trio-wsoc-81315.jpg
Three Earn Preseason All-Big 12 Honors
August 13, 2015 11:30 AM | Women's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three from the No. 12-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer Team today.
Juniors Kadeisha Buchanan (defender) and Ashley Lawrence (midfield) were two of four unanimous selections. Sophomore Michaela Abam (forward) also was named to the team.
Buchanan, the two-time reigning Big 12 Defender of the Year, and Lawrence are two-time All-Big 12 First Team recipients; they were the only sophomores named to the 2014 first team. Abam was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2014 and earned All-Big 12 Newcomer Team honors.
“I think it says a lot when opposing coaches recognize our student-athletes, and I’m happy for this hard-working trio,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown.
Six schools are represented on the team, with WVU and Oklahoma State each garnering a league-best three selections. The Big 12’s head coaches selected the honorees and were not permitted to vote for their own players.
The Big 12 coaches picked WVU to win the 2015 Big 12 Conference title, as announced yesterday.
Buchanan, a native of Brampton, Ontario, and Lawrence, a Toronto native, have racked up a slew of preseason honors. Candidates for the 2015 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Award, the duo each landed on TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Preseason Top 100 List yesterday, with Buchanan ranked No. 1 and Lawrence ranked No. 32. Buchanan also was named to TDS’s Preseason Best XI First Team, and Lawrence was named to the third team.
Members of the Full Canadian Women’s National Team, the duo played all five matches for Canada at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in June. Buchanan was named to the tournament’s Best Young Player, while Lawrence tallied the squad’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw against Netherlands on June 16.
Buchanan helped the Mountaineer defense post 12 shutouts in 2014. She finished her sophomore campaign with a career-high eight points (3 G, 2 A). Lawrence placed second on the team with 15 points (4 G, 7 A). Her team-best seven assists ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference.
Abam, a Houston native, checked in at No. 64 in TDS’s Preseason Top 100 List. As a rookie in 2014, she paced the Mountaineers in points (16), goals (8) and game winners (4). Abam ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 in goals and No. 6 in points.
Nikki Izzo-Brown & Alicia Riggins | Wagner Postgame | Nov. 14
Saturday, November 15
Nikki Izzo-Brown | Nov. 10
Monday, November 10
WSOC | Cincinnati Cinematic Recap
Friday, October 31
Ajanae Respass | Cincinnati Postgame | Oct. 30
Thursday, October 30
