Women's Soccer: Trio Earn All-America Status
December 17, 2007 04:18 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
December 17, 2007
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three West Virginia University women’s soccer players were named National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Americans, the association announced. Senior Ashley Banks and juniors Greer Barnes and Amanda Cicchini become the fifth, sixth and seventh NSCAA All-Americans in program history.
“Having three players named All-America is very pleasing,” said Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Ashley, Greer and Amanda were outstanding all season long in helping this team advance to the NCAA Elite Eight. It was a great season for our program.”
Barnes and Cicchini were named second team All-America while Banks earned third team honors. The three selections tie North Carolina and UCLA for the most All-America picks.
Barnes, a Rye, N.Y., native, started all 25 games at outside defender this season. The Mountaineer defense tied a school record with 13 shutouts. Barnes became the first defender in school history to earn first team all-BIG EAST honors this season. She and the WVU defense allowed only two goals in seven postseason games.
Barnes made the move successfully from central midfield to defender in 2007. The two-time all-BIG EAST selection kept teams off balance with her ability to make runs forward as an offensive threat. Barnes tallied assists against Bowling Green, Georgetown and Navy. She was named to the all-tournament team at the 2007 BIG EAST Championships.
Cicchini, an Oakville, Ontario, native, finished with eight points on four assists and two goals this season. The central midfielder was outstanding in controlling the tempo of play while working end line to end line. A two-time NSCAA all-region selection, Cicchini was a first team all-BIG EAST pick this season.
Named to the 2007 Hermann Trophy Watch List, Cicchini scored goals in the season opener against Bowling Green and at BIG EAST foe Pitt. Great on the ball, she served assists against Penn State, Villanova and Wake Forest. The three-time all-league midfielder was also named to the all-tournament team at the 2007 BIG EAST Championships.
Banks, an Annandale, Va., native, is a finalist for the 2007 Soccer Buzz National Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the prestigious Herman Trophy. The forward’s 15 goals and 38 points this season are the most-ever by a senior women’s soccer player. Banks ranks in the top five all-time at WVU in three major offensive categories – 34 goals (3rd), 26 assists (3rd) and 94 points (3rd). She is one of two players in WVU history to record 30 goals and 25 assists in her career, joining All-American Katie Barnes (1998-2001).
Earlier this season Banks was named first team all-BIG EAST, the BIG EAST co-Offensive Player of the Year and an ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
West Virginia made its first NCAA Elite Eight appearance this season with a record of 18-5-2, tying the school record for victories in a season. The Mountaineers won both the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles.
