Five In-State Soccer Players Named To All-Big 12 Team

News9.com

IRVING, Texas – The Big 12 Conference announced the 2011 Preseason All-Big 12 soccer team and a total of five in-state players made the list.

Oklahoma junior Caitlin Mooney along with Oklahoma State's Melinda Mercado, Kyndall Treadwell, Krista Lopez and AD Franch all received the conference honors Thursday.

Oklahoma State led all teams with four nominations followed by Texas Tech and Texas A&M who both had two players each make the list.

All four of the Cowgirls nominated helped OSU make its deepest postseason run in school history last season, finishing at 20-4-2 on the year.

Mercado, a senior defender along with senior forwards Lopez and Franch were three of four unanimous selections to this year's conference preseason team.

Mercado is a two-time First-Team All-American and last season's Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Treadwell earned All-Big 12 first team honors last season and was a member of the All-Big 12 Newcomer team in 2008.

Lopez burst onto the scene a season ago after leading the Cowgirls, and the Big 12, with 15 goals. She also notched five assists to finish second on the team. Her outstanding season earned her All-Big 12 First Team honors.

Franch is a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection and was named to the NSCAA/Performance Subaru All-America Second Team last season. In 2010, she led the league in shutouts with nine and finished second in goals against average (0.73) and save percentage (.826).

For the Sooners, Mooney finished second on the team in scoring with seven goals and three assists last season in her first season in Norman after transferring from Maryland. The Edmond, Okla., native played in all 23 games with 22 starts.

Mooney and the rest of the 2011 Sooner soccer team reported to campus last week and the season opener is slated for Friday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. against the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The Cowgirls begin the 2011 season with an exhibition match in Dallas against SMU on Aug. 13. They kick off the regular season at home against TCU on Aug. 19.