August 15, 2008
COLLEGE STATION, Texas- Junior goalkeeper Kristin Arnold was selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team and Texas A&M soccer was picked to finish second in the conference, the league office announced Friday.
From Centennial, Colo., Arnold started all 24 of A&M’s matches in goal last season and earned first-team All-Big 12 accolades. The Aggies finished the year 18-4-2 and 9-1-0 in league play, winning its fourth-straight Big 12 regular season title. In addition, A&M earned its 13th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Arnold posted a Big-12 best seven shutouts and ended the season ranked third in the conference in goals against average (0.86) and fifth in saves percentage (.820). One of six returning starters to this year’s squad and a captain, Arnold was also named to the NSCAA All-Central Region first-team in 2007.
Texas earned the top spot in the conference with five of the 11 first-place votes and 94 points. A&M (93) received four first-place votes and was chosen second, while Missouri (77) came in third with two first-place votes. Oklahoma State (71) and Colorado (66) rounded out the top five. Kansas (60), Texas Tech (48), Nebraska (33), Oklahoma (29), Iowa State (18) and Baylor (14) were picked 6th through 11th, respectively.
The Preseason Big 12 Poll and All-Big 12 Team are chosen by a vote of the league’s head coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own team or players.
A&M opens the regular season at the Aggie Soccer Stadium on Friday, Aug 22, against Rhode Island. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the ticket office at 1-888-99-AGGIE or by logging on to http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/tickets/ticketbox.asp.