Eleven from WSoc Earn Big 12 Academic Honor
November 04, 2014 08:24 PM | General
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| Connelly |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A program-best 11 from the No. 8-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team were named to the 2014 All-Big 12 Academic Soccer Team, the league office announced tonight.
Of the 11 honorees, senior midfielder Ali Connelly (elementary education) earned the recognition with a 4.00 grade point average (GPA). The South Bend, Indiana, native is one of six from the conference with a 4.00 GPA.
Connelly is one of nine Mountaineers to land on the first team. Also earning the top honor are: seniors Jess Crowder (exercise physiology) and Katie Osterman (sport management), juniors Maggie Bedillion (exercise physiology), Leah Emaus (exercise physiology), Amanda Hill (exercise physiology) and Kailey Utley (biology), and sophomores Carly Black (exercise physiology) and Kadeisha Buchanan (communication studies).
Senior Kate Schwindel (child development and family studies) and sophomore Ashley Lawrence (communication studies) were named to the second team.
“We place an equal emphasis on hard work in the classroom and on the playing field, and these ladies take that to heart,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “These honors are all well deserved.”
Ten Mountaineers were honored in 2013, and seven scored an award in 2012, the team’s inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference.
In total, 91 student-athletes were honored by the Big 12 Conference, with 78 landing on the first team. Baylor led all with 13 selections.
First team members consist of those 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.
The top-seeded Mountaineers (14-2-2, 7-0-1) open play at the 2014 Big 12 Soccer Championship tomorrow against No. 8-seed TCU at Swope Soccer Village. First kick is set for 12:30 p.m. ET, and a free stream of the match can be found at Big12Sports.com.
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