After only her first year of duty as an SEC goalkeeper, MSU freshman Luisa Marzotto brought home three postseason awards at Wednesday night’s award ceremony in Orange Beach, Ala.
For her outstanding play throughout the year, Marzotto earned first team all-SEC, all-freshman team, and SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
“I feel like I’m over the moon,” said Marzotto. “I was a bit surprised, however, because of how many other good goalkeepers and players there are throughout the league.”
In just her first year in Maroon and White, Marzotto posted an overall record of 9-8-3 while setting an MSU school record with seven shutouts.
Marzotto allowed only 17 goals in over 1,760 minutes for an MSU-best goals against average of 0.87. She also led the SEC with 107 saves and totaled a .863 save percentage.
“Luisa is well deserving of such accolades as her performances this year were some of the best I have ever seen from a goalkeeper, collegiate or otherwise,” said MSU head coach Neil McGuire.
“These awards also show how our overall team defense improved tremendously, and much credit must be given to those in front of her.”
Marzotto always found a way to step up during the big games.
She recorded 13 saves in State’s 1-0 victory over then No. 25 Missouri. She made one diving save after another as she totaled nine saves as the Bulldogs upset No. 6 Florida 1-0 in the greatest win in school history, and she stopped all 15 shots in Friday’s tie against archrival Mississippi in Oxford.
“Everything she did this year meant so much to our team,” said forward Ngum Suh. “Every game she did her job well because she just knows how to do it. We always knew that every game we would get something good from her.”