KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ten student-athletes from the West Virginia University women’s soccer team were named to the 2013 All-Big 12 Academic Soccer Team, the league office announced today.
Eight Mountaineers were named to the first team: seniors Sara Keane (higher education administration), Frances Silva (sport management) and Caroline Szwed (journalism), junior Jess Crowder (exercise physiology), sophomores Leah Emaus (exercise physiology), Amanda Hill (exercise physiology) and Kailey Utley (biology), and redshirt-freshman Carly Black (exercise physiology). Hill and Black were among the eight honorees that earned the honor with a 4.0 grade point average (GPA).
Junior Kate Schwindel (child development and family studies) and sophomore Annalika Steyn (criminology) were named to the second team.
The Mountaineers placed seven student-athletes on the team in 2012.
In total, 91 student-athletes earned the honor, with Baylor landing a conference-best 15 honors. Eighty-two of the 91 honorees were placed on the first team, which consists of student-athletes who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second-team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher (either cumulative or the two previous semesters) and must have participated in 60 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
Additionally, in this week’s national rankings, WVU maintained its ranking in three polls: TopDrawerSoccer.com (No. 15), NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Poll (No. 16) and Soccer America Top 25 Poll (No. 17).
The Mountaineers (13-3-2, 7-1 Big 12), the 2013 Big 12 Conference regular-season champions, face No. 8-seed Kansas tomorrow, in the Big 12 Soccer Championship quarterfinals, at the Swope Soccer Village. First kick is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, and a free stream of the match can be found at Big12Sports.com.
