Izzo-Brown, Trio Win All-Region Honors
December 03, 2014 12:41 PM | General
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| Buchanan | Lawrence |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown and three from the West Virginia University women’s soccer team earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire All-Region honors, as announced by the organization today.
Sophomores Kadeisha Buchanan (defender) and Ashley Lawrence (midfielder) were named to the All-Central Region First Team for the second straight season, while freshman forward Michaela Abam was named to the second team. Additionally, 19-year coach Izzo-Brown collected her second consecutive Central Region Coach of the Year award.
“These honors are very deserved for each of these athletes,” Izzo-Brown said. “Kadeisha, Ashley and Michaela had great seasons and helped push this team to much success.”
The Mountaineers have earned 21 NSCAA All-Region First Team honors under Izzo-Brown. Buchanan and Lawrence are the first Mountaineers to earn back-to-back first-team honors since Bry McCarthy did so in 2011-12. In total, eight from women’s soccer have earned two career first-team selections since 2000; no Mountaineer has won more than two first-team awards.
Buchanan and Lawrence are now candidates for NSCAA All-America honors; Buchanan was named to the second team in 2013.
Izzo-Brown’s coach of the year honor is the fifth of her career. The reigning three-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, she has earned 10 combined conference and regional coach of the year awards since 2000. Izzo-Brown is now one of eight candidates for the NSCAA National Coach of the Year award.
“I am truly honored to receive this award,” said Izzo-Brown. “This is never about one individual, and I am fortunate to work with one of the hardest working staffs in the nation. I share this honor with Lisa (Stoia), Marisa (Kanela) and Zach (Johnson), as they put countless hours into the success of WVU women’s soccer. I am truly blessed to represent a great staff and region of coaches.”
Buchanan’s regional honor follows her selection yesterday to the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinal list. The Brampton, Ontario, native, is the two-time reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection. She helped the WVU defense post 12 shutouts this season, two short of the program’s single-season record, and tallied a career-high eight points (3 G, 2 A).
Lawrence, a native of Toronto, Ontario, is a two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree. She paced WVU with seven assists this season and finished second on the team with 15 points (4 G, 7 A). She ranked No. 2 and No. 8 in the Big 12 in assists and points, respectively.
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| Abam |
Abam, the 2014 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, played in all 22 matches this season and paced the Mountaineers in points (16), goals (8) and game-winning goals (4). Her totals ranked No. 6, No. 4 and No. 2, respectively, in the Big 12.
The No. 7-ranked Mountaineers (16-2-4, 7-0-1) finished the 2014 season on a program record 19-match unbeaten streak. WVU won its third straight Big 12 Conference regular-season title and successfully defended the Big 12 Soccer Championship title. Izzo-Brown has led the Mountaineers to 13 conference titles since 2002.
The squad qualified for its 15th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and played Georgetown to a 0-0 draw in the first round. The Hoyas advanced on a 4-3 edge in penalty kicks.
The NSCAA/Continental Tire All-America Teams are scheduled to be released on Friday, Dec. 5.
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