New MSU women’s soccer coach Jeff Hosler lands transfer forward Ava Cook
MSU forward Gia Wahlberg celebrates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal against Bowling Green on Sept. 12, 2019/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications
June 25, 2021
EAST LANSING—One of Jeff Hosler’s best players is following him to East Lansing.
Forward Ava Cook, who spent the last four seasons playing for Hosler at Grand Valley State, transferred to MSU on Friday afternoon. She is a massive addition for a Spartan team that is tentatively set to see two forwards, Alexandra Thomas and Michelle Herring, graduate.
Blessed to share that I will be pursuing my final semester of eligibility to play at MSU! I cannot thank everyone at GVSU enough for giving me the best four years of my life, I would not be the person I am today without them. Here’s to the next chapter! #GOGREEN 💚⚽️ pic.twitter.com/6orJm0vDxz
— ava (@avaaaaa) June 25, 2021
Both players, along with midfielders Danielle Stephan and Bella Jodzis, as well as defender Athena Biondi, have the opportunity to return for another year of competition due to the NCAA’s blanket COVID-19 waiver for all fall and spring sport athletes.
During her time at Grand Valley, Cook scored 76 goals and was named an Unanimous All-American selection in 2018 and 2019. She was also a four-time All-GLIAC selection and received conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2017. Her 76 career goals are the best mark out of any current player in the country; she, along with Hosler, helped lead Grand Valley to a Division II national championship in 2019.
As it currently stands, the Spartans are set to return their top two scorers from a season ago in defender Zivana Labovic and forward Gia Wahlberg. Labovic, Wahlberg and Cook will be instrumental in trying to lift MSU to its first winning season since 2015.
