Justina Gaynor earns TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week honors

MSU+midfielder%2Fdefender+Justina+Gaynor+controls+the+ball+during+the+Spartans+1-0+loss+to+No.+16+Michigan+on+Oct.+14%2C+2021%2F+Photo+Credit%3A+MSU+Athletic+Communications

MSU midfielder/defender Justina Gaynor controls the ball during the Spartans’ 1-0 loss to No. 16 Michigan on Oct. 14, 2021/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Jack Latterman, General Assignment Reporter

EAST LANSING– Michigan State midfielder Justina Gaynor was named in the TopDrawerSoccer National Women’s Team of the Week as an honorable mention on Tuesday.

The junior from Shelby Township, Michigan, attempted a trio of shots, with one finding the back of the net on Sunday, Sept.25 against Purdue. Gaynor’s performance lifted the Spartans to a 3-1 victory over the Boilermakers, keeping MSU undefeated in the Big Ten this season.  

With just twenty athletes per week chosen from all of Division I women’s soccer, this is a huge accomplishment for the transfer from Butler, who has started every game this season for MSU and has been prolific on both sides of the ball.

She joins forwards Camryn Evans and Lauren DeBeau as the only Spartans earning awards to this point in the season. Gaynor was a member of the Nationals Developmental Academy and was a three-time US Youth Soccer National champion. 

The only additional Big Ten player listed in the Team of the Week alongside Gaynor is Penn State forward Penelope Hocking.  

Michigan State (7-1-3) will travel to Penn State on Thursday, Sept.29, before continuing its road trip to Maryland on Sunday, Oct.2.