Lauren Kozal

Lauren Kozal

Kozal with the Portland Thorns in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-07-11) July 11, 2000 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth	Ada, Michigan
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	GC Zurich
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	Michigan State Spartans	70	(0)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022	Midwest United	8	(0)
2023–2024	Portland Thorns	0	(0)
2024	→ Tampa Bay Sun (loan)	1	(0)
2025–	GC Zurich	0	(0)
International career^‡
2023	United States U-23	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 3, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 13, 2023

Lauren Kozal (born July 1, 2000) is an American professional soccer goalkeeper for the GC Zurich in the Swiss Women's Super League.

Youth career

Kozal attended Forest Hills Northern High School, where she played varsity soccer and basketball. She was captain of the soccer team her junior year and a three-time captain of the women's basketball team.[2] Kozal won four consecutive State Cup championships with Midwest United FC and was a member of the club's development academy.[3]

Collegiate career

Kozal attended Michigan State University. She made 70 appearances at goalkeeper for the Spartans from 2019 to 2022.[3] She was twice named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year.[4][5] In 2022, she was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and was elected unanimously to the All-Big Ten First Team.[4]

Club career

In 2022, Kozal made 8 appearances for Midwest United FC in the USL W League.[6]

In 2023, she was drafted by Portland Thorns FC as the 32nd pick of the 2023 NWSL Draft. Kozal signed a one-year contract with the club, with an option for an additional year.[5]

In September 2024, Portland loaned Kozal to USL Super League club Tampa Bay Sun FC for the remainder of the NWSL season.[7] Kozal made her debut for the Sun in a 3–0 win over DC Power FC on October 2.[8]

On December 11, 2024 Thorns announced Kozal's contract had expired and she was a free agent.[9]

International career

Lauren Kozal was called up to the United States under-23 team in February 2023[10] for two friendly matches against France. She made half-length appearances in both games. [11] [12]

Honors

Individual

• NCAA Division I First-Team All-America: 2022
• Big Ten Conference Goalkeeper of the Year: 2022

References

1. "Lauren Kozal - Player Details - Portland Thorns". Archived from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
2. "Basketball a family tradition for Kozal family at Forest Hills Northern". MLive. 2017-02-10. Archived from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
3. "Lauren Kozal - Information". Michigan State University Spartans. Archived from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
4. "Big Ten Conference Announces 2022 Women's Soccer Postseason Honors". Archived from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
5. "Thorns FC sign forward Izzy D'Aquila, goalkeeper Lauren Kozal". Portland Thorns. Archived from the original on 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
6. "Lauren Kozal GK Game Log - USL W League". USL W League. Archived from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
7. "PORTLAND THORNS FC LOAN GOALKEEPER LAUREN KOZAL TO TAMPA BAY SUN FC". Thorns.com. Portland Thorns. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
8. "Sun Win in Dominant Fashion vs D.C." TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
9. https://www.thorns.com/news/end-of-season-contract-updates-2024
10. Phuoc Nguyen (February 16, 2023). "Lauren Kozal: On her U-23 WYNT Call-Up, France, & the Nadine Angerer Effect". Stumptown Footy.
11. "U.S. Under-23 Women's Youth National Draws France 1-1 To Finish Trip To Paris". February 20, 2023.
12. "U.S. Under-23 Women's Youth National Downs France, 2-0, Outside Paris". February 19, 2023.

External links

• Lauren Kozal at Soccerway.com