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ROSEMONT, Ill. - Seven Michigan State women's soccer players earned All-Big Ten postseason honors, as announced by the conference Friday.

MSU's seven all-conference honorees mark the most in program history, topping its previous high of six set in 2022.

Graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor landed a spot on the first team for the third-straight year, joining MSU Hall of Famer Laura (Heyboer) Heethius as the second Spartan to collect three or more First Team All-Big Ten Honors. The Shelby Township, Michigan, native has played in 17 of MSU's 18 matches this season, totaling 14 points from four goals and a team-high six assists. All four of Gaynor's goals this season have been game-winners.

Junior defender Maggie Illig and graduate forward Meg Hughes were recognized as Second Team All-Big honorees, each earning their first All-B1G postseason honors. Illig, a native of Troy, Missouri, is in her second season in a starting center back role after playing her first season at MSU as a forward. She has played in all 18 matches for the Spartans this season and has totaled 1,346 minutes, the most of any field player. Illig has registered three points this season from one goal and one assist and has helped the Spartans to 10 shutouts.

Hughes, a graduate transfer and four-time All-BIG EAST selection at Providence, leads MSU in scoring (19 points) and goals scored (7) this season. The Rochester, Massachusetts, native has played in all 18 games for the Spartans this season and made 17 starts.

Sophomore midfielder Bella Najera collected Third Team All-Big Ten honors for the second-consecutive season. Najera, who hails from St. Charles, Illinois, is one of three Spartans to start in all 18 games this season. She has totaled 14 points from six goals and a pair of assists to rank second on the team in scoring.

Graduate goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks joined Najera on the All-Big Ten Third Team, earning her first all-conference award. In her second season as a Spartan, the Upper Marlboro, Maryland, native has been unstoppable in goal, registering eight shutouts and 10 wins. Parks holds a 0.75 goals-against average and 0.848 save percentage this season and was twice named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week in 2024. She also became the first Spartan goalkeeper to score a goal after converting on a penalty kick at Ohio State on Sept. 26.

For the first time since 2006 (Lauren Sinacola and Lauren Hill), MSU had multiple players named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Midfielder Kaleigh McPherson captured the honor, while defender Julia Belli was the only freshman in the league to receive a unanimous selection to the team. Belli has started every game on the back line for MSU, registering two points from one goal in 1,313 minutes played. McPherson, who earned the starting role as a defensive midfielder in 12 of MSU's last three games, scored her first collegiate goal against Purdue in MSU's regular-season finale to recieve Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors on Oct. 29.

The Big Ten also recognized 18 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. Graduate midfielder Gabby Mueller was honored as MSU's 2024 recipient.

Fourth-seeded MSU opens Big Ten Tournament play against fifth-seeded Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET from Minnesota's Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.


2024 Big Ten Women's Soccer Postseason Honors

Coach of the Year: Jane Alukonis, USC
Forward of the Year: Khyah Harper, Sr., Minnesota
Midfielder of the Year: Helena Sampaio, Sr., USC
Defender of the Year: Lilly Reale, Sr., UCLA
Goalkeeper of the Year: Laurence Gladu, Gr., USC
Freshman of the Year: Nicki Fraser, UCLA

First Team All-Big Ten

FORWARD
Khyah Harper, Sr., Minnesota
SARAH WEBER, Sr., Nebraska
KAILYN DUDUKOVICH, Sr., Ohio State
Kaitlyn MacBean, RS-Sr., Penn State
Maile Hayes, Sr., USC
Ioanna Papatheodorou, Sr., Washington

MIDFIELD
Justina Gaynor, Gr., Michigan State
Sophia Boman, Gr., Minnesota
Amanda Schlueter, So., Ohio State
Sofia Cook, Jr., UCLA
Helena Sampaio, Sr., USC

DEFENSE
Emily Mason, Sr., Rutgers
LILLY REALE, Sr., UCLA
BROOKLYN COURTNALL, Sr., USC

GOALKEEPER
Laurence Gladu, Gr., USC

Second Team All-Big Ten*

FORWARD
Sarah Foley, Jr., Illinois
Meg Hughes, Gr., Michigan State
Riley Tiernan, Sr., Rutgers
Quincy McMahon, Sr., UCLA

MIDFIELD
Maggie Johnston, Gr., Iowa
Paige Kalal, So., Minnesota
Jordan Fusco, Sr., Penn State
Maria Alagoa, Sr., USC

DEFENSE
Millie Greer, So., Iowa
Maggie Illig, Jr., Michigan State
Ava Bramblett, So., Ohio State
Mieke Schiemann, Sr., Penn State
Jayden Perry, Sr., UCLA
Kolo Suliafu, Jr., Washington
Hailey Baumann, So., Wisconsin

GOALKEEPER
Ryan Campbell, Gr., UCLA

Third Team All-Big Ten

FORWARD
Aryssa Mahrt, Gr., Wisconsin
Kayla Colbert, Sr., USC
Simone Jackson, Sr., USC

MIDFIELD
Sofia Bush, So., Iowa
Bella Najera, So., Michigan State
Val Vargas, So., UCLA
Ashley Martinez, Sr., Wisconsin

DEFENSE
Emma Phillips, Sr., Northwestern
Sydney Jones, Sr., Ohio State
Nicki Fraser, Fr., UCLA

GOALKEEPER
Kaitlyn Parks, Gr., Michigan State

All-Freshman Team

FORWARD
Berit Parten, Iowa
Jadin Bonham, Ohio State
Jordan Geis, UCLA
Faith George, USC

MIDFIELD
Kaleigh McPherson, Michigan State
Ava Greco, Ohio State
Shaela Bradley, Rutgers
Ines Derrien, USC

DEFENSE
JULIA BELLI, Michigan State
Ashley Thurk, Minnesota
Nicki Fraser, UCLA

Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Abby Lynch, Sr., Illinois
Olivia Smith, Jr., Indiana
Miah Schueller, Sr., Iowa
Hannah Schapiro, So., Maryland
Stephanie Sparkowski, Gr., Michigan
Gabby Mueller, Gr., Michigan State
Elizabeth Overberg, Sr., Minnesota
Nicola Hauk, Sr., Nebraska
Ingrid Falls, Gr., Northwestern
Sydney Jones, Sr., Ohio State
Makoto Nezu, Gr., Oregon
Devon Olive, Sr., Penn State
Abigail Roy, Sr., Purdue
Kassidy Banks, Sr., Rutgers
Quincy McMahon, Sr., UCLA
Brooklyn Courtnall, Sr., USC
Lucy Newlin, Jr., Washington
Riley Philbin, Sr., Wisconsin

*Additional player due to tie in voting
ALL CAPS denotes unanimous selection

Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.