Nov. 3, 2009

IRVING, Texas – Oklahoma State placed a league-high 14 players on the 2009 Academic All-Big 12 Conference soccer team, it was announced by the conference office today.

Highlighted by Bridget Miller and Krista Lopez, who were both honored for 4.0 grade point averages, OSU had 11 players earn Academic All-Big 12 First Team status, while three Cowgirls earned second-team honors.

OSU’s 14 Academic All-Big 12 honorees is a record for the program, surpassing the previous high of 13 in 2007. The 11 first-team selections tied for the most in program history; the 2006 and 2007 Cowgirl squads also had 11 first teamers.

In addition, every non-freshman or non-transfer Cowgirl who reached the 60 percent of games played eligibility requirement (see below) was awarded a spot on the 2009 Academic All-Big 12 team as all 14 of those OSU players maintained a GPA of at least 3.00.

Each of the Cowgirls’ three seniors earned Academic All-Big 12 accolades. Miller made the first team for the third-straight year, as did Kasey Langdon. Siera Strawser was a second-team selection, marking the third year in a row for her to achieve that status.

Three OSU juniors – Annika Niemeier, Katie Richardson and Whitney Wernimont – earned first-team honors, while a fourth, Allyson Leggett, was named to the second team. Niemeier, Richardson and Wernimont were all first-team honorees in 2008 as well, while Leggett earned academic all-conference honors for the first time in her career.

With her 4.0 GPA, Lopez led six Cowgirl sophomores on the first team. Joining Lopez were Sarah Brown, Elizabeth DeLozier, Colleen Dougherty, Melinda Mercado and Kyndall Treadwell.

Rounding out the list of OSU’s Academic All-Big 12 honorees was Alison Farrell, a redshirt freshman who earned second-team accolades. 

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the 2009 Academic All-Big 12 soccer teams consist of 84 first-team members combined with 19 on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have 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 her 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.