The West Virginia duo of Kadeisha Buchanan and Frances Silva highlight this year's group of 30 student-athletes recognized on the annual All-Big 12 soccer team, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Buchanan picked up both the Conference's Defensive Player of the Year award and the Rookie of the Year award while notching a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team and the All-Big 12 Newcomer Team. Silva garnered Offensive Player of the Year honors while also being named to the All-Big 12 First Team. West Virginia's Nikki Izzo-Brown picked up her second-consecutive Coach of the Year recognition, giving the Mountaineers a sweep of the individual awards.
This marks the first time a program has won both the Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season. Prior to the defensive recognition's debut in 2007, only Colorado (2003) had swept all of the individual honors outright.
A native of Brampton, Ontario, Buchanan has been an integral piece of the Mountaineer defense. This season, WVU posted six shutouts en route to a 13-3-2 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play.
Silva, a senior from Overland Park, Kan., leads the league in points (37), goals (12) and assists (13). Silva earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors last season.
The Mountaineers won their second-straight Big 12 regular season championship, posting a 7-1 record. West Virginia is 14-1-1 all-time in Big 12 play. WVU was picked to win the league in the conference's preseason poll and are currently ranked No.16 in the nation.
The Big 12 also announced its All-Big 12 First and Second Team selections, as well as the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. West Virginia leads all teams with four first team selections and eight total honorees.
All-BIG 12 CONFERENCE SOCCER AWARDS
(Coaches aren't allowed to vote for their own players or themselves)
Coach of the Year: Nikki Izzo-Brown, West Virginia
Offensive Player of the Year: Frances Silva*, West Virginia, Sr. Overland Park, Kan.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kadeisha Buchanan, West Virginia, Fr. Brampton, Ontario
Newcomer of the Year: Kadeisha Buchanan, West Virginia, Fr. Brampton, Ontario
All-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| GK |
Victoria Esson |
Texas Tech |
Sr. |
Christchurch, New Zealand |
| D |
Bobbi Clemmer |
TCU |
So. |
Decatur, Texas |
| D |
Jaelene Hinkle |
Texas Tech |
Jr. |
Denver, Colo. |
| D |
Kadeisha Buchanan |
West Virginia |
Fr. |
Brampton, Ontario |
| MF |
Liana Salazar |
Kansas |
So. |
Bogota, Columbia |
| MF |
Sharis Lachappelle |
Texas |
Jr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| MF |
Ashley Lawrence |
West Virginia |
Fr. |
Toronto, Ontario |
| F |
Janine Beckie |
Texas Tech |
So. |
Highlands Ranch, Colo. |
| F |
Kate Schwindel |
West Virginia |
Jr. |
Livingston, N.J. |
| F |
Frances Silva |
West Virginia |
Sr. |
Overland Park, Kan. |
| U |
Bri Campos |
Baylor |
So. |
Centennial, Colo. |
ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| GK |
Abby Smith |
Texas |
So. |
Plano, Texas |
| D |
Natalie Calhoun |
Oklahoma State |
Fr. |
Sachse, Texas |
| D |
Brooke Gilbert |
Texas |
Jr. |
Snohomish, Wash. |
| D |
Haley Haagsma |
Texas Tech |
Sr. |
Cerritos, Calif. |
| MF |
Allie Stephenson |
Oklahoma State |
So. |
Lee's Summit, Mo. |
| MF |
Paige Strahan |
Texas Tech |
Jr. |
Odessa, Texas |
| MF |
Amanda Hill |
West Virginia |
So. |
Washington, Pa. |
| F |
Caroline Kastor |
Kansas |
Sr. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| F |
Courtney Dike |
Oklahoma State |
Fr. |
Edmond, Okla. |
| F |
Michelle Prokof |
TCU |
Fr. |
Gurnee, Ill. |
| U |
Emily Goldstein |
Iowa State |
Sr. |
Orange County, Calif. |
BIG 12 ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| GK |
Michela Ongaro |
Oklahoma State |
Fr. |
Hartland, Wis. |
| D |
Aurelie Gagnet |
Kansas |
Fr. |
Montpellier, France |
| D |
Carly Black |
West Virginia |
Fr. |
Horsham, Pa. |
| D |
Kadeisha Buchanan |
West Virginia |
Fr. |
Brampton, Ontario |
| MF |
Jemma Cota |
Oklahoma |
Fr. |
Gilbert, Ariz. |
| MF |
Maddy Crabtree |
Texas Tech |
Fr. |
Greenville, Texas |
| MF |
Ashley Lawrence |
West Virginia |
Fr. |
Toronto, Ontario |
| F |
Courtney Dike |
Oklahoma State |
Fr. |
Edmond, Okla. |
| F |
Krissi Killion |
Oklahoma State |
Fr. |
Broken Arrow, Okla. |
| F |
Michelle Prokof |
TCU |
Fr. |
Gurnee, Ill. |
| U |
Paige Jacobs |
Oklahoma |
Fr. |
Coppell, Texas |
| U |
Kansas Bayly |
Texas Tech |
Sr. |
Lilburn, Ga. |
(Ties in utility player voting created a 12 member All-Big 12 Newcomer Team)
* - Unanimous selection