Four Spartans Earn Women’s Soccer Preseason Honors

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women’s soccer players Regan Dalton, Justina Gaynor and Bella Najera were named Big Ten Players to Watch for the 2024 season, as announced by the conference Tuesday. Gaynor was also named a Midfielder to Watch by the United Soccer Coaches alongside graduate transfer Meg Hughes, who was named a Forward to Watch. 

Gaynor, the reigning Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, earns a spot on both the conference and United Soccer Coaches Player to Watch lists for the second-straight year. As a senior in 2023, she started in all 22 matches and finished in a tie for most points on the team with 24 from six goals and a team-high 12 assists. The graduate student collected First Team All-Big Ten and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-North Region accolades last season. 

Dalton had a breakout season in 2023, totaling five points from five assists in 22 starts in the Spartan midfield. She was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and landed a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week on Oct. 10, 2023, after leading the Spartans to a road victory at Michigan.  

Najera, a sophomore midfielder, was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-Big Ten in 2023 after putting together a spectacular rookie campaign in the Green and White. She totaled a team-high nine goals while adding six assists for 24 points. 

Hughes joins the Spartans for her fifth year of eligibility after spending four seasons at Providence. With the Friars, Hughes earned All-BIG EAST honors four times and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region team twice. She finished her career at Providence with 59 points from 23 goals and 13 assists and led the Friars in points during her freshman, sophomore and senior seasons. 

MSU was picked third in the Big Ten preseason poll. UCLA took the top spot, followed by Penn State. 

13th-ranked Michigan State opens the regular season on the road at No. 15 Notre Dame on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.