Cheslik Garners ESPNW National Player of the Week Honors
10/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- For her final two-game standout performances, Cheslik was named the ESPNW National Player of the Week on Thursday, October 27. The Northville, Michigan native was the first Michigan State women's soccer player to ever earn the honor. She also garnered Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week plaudits and was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on Tuesday, October 25.
For her final two-game standout performances, Cheslik was named the ESPNW National Player of the Week on Thursday, October 27. The Northville, Michigan native was the first Michigan State women's soccer player to ever earn the honor. She also garnered Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week plaudits and was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on Tuesday, October 25.
The Spartans started with No. 16 Penn State, a team that had yet to lose a Big Ten conference game. Cheslik assisted on the first goal of the game scored by junior Morgan McKerchie to get the momentum rolling for the Spartans with their 1-0 lead.
She didn't stop there, increasing MSU's lead to 2-0 right before the half in the 43rd minute. Sophomore Brittany Tanner sent the ball up to Cheslik who fought her way past one defender then chipped the ball over the defender.
In the second half after the Nittany Lions found some light and notched a goal, Cheslik put the nail in the coffin after intercepting a Penn State pass in Spartan territory and brought it all the way back to score an unassisted goal to give the Spartans the definitive 3-1 win over No. 16 Penn State.
Michigan State had one final game against Purdue, and Cheslik contributed a goal and an assist in the 2-1 overtime victory. After entering the halftime break with a 1-0 deficit MSU came out strong finding the equalizer in the 60th minute. Sophomore Lexy Warner scored the header on assists from freshman Sadie Misiewicz and Cheslik.
Cheslik finished the game off with an overtime, game-winning goal in the 100th minute on an assist from Misiewicz in the counter-attack. Cheslik put the season away with a shot above the goalkeeper's hands to the back of the net, tallying her second-consecutive game-winner.
She concluded the season as the Spartans' goals, assists and points leader. Cheslik nabbed five goals and four assists to finish with 14 points. Three of her goals this season were game-winners.
