Nov. 3, 2008
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Five members of the eighth-ranked Texas A&M soccer team earned Big 12 postseason awards on Monday.
Sophomore Becca Herrera, Beth West and Young earned spots on the Big 12 All-Newcomer team.
From Germantown, Tenn., Dyer was one of just two sophomores to receive first-team honors. She made 67 saves in 18 matches and boasts the second-best save percentage (.837) in the Big 12. Dyer is also ranked second with five shutouts in league play. She is the only player in the conference to be named player of the week three times this season and she also received recognition as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Player of the Week on Oct. 1.
Gnatzig is a mainstay in the midfield and totals four goals and three assists this year. She was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and selected to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week on Sept. 2. The tri-captain is from Humble, Texas, and also scored the game-winner against Iowa State.
A selection on two Big 12 teams, Young made her presence known on the defensive and offensive sides of the field this season. The center back started all 19 games and leads the team with six goals, including two game-winners. She also adds two assists for 14 points. The Castle Pines North, Colo., native was named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team twice.
Herrera is ranked second in assists in Big 12 conference games and tallies seven on the year. She earned a starting position at left back and is from Aurora, Colo. Herrera was honored as Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Oct. 7.
A midfielder from Centennial, Colo., West was last week's Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for her game-winner in overtime at Colorado. She has four goals and six assists and started in 18 of 19 matches in her freshman campaign.
The Aggies are seeded second in the Big 12 Soccer Championship and open play against No. 7-seeded Kansas at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in San Antonio, Texas.
2008 All-Big 12 Conference Soccer Awards
(Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players)
Coach of the Year: Colin Carmichael, Oklahoma State
Offensive Player of the Year: Yolanda Odenyo, Oklahoma State, MF, Sr.
Defensive Players of the Year: Kasey Moore, Texas, D, Sr.
Michelle Wenino, Colorado, D, Sr.
Rookie of the Year: Emily Cressy, Kansas, F, F
All-Big 12 First Team
GK: Dianna Pfenninger, Texas, Sr., Sugar Land, Texas
Becca Herrera, Texas A&M, Fr., Aurora, Colo.
D: Bri Young, Texas A&M, Fr., Castle Pines North, Colo.
MF: Kelly Butler, Colorado, Fr., Naperville, Ill.
MF: Beth West, Texas A&M, Fr., Centennial, Colo.
MF: Taylor Lytle, Texas Tech, Fr., Las Cruces, N.M.
F: Emily Cressy, Kansas, Fr., Ventura, Calif.
F: Kendra Collins, Missouri, Fr., Naperville, Ill.
F: Molly Thomas, Nebraska, Fr., Omaha, Neb.
F: Kyndall Treadwell, Oklahoma State, Fr., Cleveland, Okla.
F: Courtney Goodson, Texas, Fr., Ramona, Calif.
**Ties in voting created additional newcomer team positions