Women's Soccer: Three Soccer Buzz All-Americans
December 28, 2007 12:16 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
December 28, 2007
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three West Virginia University women’s soccer players were named Soccer Buzz All-Americans this week. Senior Ashley Banks and juniors Greer Barnes and Amanda Cicchini become the fifth, sixth and seventh Soccer Buzz All-Americans in program history.
Banks and Barnes were named second team All-America while Cicchini earned third team honors. WVU is one of seven schools to have three players selected.
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).
Earlier this season Banks was named an NSCAA third team All-American, 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.
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 and was named a second team NSCAA All-American. 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 second team NSCAA All-American and 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.
