IRVING, Texas - The University of Colorado women's soccer team placed three players on 2009 All-Big 12 teams, the league office announced Wednesday.
Senior forward Nikki Marshall earned Big 12 First Team honors for the fourth consecutive year, making her just the second Buffalo in program history to do so, joining former Buff Fran Munnelly (2002-05). With eight goals and one assist so far this season, Marshall is CU's all-time leading scorer with 93 points and 42 goals and she leads the Buffs offensively with 17 points.
Freshman defender Amy Barczuk was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, adding to the total of 13 Second Team All-Big 12 selections that Colorado has received in the 14-year history of the conference.
Barczuk, who is the only freshman that has started every game for the Buffs, was also named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team, along with fellow freshman Erin Bricker. Bricker owns a pair of goals and a team-high four assists so far this year.
The Big 12 Soccer Championship opens quarterfinal action today at the Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, Texas and Colorado is slated to face Texas at 2 p.m. CT. Visit www.Big12sports.com to follow the action live.
2009 All-Big 12 Conference Soccer Awards
Coach of the Year
Bryan Blitz, Missouri
Offensive Player of the Year
Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska, F, Fr.
Defensive Player of the Year
Crystal Wagner, Missouri, D, Sr.
Rookie of the Year
Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska, F, Fr.
All-Big 12 First Team
GK: Adrianna Franch, Oklahoma State, Fr., Salina, Kan.
D: Crystal Wagner, Missouri, Sr., Houston, Texas
D: Carly Peetz, Nebraska, Sr., Lincoln, Neb.
D: Melinda Mercado, Oklahoma State, So., Sapulpa, Okla.
MF: Taylor Lytle, Texas Tech, So., Las Cruces, New Mexico
MF: Rachel Shipley, Texas A&M, Jr., Plano, Texas
MF: Annika Niemeier, Oklahoma State, Sr., Wylie, Texas
F: Nikki Marshall, Colorado, Sr., Mead, Colo.
F: Whitney Palmer, Oklahoma, Jr., Plano, Texas
F: Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska, Fr., Lee's Summit, Mo.
F: Kristin Andrighetto, Missouri, Sr., Pleasant Hill, Calif.
All-Big 12 Second Team
GK: Tasha Dittamore, Missouri, Sr., Granite City, Ill.
D: Amy Barczuk, Colorado, Fr., Centennial, Colo.
D: Emily Peterson, Texas A&M, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.
D: Estelle Johnson, Kansas, Sr., Fort Collins, Colo.
MF: Monica Dolinsky, Kansas, Sr., Carmel, Ind.
MF: Molly Thomas, Nebraska, So., Omaha, Neb.
MF: Alyssa Mautz, Texas A&M, Jr., O'Fallen, Mo.
F: Whitney Hooper, Texas A&M, Jr., Houston, Texas
F: Kasey Langdon, Oklahoma State, Sr., Wylie, Texas
F: Michelle Collins, Missouri, Sr., Naperville, Ill.
F: Whitney Berry, Kansas, Fr., Wichita, Kan.
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team**
GK: Adrianna Franch, Oklahoma State, Fr., Salina, Kan.
D: Amy Barczuk, Colorado, Fr., Centennial, Colo.
D: Carson Michalowski, Oklahoma State, Fr., Plano, Texas
D: Morgan Johnson, Texas Tech, Fr., Arlington, Texas
D: Mary Grace Schmidt, Texas A&M, Fr., Orange, Calif.
MF: Sophie Campise, Texas, Fr., Dallas, Texas
MF: Tiffini Smith, Texas Tech, Fr., Fort Worth, Texas
MF: Erin Bricker, Colorado, Fr., Moraga, Calif.
F: Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska, Fr., Lee's Summit, Mo.
F: Dawn Ward, Texas Tech, Fr., Midland, Texas
F: Whitney Berry, Kansas, Fr., Wichita, Kan.
F: Hannah Higgins, Texas, Fr., Flower Mound, Texas
**Ties in voting created additional newcomer team positions
