consecutive years as a member of Midwest United FC ... Also a member the Midwest United Development Academy... and national championship runner-up in 2017.
The UNANIMOUS BIG TEN GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR.
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) October 27, 2022
Take a bow, Lauren Kozal?????#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/DHYudq8Asl
It means the world to me getting drafted into the NWSL by Portland Thorns FC. I am so thankful for the opportunity to compete at the highest level alongside some of the best athletes in the world. To know that the countless hours of hard work and challenges that I have faced leading to this point were all worth it; that is an incredible feeling to say the least. It truly is an honor to join the ranks of some of the best soccer players in the world, and I cannot wait for the opportunity to get to work this season and continue developing my skills as a teammate and individual. I am so thankful to everyone involved in helping me become who I am today.Lauren Kozal
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