Four Buffs Named To All-Region Squad
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KANSAS CITY - The University of Colorado women's soccer team earned a program-best four spots on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All-Central Region team the NSCAA announced on Thursday, Dec. 15. The four players were the most of any team in the Central Region, besting Texas A&M's three selections and Nebraska's two.
"I'm particularly pleased for our kids, for this great honor," said head coach Bill Hempen. "I'm especially happy for those who don't typically get the recognition they deserve."
Senior midfielder Fran Munnelly (Arvada, Colo.) and junior forward Katie Griffin (Scottsdale, Ariz.) were both named to the first team, while senior goalkeeper Jessica Keller (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and junior defender Laura Munnelly (Arvada, Colo.) earned second team honors.
This is Fran Munnelly's third appearance on the first team in her career, and marks a nice week for the Mullen graduate as she was named second team All-America on Dec. 9. These two major honors, coupled with a fourth First Team All-Big 12 selection, a Big 12 10th Anniversary team pick and becoming the first CU athlete to have her jersey honored while still in school make her one of the all-time Buff greats.
Griffin's selection to the first team marks the highest honors of her career, after earning third team all region honors a year ago and being a three-time second team All-Big 12 pick. Griffin was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament team earlier this season. She led the Buffs in scoring with a school record 12 goals, and will next take aim at Fran Munnelly's career goals mark of 30. Griffin has 27 in her three seasons at CU.
"Well Fran speaks for herself I think, and as for Katie Griffin, this is a reflection of the fact that she is a big time player," said Hempen. "I have always thought of Katie that way, and I'm pleased to see others agree. We're very happy to have her back next year, along with Laura, who our anchor in the back of the defense."
Keller's honor ends her season on a high note after her senior year was cut short against Kansas on Oct. 16 when she suffered a badly broken ankle that required surgery soon after. Keller is CU's leader in virtually every career goalkeeping statistic, including shutouts, wins and goals against average.
"I'm very happy for Jess Keller to get honored even though she was injured about two thirds of the way through the season. She has been a great goalkeeper for us and hasn't really received honors that reflect her contributions to our team. So this is a nice honor for her.
This marks Laura Munnelly's first appearance on the all-region team, perhaps because as a defender, her contributions are overlooked. She has played all but 17 minutes of every game in her career, and only came off for those 17 minutes due to injury. She has been a stalwart in the CU defense for three years, and together with Griffin will be back to lead a fourth-straight run at the NCAA Tournament for the Buffaloes.
NSCAA/adidas
All America Committee
2005 National Soccer Coaches Association Of America
Central Regional Teams
Senior College Women
Division I
FIRST TEAM
Position Name Class School Hometown
Goalkeeper Tyler Griffin JR Vanderbilt Charlotte, N.C.
Defender Holly Gault JR Kansas Spring Hill, Kan.
Defender Kasey Moore FR Texas Mission Viejo, Calif.
Defender Kim Perkins JR Vanderbilt Highland Ranch, Colo.
Midfield Ali Christoph JR Tennessee Columbus, Ohio
Midfield Jennifer Hance FR Ole Miss Sugar Land, Texas
Midfield Courtney Hulcer JR St. Louis St. Louis, Mo.
Midfield Fran Munnelly SR Colorado Arvada, Colo.
Forward Katie Griffin JR Colorado Scottsdale, Ariz.
Forward Ashlee Pistorius SO Texas A&M Bloomington, Ill.
Forward Brittany Timko JR Nebraska Coquitlam, B.C.
SECOND TEAM
Goalkeeper Jessica Keller SR Colorado Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Defender Sasha Andrews SR Nebraska Edmonton, Alberta
Defender Monica Buff JR Vanderbilt Lilburn, Ga.
Defender Laura Munnelly JR Colorado Arvada, Colo.
Midfield Kelly Ferguson SR St. Louis St. Louis, Mo.
Midfield Lauren Maclver SR Oklahoma Tulsa, Okla.
Midfield Chrissy Strini SO Ole Miss Cordova, Tenn.
Forward Kimber Bailey SO SMU Garland, Texas
Forward Melissa Garey SO Texas A&M Gonzales, La.
Forward Genna Gorman SO Tennessee Lakewood, Colo.
Forward Maureen Hughes JR St. Louis St. Louis, Mo.
THIRD TEAM
Goalkeeper Joanna Haig SO Iowa State Inver Grover Heights, Minn.
Defender Susanne Collins JR SMU Boca Raton, Fla
Defender Erin Droeger SR Rice Huntington Beach, Calif.
Defender Ivonne Valentin SR Creighton Papillion, Neb.
Midfield Caitlin Kennedy SO Texas Euless, Texas
Midfield Sophia Mundy JR Houston Katy, Texas
Midfield Laura Probst SR Texas A&M Arvada, Colo.
Forward Kelsey Carpenter SO Texas Allen, Texas
Forward Shoko Mikami JR Memphis Chiba, Japan
Forward Kylee Rossi FR Tennessee Pennington, N.J
Forward Caroline Smith SR Kansas Edina, Minn.