University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell / Sport Sho
Pair of Incoming Freshmen Earn Accolades
6/17/2019 10:32:00 AM | Soccer
A pair of incoming freshmen for the Gophers' soccer team, Megan Plaschko and Katelyn Duong, earned honors this month as Gatorade Player of the Year and All-USA High School Girls Soccer first team, respectively.
Plaschko, an Eagan, Minnesota, native, was recognized as the best in Minnesota after notching 15 shutouts to bring her career total up to 44. Duong earned a spot on the first team, as recognized by USA Today, after a 21 goal and 26 assist season led her school to an undefeated record as the TopDrawerSoccer FAB 50 No. 1 team in the fall.
The duo are part of an incoming class featuring 10 student-athletes. For more information click here.Â
Plaschko, the Pioneer Press Player of the Year, Metro Player of the Year, and Ms.Soccer, posted a 70-7-4 career record in goal. She was also a member of Eagan's varsity hockey team as well as an academic standout as a National Honors Society member and Presidential Award Winner.
"She is focused, competitive, a fantastic shot stopper and we love her distribution from her feet," head coach Stef Golan said earlier this year. "We know our goalkeeper corps is getting better with this class!"
Duong, the West Co-MVP of the High School All-America game, is a three-time state champion with FC Portland and has attended age-level camps with USA soccer in several years. Academically, Duong is a member of the National Honors Society and a four-time honor roll honoree.
 "Katie is a special player who is going to make an immediate impact in the midfield for us," Golan said. "She is fantastic on the ball and can really dictate the tempo of a game."
The Gophers finished last season in extraordinary fashion with a penalty kick victory in the Big Ten Championship game before shutting out Auburn in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Championships.
They kick off the 2019 slate against North Dakota State on August 17 at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
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Plaschko, an Eagan, Minnesota, native, was recognized as the best in Minnesota after notching 15 shutouts to bring her career total up to 44. Duong earned a spot on the first team, as recognized by USA Today, after a 21 goal and 26 assist season led her school to an undefeated record as the TopDrawerSoccer FAB 50 No. 1 team in the fall.
The duo are part of an incoming class featuring 10 student-athletes. For more information click here.Â
Plaschko, the Pioneer Press Player of the Year, Metro Player of the Year, and Ms.Soccer, posted a 70-7-4 career record in goal. She was also a member of Eagan's varsity hockey team as well as an academic standout as a National Honors Society member and Presidential Award Winner.
"She is focused, competitive, a fantastic shot stopper and we love her distribution from her feet," head coach Stef Golan said earlier this year. "We know our goalkeeper corps is getting better with this class!"
Duong, the West Co-MVP of the High School All-America game, is a three-time state champion with FC Portland and has attended age-level camps with USA soccer in several years. Academically, Duong is a member of the National Honors Society and a four-time honor roll honoree.
 "Katie is a special player who is going to make an immediate impact in the midfield for us," Golan said. "She is fantastic on the ball and can really dictate the tempo of a game."
The Gophers finished last season in extraordinary fashion with a penalty kick victory in the Big Ten Championship game before shutting out Auburn in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Championships.
They kick off the 2019 slate against North Dakota State on August 17 at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
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